Philippians and Philemon - MR Vincent - 1906.pdf

INTRODUCTION XXIX
ii), which is inconsistent with the assurance that he displays
elsewhere (Rom. v. 17, 18, 21, viii. 38, 39
; 2 Cor. v. i ff.). But
the words d are an expression of humihty and self-distrust,
not of doubt. He elsewhere urges the necessity of caution and
watchfulness against a possible lapse from the faith (ii. 12 ; i Cor.
X. 12 ; Gal. iii. 3, v. 4), and he takes the same caution to himself
(see note on iii. 11). He displays no uncertainty as to the object-
ive basis of salvation, and the fellowship of suffering with Christ
as the subjective condition of sharing his glory agrees with Rom.
viii. 17.
5. Self-glorification on the part of Paul in setting himself before
his readers as a type of the righteousness of the law, and after-
wards of justification by faith (iii. 4-17). This requires no answer.
Where he speaks of his advantages as a legally righteous Jew,
he describes them as a trusting in the flesh (vs. 4), while as
a Christian he expressly disclaims confidence in the flesh (vs. 3,
7-12).
6. Contradictory expressions as to his expectations for the
future. On the one hand, he looks for a speedy release (i. 25,
ii. 24) ; on the other, he contemplates martyrdom (ii. 17). But
he says nothing but what is compatible with the alternations of
hope and fear which are natural to a prisoner ;
and circumstances
might have awakened his hopes at one time, and clouded them at
another.
7. The words concerning the gift of the Philippians (iv. 10-19)
contradict i Thess. ii. 9. There is no contradiction. The latter
passage confirms the statement of iv. 15, that the Thessalonians
were not among the Macedonians who contributed to Paul while
in Corinth. Holsten's assertion that Paul's way of thanking the
Philippians is thankless, is nonsense. Nothing can be more
delicate, more hearty, and more manly than his expression of
gratitude.
8. Differences in style from the acknowledged Pauline letters.
Holsten collects these, and classifies them as non-pauline, un-
pauline, and anti-pauline.
It would seem self-evident that any writer whose mind is alive
and whose thoughts do not move always in the same round, will
use in one book or letter words and phrases which he does not
use in another. The difference in subject or mood may be suffi-