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2:1 Si qua ergo consolatio in Christo, si quod solatium caritatis, si qua societas spiritus, si qua viscera miserationis :
*H If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration:


Ver. 1. If there be, therefore, any consolation. If you have any desire to comfort me in Christ, or for Christ's sake. Wi.

2:2 implete gaudium meum ut idem sapiatis, eamdem caritatem habentes, unanimes, idipsum sentientes,
Fulfil ye my joy, that you be of one mind, having the same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment.
2:3 nihil per contentionem, neque per inanem gloriam : sed in humilitate superiores sibi invicem arbitrantes,
*H Let nothing be done through contention: neither by vain glory. But in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:


Ver. 3. Esteem others better than themselves. S. Thomas (22. q. 162. a. 3.) puts the question, how an innocent man can with truth think himself worse than the most wicked of men? He answers, that a man who has received very extraordinary gifts from God, cannot think these gifts less than what any other has received; but he may reflect that he has nothing, and is nothing of himself. And a man truly humble considers only his own sins and failings, and is persuaded that any other person would have made better use of the same graces; which agrees with what follows, (v. 4) not considering the things that are his own. Wi.

2:4 non quae sua sunt singuli considerantes, sed ea quae aliorum.
*H Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men's.


Ver. 4. The things that are his. Self-love and self-interest are the two great sources of divisions. The Christian religion teaches a contrary doctrine. Calmet.

2:5 Hoc enim sentite in vobis, quod et in Christo Jesu :
For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
2:6 qui cum in forma Dei esset, non rapinam arbitratus est esse se aequalem Deo :
*H Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:


Ver. 6. Who being in the form [1] of God, (that is truly, properly, and essentially God from eternity, as the ancient Fathers here observed against the Arians) taking the form of a servant, (i.e. taking upon him our human nature) became truly a man, and as man the servant of God, but remaining always God as before, thought it not robbery, no injury to his eternal Father, to be equal, to be esteemed, and to declare himself equal to God, to be one thing with him: as on divers occasions he taught the people, as we have observed in the notes on S. John's gospel, &c. Wi.

2:7 sed semetipsum exinanivit, formam servi accipiens, in similitudinem hominum factus, et habitu inventus ut homo.
*H But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man.


Ver. 7. But debased himself: divested himself of all the marks of greatness, for the love of mankind. The Greek text signifies, he made himself void; [2] on which account Dr. Wells, instead of made himself of no reputation, as in the Prot. translation, has changed it into emptied himself; not but that the true Son of God must always remain truly God, as well as by his incarnation truly man, but that in him as man appeared no marks of his divine power and greatness. — Made to the likeness [3] of men, not only as to an exterior likeness and appearance, but at the same time truly man by uniting his divine person to the nature of man. — In shape [4] (or habit) found as a man: not clothed exteriorly only, as a man is clothed with a garment or coat, but found both as to shape and nature a man; and, as S. Chrys. says, with the appearance of a sinful man, if we consider him persecuted by the Jews, and nailed to an infamous cross. Wi.

2:8 Humiliavit semetipsum factus obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.
He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.
* Footnote * Hebrews 2 : 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that, through the grace of God he might taste death for all.
2:9 Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum, et donavit illi nomen, quod est super omne nomen :
*H For which cause, God also hath exalted him and hath given him a name which is above all names:


Ver. 9. God . . . hath given him a name, &c. The name or word Jesus represents the dignity of him who is signified by the name, and who is exalted even as man, above all creatures in heaven, earth, and hell; all which creatures either piously reverence him, or are made subject to him against their will, that every tongue may confess our Lord Jesus to be now, and to have been always, in the glory of his Father, equal to him in substance and in all perfections. Wi.

2:10 ut in nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur caelestium, terrestrium et infernorum,
*H That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:


Ver. 10. If we shew respect when the name of our sovereign is mentioned, may we not express our respect also at the name of Jesus; and if to his name, why not to his cross as well as to the throne of the king?

* Footnote * Isaias 14 : 24 The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so shall it be: and as I have purposed,
* Footnote * Romans 14 : 11 For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God.
2:11 et omnis lingua confiteatur, quia Dominus Jesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris.
And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
2:12 Itaque carissimi mei (sicut semper obedistis), non ut in praesentia mei tantum, sed multo magis nunc in absentia mea, cum metu et tremore vestram salutem operamini.
*H Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but much more now in my absence) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.


Ver. 12. With fear and trembling. That is, be equally upon your guard against presumption and despair. S. Paul is anxious to inspire a just confidence in Jesus Christ, but he is not less solicitous to root out all self-confidence arising from our supposed merits or excellence.

2:13 Deus est enim, qui operatur in vobis et velle, et perficere pro bona voluntate.
*H For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will.


Ver. 13. It is God who worketh in you both to will and to accomplish. We can neither have a will, nor begin, nor fulfil any thing of ourselves, in order to a reward in heaven. Wi. — Our free-will is not taken away, or we should not be commanded to work; but it is added, with fear and trembling, says S. Austin, that we might not be proud of our good works. De grat. et de lib. ab. c. ix.

2:14 Omnia autem facite sine murmurationibus et haesitationibus :
And do ye all things without murmurings and hesitations:
* Footnote * 1_Peter 4 : 6 For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to the dead: That they might be judged indeed according to men, in the flesh: but may live according to God, in the Spirit.
2:15 ut sitis sine querela, et simplices filii Dei, sine reprehensione in medio nationis pravae et perversae : inter quos lucetis sicut luminaria in mundo,
That you may be blameless and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation: among whom you shine as lights in the world.
2:16 verbum vitae continentes ad gloriam meam in die Christi, quia non in vacuum cucurri, neque in vacuum laboravi.
*H Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ: because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.


