Philippians and Philemon - MR Vincent - 1906.pdf

1 14 PHILIPPIANS [ill. 15, 16
of breaking it. Yet there were those in that church, many of
them, no doubt, sincere and earnest believers, who did not grasp
the application of this truth to the question of eating idol-meats.
The force of should be carefully noted. It has been
shown (ch. i. 7) that signifies the general disposition of
mind rather than the specific act of thought ; and its use here
shows that the apostle is not dealing specially, if at all, with differences
of opinion, but rather with dispositions which underlie the
spiritual life. The differences concern form, point of emphasis,
extent of application, rather than substance or subject-matter.
Lightf. explains, ' if progress be your rule, though you are at fault on
any subject, God will reveal this also to you'; translating erdpws 'amiss.'
So Ril. and Lum. There is classical precedent for this meaning, but it is
entirely unknown in N.T.
TovTo :
' this also '
; in addition to what God has already
revealed. refers to '
; this,' whatever it be, in which you
may be otherwise minded. Not, * shall reveal that you are wrong,
and that I am right' (CEc, Calv., Grot.), nor 'shall show whether
you are right or I '
(Beng.).^
(Ew.), nor identical with the preceding
: is to utiveil something that is hidden,
thus giving light and knowledge, (See Gal. i. 16, iii. 23; Eph.
iii. 5.) Hence, of God's giving to his servants insight into divine
truth (Mt. xi. 25, 27, xvi. 17; i Cor. ii. 10, xiv. 30. See West-
cott, Introd. to the Study of the Gospels, p. 9 ; Trench, Syn. xciv.),
Paul here means a revelation by the indwelling Spirit of God
(comp.
:
I Cor. ii. 10-16), either directly or through apostolic
teaching, experience, or other means.
16. 'nevertheless'; 'notwithstanding.' (Comp. i. 18.)
Though there may be things concerning which you need further
revelation, 'nevertheless,' the condition of your receiving this is
your walking according to
knowledge.
your present attainment of light and
£15 :
' whereunto ' ; to whatever divinely revealed knowledge.
Thus carries on the thought of /'. You need further
revelation, nevertheless, walk according to such revelation as you
have received. Notice the before toCto (vs. 15), implying
previous revelation.
-:
' we have attained.' The verb means, primarily,
'to come before,' 'to anticipate,' as i Thess. iv. 15. In N.T. it
mostly loses the sense of anticipation, and signifies simply 'to
' come or ' arrive at,' though occasionally with a sense of suddenness
or surprise, as Mt. xii. 28 ; i Thess. ii. 16.
:
' by that Same walk.' That same knowledge
already revealed. For the dative of the norm or standard, see
Acts XV. I ; Gal. v. 16, 25, vi. 16 ; Win. xxxi. 6