2:1 If 1 [there be] therefore any consolation in a Christ,
if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if
any b bowels and mercies,
(1) A most earnest request to remove all those things, by which
that great and special consent and agreement is commonly
broken, that is, contention and pride, by which it comes to
pass that they separate themselves from one another.
(a) Any Christian comfort.
(b) If any seeking of inward love.
2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the c same
love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.
(c) Equal love.
2:52 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
(2) He sets before them a most perfect example of all modesty
and sweet conduct, Christ Jesus, whom we ought to follow
with all our might: who abased himself so much for our
sakes, although he is above all, that he took upon himself
the form of a servant, that is, our flesh, willingly
subject to all weaknesses, even to the death of the cross.
2:6 Who, being in the d form of God, e thought it not
robbery to be f equal with God:
(d) Such as God himself is, and therefore God, for there is
no one in all parts equal to God but God himself.
(e) Christ, that glorious and everlasting God, knew that he
might rightfully and lawfully not appear in the base
flesh of man, but remain with majesty fit for God: yet
he chose rather to debase himself.
(f) If the Son is equal with the Father, then is there of
necessity an equality, which Arrius that heretic denies:
and if the Son is compared to the Father, then is there
a distinction of persons, which Sabellius that heretic
denies.
2:7 But made himself of g no reputation, and took upon him the
h form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
(g) He brought himself from all things, as it were to
nothing.
(h) By taking our manhood upon him.
2:93 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given
him a i name which is above every name:
(3) He shows the most glorious even of Christ's submission, to
teach us that modesty is the true way to true praise and
glory.
(i) Dignity and high distinction, and that which
accompanies it.
2:10 That at the name of Jesus k every knee should bow, of
[things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things]
under the earth;
(k) All creatures will at length be subject to Christ.
2:11 And [that] l every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(l) Every nation.
2:124 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, m
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
(4) The conclusion: we must go on to salvation with humility
and submission by the way of our vocation.
(m) He is said to make an end of his salvation who runs in
the race of righteousness.
2:135 For it is God which worketh in you both n to will and
to do of [his] good pleasure.
(5) A most sure and grounded argument against pride, because we
have nothing in us praiseworthy, but it comes from the free
gift of God, and is outside of us, for we do not have
ability or power, so much as to will well (much less to do
well), except only by the free mercy of God.
(n) The reason why we are not statues; and yet we do not
will well by nature, but only because God has made of
our wicked will a good will.
2:146 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
(6) He describes modesty by the contrary effects of pride,
teaching us that it is far both from all malicious and
secret or inward hatred, and also from open contentions and
brawlings.
2:157 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;
(7) To be short, he requires a life without fault, and pure, so
that being enlightened with the word of God, they may shine
in the darkness of this world.
2:16 Holding forth the o word of life; 8 that I may rejoice
in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither
laboured in vain.
(o) The Gospel is called the word of life, because of the
effects which it produces.
(8) Again he urges them forward, setting before them his true
apostolic care that he had for them: in addition comforting
them to the end that they should not be sorry for the
greatness of his afflictions, no, not even if he should die
to make perfect their sacrifice with his blood, as it were
with a drink offering.
2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the p sacrifice and service
of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
(p) As if he said, I brought you Philippians to Christ, and
my desire is that you present yourselves a living
sacrifice to him, and then it will not grieve me to be
offered up as a drink offering, to accomplish this your
spiritual offering.
2:199 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly
unto you, that I also may be of q good comfort, when I
know your state.
(9) Moreover, he strengthens and encourages their minds both by
sending back Epaphroditus to them, whose fidelity towards
them, and great pains in helping him, he commends: and also
promising to send Timothy shortly to them, by whose
presence they will receive great benefit. And he hopes
also himself to come shortly to them, if God wills.
(q) May be confirmed in the joy of my mind.
2:21 For r all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus
Christ's.
(r) The most part.
2:30 Because for the s work of Christ he was nigh unto death,
not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service
toward me.
(s) He calls here the work of Christ the visiting of
Christ, being poor and in bonds in the person of Paul.
