humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings :

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the Gospel.

23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 I sent him therefore the more carefully,

that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation :

30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

“IF THEREFORE ANY CONSOLATION IN CHRIST, IF ANY COMFORT OF LOVE."-Rather exhortation in Christ, persuasion of love. In this chapter the Apostle brings forward one main object of his letter, which was to exhort to unity, giving the example of humility and unselfishness as the only sure bases of unity. It appears from this that the Philippians were guilty of division.

"THAT YE BE LIKE-MINDED."-That ye be of the same mind.

"OF ONE MIND."-Minding one thing. "THROUGH STRIFE OR VAINGLORY.”. By way of opposition and contention for superiority." "OTHER."-Rather others, their brethren in

Christ.

"NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD."—In claiming equality with God, he was not seizing or laying hold of anything which did not belong to Him.

"THE FORM OF A SERVANT."-The form of a lave.

"IN FASHION."-In outward bearing.

"HE HUMBLED HIMSELF."-Showed an example of humility: He showed obedience to the laws of human society, to His parents, and to the civil magistrates.

"HIGHLY EXALTED."-In the Ascension.

"THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW."-This passage is founded on Isa. xlv. 23, which is expressly quoted, Rom. xiv./1 : it really prescribes kneeling in adoration of Him. Alford renders it: "That in the name of Jesus every knee should bend." Compare also the Revised Version.

"THINGS IN HEAVEN."-Beings: the universal creation.

"EVERY TONGUE."-Every creature capable of utterance.

"WORK OUT."-Continue to its completion. "WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING."-With anxiety and self-distrust.

"BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO."-To will and to work.

"DO ALL THINGS."-Do everything that is required of you as a duty.

"MURMURINGS AND DISPUTINGS."

complainings: inward questionings.

Outward

"THE SONS OF GOD."-Imitators of God, so far as respects His justice, goodness, truth, and mercy.

"PERVERSE NATION."-Generation: the same

words are applied to the Israelites of old—“They are a perverse and crooked generation." *

“AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD.”—Luminaries like stars in the world. In the Septuagint the same word is applied to the heavenly bodies in Genesis i. 16.

"HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE.”—Extending to others: it is also rendered holding fast, which by some commentators is said to be the more correct with what follows.

"IF I BE OFFERED."-If I be poured forth: poured out as a drink-offering. This metaphor is taken from the drink-offerings, which were the constant accompaniments of sacrifices: "In the holy-place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink-offering."† Part was poured upon the brow of the victim to consecrate it, and part was allotted to the priests.

“I JOY AND REJOICE WITH YOU ALL."—I rejoice and congratulate you all.

"TO SEND TIMOTHEUS SHORTLY UNTO YOU."It is not expressly stated in the Acts that Timothy was with St. Paul at Philippi; but he was evidently one of the companions of St. Paul on his Second Missionary Journey; it is highly probable, therefore, that he came to Philippi and † Num. xxviii. 7.

Deut. xxxii. 5.