Chapter II: Preface

The plan and purpose of the following pages will be soon evident to the reader. The whole aim is towards edification. What is said in the way of historical introduction, what is done in the course of the chapters in the way of rendering and grammatical explanation, all has this aim in view. The Epistle is handled throughout with the firm belief that it is an Oracle of God, while that Oracle is conveyed through the mind and heart of one of the greatest of the sons of men; and the Expositor's aim accordingly is always, and above all things, to expound. To put it otherwise, his highest ambition is to call attention to the sacred text, and let it speak.

May the Lord of the Apostle, of the Philippians, of ourselves, only grant that His mercy may rest upon this poor contribution to the exegesis of His inexhaustible Word. May it be permitted to throw a quiet light upon some of the treasures of this apostolic casket, to the help, in any measures, of the disciples of our day. Then will the Expositor indeed give thanks to the Master at whose feet he lays his work.

RIDLEY HALL, CAMBRIDGE.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER II

THE INTIMACY OF HUMAN HEARTS IN CHRIST
(PHIL. i. 1-11.)

CHAPTER III

THE APOSTLE'S POSITION AND CIRCUMSTANCES
(PHIL. i. 12-20.)

CHAPTER IV

THE CHRISTIAN'S PEACE AND THE CHRISTIAN'S CONSISTENCY
(PHIL. i. 21-30.)

CHAPTER V

UNITY IN SELF-FORGETFULNESS: THE EXAMPLE OF THE LORD
(PHIL. ii. 1-11.)

CHAPTER VI

THE LORD'S POWER IN THE DISCIPLE'S LIFE
(PHIL. ii. 12-18.)

CHAPTER VII

TIMOTHEUS AND EPAPHRODITUS
(PHIL. ii. 19-30.)

CHAPTER VIII

JOY IN THE LORD AND ITS PRESERVING INFLUENCE
"THAT I MAY KNOW HIM"
(PHIL. iii. 1-11.)

CHAPTER IX

CHRISTIAN STANDING AND CHRISTIAN PROGRESS.
(PHIL. iii. 12-16.)

CHAPTER X

THE BLESSED HOPE AND ITS POWER
(PHIL. iii. 17-21.)

CHAPTER XI

PURITY AND PEACE IN THE PRESENT LORD
(PHIL. iv. 1-9.)

CHAPTER XII

THE COLLECTION FOR ST PAUL: THE FAREWELL
(PHIL. iv. 10-23.)

"Holy Scripture is the Letter of God Almighty to His creatures; learn God's heart in God's Words."

GREGORY THE GREAT, _Epist._, iv. 31.

_INTRODUCTORY_

O Gracious GOD and most mercifull Father, which hast vouchsafed us the rich and precious iewell of thy holy worde, assist us with thy Spirit, that it may be written in our hearts to our euerlasting comfort, to reforme us, to renew us according to thine owne image, to build us up, and edifie us into the perfect building of thy Christ, sanctifying and increasing in us all heauenly vertues. Graunt this O heauenly Father, for Iesus Christes sake. Amen.

_From the_ GENEVA BIBLE, 1557.