Ver. 16. To my glory, &c. That is, I beseech you to continue in faith, and comply with the word and doctrine of the gospel, that I may have glory, and rejoice together with you in the day of Christ, when he shall come to judgment. Wi.

2:17 Sed et si immolor supra sacrificium, et obsequium fidei vestrae, gaudeo, et congratulor omnibus vobis.
*H Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and congratulate with you all.


Ver. 17. And if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice [5] and service of your faith, I rejoice, &c. The sense of these obscure words seems to be: that I shall rejoice, and you also may rejoice and congratulate with me, if after having first offered up your faith and obedience to the gospel, as an acceptable sacrifice to God, I myself (or my blood, by martyrdom) be also added, and poured out as a second sacrifice upon the other. It is to be understood with an allusion to those sacrifices of the old law called libations, consisting of liquid things, as wine, oil, blood, which were poured out, or at least sprinkled, upon other victims and things sacrificed: so that he compares the shedding of his blood to these libations, and their submission to the faith of Christ to the sacrifice before offered to God. Wi.

2:18 Idipsum autem et vos gaudete, et congratulamini mihi.
And for the selfsame thing, do you also rejoice and congratulate with me.
2:19 Spero autem in Domino Jesu, Timotheum me cito mittere ad vos : ut et ego bono animo sim, cognitis quae circa vos sunt.
*H And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy unto you shortly, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know the things concerning you.


Ver. 19. To send Timothy. It appears that S. Paul could not send Timothy to Philippi till some time after his deliverance from prison, about the year 63 of Jesus Christ. Tillemont. — In the succeeding verse, we see the high esteem in which Timothy was held by this apostle.

* Footnote * Acts 10 : 1 And there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of that which is called the Italian band:
2:20 Neminem enim habeo tam unanimem, qui sincera affectione pro vobis sollicitus sit.
For I have no man so of the same mind, who with sincere affection is solicitous for you.
2:21 Omnes enim quae sua sunt quaerunt, non quae sunt Jesu Christi.
*H For all seek the things that are their own not the things that are Jesus Christ's.


Ver. 21. All seek the things that are their own; i.e. many do so. Wi.

* Footnote * 1_Corinthians 13 : 5 Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil:
2:22 Experimentum autem ejus cognoscite, quia sicut patri filius, mecum servivit in Evangelio.
Now know ye the proof of him: that as a son with the father, so hath he served with me in the gospel.
2:23 Hunc igitur spero me mittere ad vos, mox ut videro quae circa me sunt.
Him therefore I hope to send unto you immediately: so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
2:24 Confido autem in Domino quoniam et ipse veniam ad vos cito.
*H And I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come to you shortly.


Ver. 24. That I also. This did not take place till full two years were expired, in the year 64: (Tillem.) and others are of opinion, that he was in Macedon when he wrote his first epistle to Timothy. Theo. Atha. Tille.

2:25 Necessarium autem existimavi Epaphroditum fratrem, et cooperatorem, et commilitonem meum, vestrum autem apostolum, et ministrum necessitatis meae, mittere ad vos :
*H But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow labourer and fellow soldier, but your apostle: and he that hath ministered to my wants.


Ver. 25. Epaphroditus . . . your apostle, and the minister to my wants. Epaphroditus had also laboured after S. Paul, and is thought to have been the bishop of the Philippians; thus he might be called their apostle; though, as others conjecture, the word apostle may be here applied to him as one sent by the Philippians to S. Paul with contributions to supply his wants. Wi.

2:26 quoniam quidem omnes vos desiderabat : et moestus erat, propterea quod audieratis illum infirmatum.
*H For indeed he longed after you all: and was sad, for that you had heard that he was sick.


Ver. 26. And was sad. Nothing is a stronger proof of the union that existed between the ancient Christians, than this description of S. Paul: Paul is in prison, and Epaphroditus is dismissed from the extremity of Macedon to come and attend him; Epaphroditus falls sick, and the whole Church at Philippi is in mourning. Calmet.

2:27 Nam et infirmatus est usque ad mortem : sed Deus misertus est ejus : non solum autem ejus, verum etiam et mei, ne tristitiam super tristitiam haberem.
For indeed he was sick, nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him. And not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
2:28 Festinantius ergo misi illum, ut viso eo iterum gaudeatis, et ego sine tristitia sim.
*H Therefore, I sent him the more speedily: that seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow.


Ver. 28. And I may be without sorrow; without the great concern and trouble that I am now in for you. Wi.

2:29 Excipite itaque illum cum omni gaudio in Domino, et ejusmodi cum honore habetote ;
Receive him therefore with all joy in the Lord: and treat with honour such as he is.
2:30 quoniam propter opus Christi usque ad mortem accessit, tradens animam suam ut impleret id quod ex vobis deerat erga meum obsequium.
*H Because for the work of Christ he came to the point of death: delivering his life, that he might fulfil that which on your part was wanting towards my service.


Ver. 30. Delivering up his life to persecutions, and to this danger that he was in by a sickness which was mortal, had not God restored him his health. He came with your charities, to supply that which was wanting on your part, or which I stood in need of; and I am persuaded you desired to do it sooner, if you had met with an opportunity. Wi.

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