The Epistle to the Philippians
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Introduction[i]
In
the epistle to the Philippians, we find much more of christian experience, and
the development of the exercise of the heart, than in the generality of the epistles.
It is in fact proper christian experience. Doctrine and practice are found in
them all, but, with the exception of the second to Timothy which is of another
nature, there is none that contains like this, the expression of the
Christian's experience in this toilsome life, and the resources which are open
to him in passing through it, and the motives which ought to govern him. We may
even say that this epistle gives us the experience of christian life in its
highest and most perfect expression — say, rather, its normal condition under
the power of the Spirit of God. God has condescended to furnish us with this
beautiful picture of it, as well as with the truths that enlighten us, and the
rules that direct our walk.
The
occasion for it was quite natural. Paul was in prison, and the Philippians (who
were very dear to him, and who, at the commencement of his labours, had
testified their affection for him by similar gifts) had just sent assistance to
the apostle by the hand of Epaphroditus at a moment when, as it appears, he had
been for some time in need. A prison, need, the consciousness that the assembly
of God was deprived of his watchful care, this expression on the part of the
Philippians of the love that thought of him in his necessities, although at a
distance — what could be more adapted to open the apostle's heart, and lead to
his expressing the confidence in God that animated him, as well as what he felt
with regard to the assembly, unsupported now by his apostolic care, and having
to trust God Himself without any intermediate help? And it was most natural
that he should pour out his feelings into the bosom of these beloved
Philippians, who had just given him this proof of their affection. The apostle
therefore speaks more than once of the Philippians' fellowship with the gospel:
that is to say, they took part in the labours, the trials, the necessities
which the preaching of the gospel occasioned to those who devoted themselves to
it. Their hearts united them to it — like those of whom the Lord speaks who
received a prophet in the name of a prophet.
This brought the apostle into a peculiarly intimate connection with this assembly; and he and Timotheus, who had accompanied him in his labours in Macedonia, his true son in the faith and in the work, address themselves to the saints and to those who bore office in this particular assembly. This is not an epistle which soars to the height of God's counsels, like that to the Ephesians, or which regulates the godly order which becomes Christians everywhere, like the two to the Corinthians; nor is it one which lays the foundation for the relationship of a soul with God, like that to the Romans. Neither was it destined to guard Christians against the errors that were creeping in among them, like some of the others which were written by our apostle. It takes the ground of the precious inner life, of the common affection of Christians towards each other, but of that affection as experienced in the heart of Paul, animated and directed by the Holy Ghost. Hence also we find the ordinary relationships which existed within an assembly: there are bishops and deacons, and it was the more important to remember them, since the immediate care of the apostle was no longer possible. The absence of this immediate care forms the basis of the apostle's instructions here, and gives its peculiar importance to the epistle.