Philippians and Philemon - MR Vincent - 1906.pdf

IV, 9, 10] YOUR GIFT MADE ME GLAD I4I
the Messianic salvation, both in the Old and the New Testaments.
The Messiah himself will be ' peace ' (Mic. v. . 5) Peace is associated
with righteousness as a Messianic blessing (Ps. Ixxii. 7, Ixxxv.
10). Peace, founded in reconciliation with God, is the theme of
the gospel (Acts x.
(Eph. ii. 17, vi. 15 ;
s^) ; the gospel is 'the gospel of peace'
Rom. x. 15) ; Christ is ' the Lord of peace
(2 Thess. iii. 16), and bestows peace (Jn. xiv. 27, xvi. ^^).
is through God, as the author and giver of peace, that man is able
to find the harmony which he seeks in the conflicting elements of
his own nature, in his relations with the world, and in his relations
to God himself" (Westcott, on Heb. xiii. 20).
'
" It
He now returns thanks for the gift which the Philippian church
has sent him by Epaphroditus, and praises their past and present
generosity.
10-20. J greatly rejoice in the Lord because of your kind thought
for me as shown in your gift; a thought which you have indeed
entertained all along, but have had no opportunity to carry out.
I do not speak as though I had been in want; for I have learned
the secret of being self-sufficient in my condition ; not that I am
sufficient of myself, but I can do all things in Him that strength-
eneth me. It was a beautiful thing for you thus to put yourselves in
fellowship with my affiiction ; but this is not the first time ; for in
the very beginning, as I was leaving Macedonia, you were the only
church that contributed to my necessities, sending supplies to me
more than once in Thessalonica. But my chief interest is not iti
the gift itself, but in the spiritual blessing which your acts of min-
istry will bring to you. Nevertheless my need is fully met by this
gift which Epaphroditus broughtfrom you — this sacrifice of sweet
odor, acceptable to God. And as you have ministered to my need,
so God will supply every need of yours, with such bounteousness
as befits his riches iri glory in Christ Jesus. To him, our God
and Father, be glory forever. My salutations to all the members
ofyour church. The brethren who are with me send you greeting,
and all the members of the Roman church, especially those of
Ccesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit.
10. ^Be iv :
* but I rejoice in the Lord.' Again the
keynote of the epistle is struck.
iv. 4 ; comp. Polyc. ad Phil, i.)
(See i. 18, ii. 17, 18, 28, iii. i,
';^. : epistolary aorist.