assured as he looks out upon the level of human circumstances. The bond be tween him and the Philippians is gen uine. Each is in the other’s heart for the wording of verse 7 in the Greek is purposely ambiguous so as to mean either, “I have you in my heart” or “Ye have me in your heart.” In any case the bond between them will hold through fair weather and foul, for it is of God’s own making. They are partners with him both in his chains and in the affirmation and the confir mation of the gospel of grace. Their comradeship adds to the favor of his praise. 2. The Prayer of Petition (w . 8-11) Paul introduces his prayer of peti tion by describing the longing out of which it grows. His words are sober and earnest as he calls God to witness his longing for them in the “tender
Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland (le ft), president of Biola, confers w ith Rev. Robert Bunnell, superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Dis trict of the American Sunday School Union. The assurance upon which Paul’s prayer of praise rests is twofold: It stems from the nature of God, who can be counted on to finish what he begins (v. 6), and from the nature of their mutual experience of his grace, so genuine as to remove all hesitation whatsoever (v. 7). Much of the timidity which keeps us playing about on the fringes of the Christian experience grows out of our failure to apprehend the nature of God, who initiates it. He can be counted on to finish what he has begun. “He who began a good work in you will perfect it (right on) until (its glorious con summation in) the day of Jesus Christ” (v. 6 ASV). To start a thing and then leave it is a weakness in any character and cannot be tolerated in the idea of God. He who inspires our faith will also perfect it (Heb. 12:2). The only thing that can stay God’s process of perfection is our unbelief. And even when our smoking lamps are flickering in the darkness, He does not quench them, for, as the prophet Isaiah says, “He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law” (Isa. 42:4 ASV). Paul’s heart is buoyant because he knows the Architect and, beyond the scaffolding and the litter necessary to the process of construction, can see the building taking shape according to plan. Paul feels a perfect right to be thus
IF I SHOULD MEET MY SAVIOUR
If suddenly upon the street My gracious Saviour I should meet. And He should say, "A s I love thee, What love hast thou to offer M e ?" Then what could this poor heart of mine Dare offer to that heart divine? His eye would pierce my outward show! His thought my inmost thought would know; And if I said, " I love Thee, Lord," He would not heed my spoken word, Because my daily life would tell If verily I loved Him well.
mercies of Christ” (v. 8 ASV). This is a happier translation than the more literal expression found in the King James Version, which reads, “I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” Robertson: “The ancient Greeks located the emotions of love, pity, joy, etc., in the ‘stomach-brain,’ as it is sometimes called.” The point to notice is the intensity of Paul’s love and longing for the Philippians. This verse should be sufficient answer for those who decry emotion in religion. Paul feels the very yearning of Christ’s 23
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