THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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desired to see in them, or hear of them, was that “ye stand fast in one spirit.” The Spirit in this verse is clearly seen by a comparison with X Cor. 12 :13 and Eph. 2:18, where precisely the same Greek wording “in one Spirit” is used, to mean the Holy Spirit (cf. also Eph. 4:3). What Paul then desired to see was steadfastness in the unity which the One Spirit produces. The one fault in the church in Philippi, of which there is a hint here and there, was that of a tendency to division (ch. 2:1-3; 4:2), The result of their standing fast in the One Spirit would be, that “with one soul” they would strive together (and not each one separately) “for the faith of (i. e., faith in, cf. 2 Cor. 2: 13) the gospel.” WEDNESDAY, September 24. Philip- pians 1:28. In striving for the faith of the gos pel “they would meet many and dan gerous adversaries, but they should be “in nothing affrighted (the Greek word means, scared) by” them. Their not being scared, their fearlessness in Christ and His truth, would itself be “an evident token of perdition” to them.. What “perdition” means is evi dent from a comparison of Rev. 17:11 with Rev. 19:20 and Rev. 20:10. On the other hand, it would be “an evident token” of their own “salvation,” i. e., “salvation" in the fullest sense (cf. notes on vs. 19). “And that of God,” the “that” in this clause does not refer to “salvation,” the gender of the pronoun in the Greek makes it impossible to refer it to “salvation” : it refers to the w h o l e transaction just described, namely, their not being scared by their adversaries and thus furnishing a proof of their enemies perdition and of their own salvation: the whole operation was “of God.” THURSDAY, September 25. Philippiams 1:2», 30. Paul now explains why he has spoken of “adversaries” and their not being scared by them. The explanation is this: “Unto you it hath been granted (given as a matter of free grace) in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on, but also to suffer in His behalf.” The word translated “given” (R. V. “granted” ) means to give as an unmer ited favor, it is from the same root as “grace.” So then, faith in Christ is a gift of grace, and suffering in behalf of Christ, is also a gift of grace. When
we are called upon to suffer in behalf of Christ, we should not complain, but thank God for this unmerited favor, (cf. Acts 5:41). In thus suffering in behalf of Christ they would have “the same conflict” which they had seen in Paul (when he was scourged and imprisoned in the same city of Philippi to which he was now writing—Acts 16: 19-24. How the jailer who had inflic ted some of these sufferings upon Paul must have recalled the scene as he heard this letter to the church of which he was now a member read) and now heard to be in Paul (in his imprison ment at Rome). , FRIDAY, September 26. Philippians 2 : 1 , 2 . Paul, having spoken of the conflict and suffering that were before them, returns to the importance of unity, at which he had hinted just before, (ch. 1:27). If there was to be opposition, certainly Christians should stand together. Paul’s appeal for unity is very tender and pathetic. He urges them to comfort and console him by being “of the same mind.” “If there is therefore any comfort in Christ (i. e., any comfort to be given- him by them because of their union with Christ and his union with Christ), if any consola tion of love, (i. e., any consolation in which love expresses itself, their love to him, showing itself in their consol ing him), if any fellowship of the Spirit (that is, any fellowship between Himself and them of which the Holy Spirit was the author. In 1 Cor. 13:14 “the fellowship of the Spirit” refers to communion with the Holy Spirit, or else to participation in the Holy Spirit), if any tender mercies and compassions (here he appeals to their sympathy and compassion without any qualifying phrases, such as “of Christ”—cf. ch. 1: 8—or, “in Christ,” or, “of the Spirit” : this is very touching)” : if there be any of these things, says Paul, “fulfill ye my joy.” Surely they would. The word translated “fulfill” might better be rendered “fill full” my joy: he already had much joy in them, but he wished them to fill his joy brim-full. And how could they fill his joy brim-full? He tells them how: by being “of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Nothing would so comfort and console Paul in the present great abundance of his afflictions, nothing else would fill his joy so brimful, as their thoroughgoing
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