Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 Ephesians Colossians
Philippians 4
Verse 1. So stand - As ye have done hitherto.
Verse 2. I beseech - He repeats this twice, as if speaking to each face to
face, and that with the utmost tenderness.
Verse 3. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow - St. Paul had many
fellowlabourers, but not many yokefellows. In this number was
Barnabas first, and then Silas, whom he probably addresses here;
for Silas had been his yokefellow at the very place, Acts xvi, 19.
Help those women who laboured together with me - Literally,
who wrestled. The Greek word doth not imply preaching, or
anything of that kind; but danger and toil endured for the sake of
the gospel, which was also endured at the same time, probably at
Philippi, by Clement and my other fellowlabourers - This is a
different word from the former, and does properly imply
fellowpreachers. Whose names, although not set down here, are in
the book of life - As are those of all believers. An allusion to the
wrestlers in the Olympic games, whose names were all enrolled in
a book. Reader, is thy name there? Then walk circumspectly, lest
the Lord blot thee out of his book!
Verse 5. Let your gentleness - Yieldingness, sweetness of temper, the
result of joy in the Lord. Be known - By your whole behaviour.
To all men - Good and bad, gentle and froward. Those of the
roughest tempers are good natured to some, from natural
sympathy and various motives; a Christian, to all. The Lord - The
judge, the rewarder, the avenger. Is at hand - Standeth at the door.
Verse 6. Be anxiously careful for nothing - If men are not gentle towards
you, yet neither on this, nor any other account, be careful, but
pray. Carefulness and prayer cannot stand together. In every thing
- Great and small. Let your requests be made known - They who
by a preposterous shame or distrustful modesty, cover, stifle, or
keep in their desires, as if they were either too small or too great,
must be racked with care; from which they are entirely delivered,
who pour them out with a free and filial confidence. To God - It is
not always proper to disclose them to men. By supplication -
Which is the enlarging upon and pressing our petition. With
thanksgiving - The surest mark of a soul free from care, and of
prayer joined with true resignation. This is always followed by
peace. Peace and thanksgiving are both coupled together,
Colossians iii, 15.
Verse 7. And the peace of God - That calm, heavenly repose, that
tranquility of spirit, which God only can give. Which surpasseth
all understanding - Which none can comprehend, save he that
receiveth it. Shall keep - Shall guard, as a garrison does a city.
Your hearts - Your affections. Your minds - Your understandings,
and all the various workings of them; through the Spirit and
power of Christ Jesus, in the knowledge and love of God. Without
a guard set on these likewise, the purity and vigour of our
affections cannot long be preserved.
Verse 8. Finally - To sum up all. Whatsoever things are true - Here are
eight particulars placed in two fourfold rows; the former
containing their duty; the latter, the commendation of it. The first
word in the former row answers the first in the latter; the second
word, the second and so on. True - In speech. Honest - In action.
Just - With regard to others. Pure - With regard to yourselves.
Lovely - And what more lovely than truth? Of good report - As is
honesty, even where it is not practiced. If there be any virtue -
And all virtues are contained in justice. If there be any praise - In
those things which relate rather to ourselves than to our
neighbour. Think on these things - That ye may both practice
them yourselves, and recommend them to others.
Verse 9. The things which ye have learned - As catechumens. And
received - By continual instructions. And heard and seen - In my
life and conversation. These do, and the God of peace shall be
with you - Not only the peace of God, but God himself, the
fountain of peace.
Verse 10. I rejoiced greatly - St. Paul was no Stoic: he had strong
passions, but all devoted to God. That your care of me hath
flourished again - As a tree blossoms after the winter. Ye wanted
opportunity - Either ye had not plenty yourselves, or you wanted a
proper messenger.
Verse 11. I have learned - From God. He only can teach this. In
everything, therewith to be content - Joyfully and thankfully
patient. Nothing less is Christian content. We may observe a
beautiful gradation in the expressions, I have learned; I know; I
am instructed; I can.
Verse 12. I know how to be abased - Having scarce what is needful for
my body. And to abound - Having wherewith to relieve others
also. Presently after, the order of the words is inverted, to intimate
his frequent transition from scarcity to plenty, and from plenty to
scarcity. I am instructed - Literally, I am initiated in that mystery,
unknown to all but Christians. Both to be full and to be hungry -
For one day. Both to abound and to want - For a longer season.
Verse 13. I can do all things - Even fulfil all the will of God.
Verse 15. In the beginning of the gospel - When it was first preached at
Philippi. In respect of giving - On your part. And receiving - On
mine.
Verse 17. Not that I desire - For my own sake, the very gift which I
receive of you.
Verse 18. An odour of a sweet smell - More pleasing to God than the
sweetest perfumes to men.
Verse 19. All your need - As ye have mine. According to his riches in
glory - In his abundant, eternal glory.
Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 Ephesians Colossians
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
