Skip to text
JonHaines
Thomas Aquinas / Texts and commentaries

Super Epistolam B. Pauli ad Philipenses lectura
COMMENTARY ON SAINT PAUL’S
LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

by
Thomas Aquinas

translated by F. R. Larcher, O.P.
Magi Books, Inc., Albany, N.Y., 1969

Html-formated by Joseph Kenny, O.P.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE CHAPTER 1
1-1: Phil 1:1-7
1-2: Phil 1:8-17
1-3: Phil 1:18-24
1-4: Phil 1:25-30
CHAPTER 2
2-1: Phil 2:1-4
2-2: Phil 2:5-8
2-3: Phil 2:9-13
2-4: Phil 2:14-30
CHAPTER 3
3-1: Phil 3:1-9a
3-2: Phil 3:9b-14
3-3: Phil 3:15-21
CHAPTER 4
4-1: Phil 4:1-9
4-2: Phil 4:10-23
ProoemiumPROLOGUE
וְאֹרַח צַדִּיקִים כְּאוֹר נֹגַהּ הוֹלֵךְ וָאוֹר עַד־נְכוֹן הַיּוֹם׃Iustorum semita quasi lux splendens, et cetera.The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day (Prov. 4:18).
Prov. IV, 18. In hac auctoritate describitur vita sanctorum ex tribus. Ex eorum arctitudine, ibi semita, quia Matth. VII, 14: arcta est via, etc.; Iob XXVIII, 7: semitam ignoravit avis, et cetera. Ex claritate, ibi lux splendens. Eph. V, 8: eratis aliquando tenebrae, et cetera. Iusti enim sunt lucentes, et ideo eorum via est lucida. Ex profectu, quia semper crescit. I Petr. II, 2: in eo crescatis, et cetera. Et hoc usque ad perfectum diem, scilicet gloriae. I Cor. XIII, 10: cum venerit quod perfectum est, evacuabitur, et cetera. In this text the life of the saints is described under three aspects: first, its narrowness, when it is called a path: “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life” (Mt. 7:14); “That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it” (Job 28:7); secondly, its splendor when he says, the light of dawn: “For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8). For the just shine and, as a result, their life shines. Thirdly, its progress, because it is always growing: “Long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2); and this even until the full day of glory; “When the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away” (1 Cor. 13:10).
E converso malorum via est lata; obscura, tenebrosa, et deficiens. Unde Prov. IV, 19 subditur via impiorum tenebrosa, et cetera. Et Matth. VII, 13: lata porta, et spatiosa via, quae ducit ad perditionem, et cetera. The way of the wicked, on the other hand, is wide, obscure, dark and failing: “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness: they do not know over what they stumble” (Prov. 4:19); “The gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many” (Mt. 7:13).
Ex his verbis trahi potest materia huius epistolae. Erant enim Philippenses in Christi recta semita, tribulationes multas pro Christo sustinentes. Item, illuminati per fidem, infra II, 15: inter quos lucetis, et cetera. Item, proficiebant, ut patet per totam epistolam. Item, convenienter post epistolam ad Ephesios, in qua fit instructio qualiter servanda sit ecclesiastica unitas, hi proponuntur in exemplum servandae ecclesiasticae unitatis, qui optime eam servaverunt. From these words we can gather the subject matter of this letter. For the Philippians were on Christ’s narrow way, enduring many tribulations for Christ. They were enlightened by faith: “Among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15). Furthermore, they were making progress, as is clear from the entire letter. Therefore, after the letter to the Ephesians, in which an instruction was given on preserving Church unity, it was fitting that those who best preserved it should be held up as an example of preserving the unity of the Church.
1-1
1 παῦλος καὶ τιμόθεος δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν φιλίπποις σὺν ἐπισκόποις καὶ διακόνοις: 2 χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 3 εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ μου ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ μνείᾳ ὑμῶν, 4 πάντοτε ἐν πάσῃ δεήσει μου ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν μετὰ χαρᾶς τὴν δέησιν ποιούμενος, 5 ἐπὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν, 6 πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ὅτι ὁ ἐναρξάμενος ἐν ὑμῖν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἐπιτελέσει ἄχρι ἡμέρας Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ: 7 καθώς ἐστιν δίκαιον ἐμοὶ τοῦτο φρονεῖν ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν, διὰ τὸ ἔχειν με ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμᾶς, ἔν τε τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀπολογίᾳ καὶ βεβαιώσει τοῦ εὐαγγελίου συγκοινωνούς μου τῆς χάριτος πάντας ὑμᾶς ὄντας.
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 1 thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Dividitur autem haec epistola in salutationem et epistolarem narrationem. Secunda, ibi gratias ago, et cetera. Circa primum tria facit: quia primo describuntur personae salutantes; secundo personae salutatae, ibi omnibus sanctis, etc.; tertio bona optata, ibi gratia vobis, et cetera. This letter is divided into a greeting and a message (1:3). In the greeting he does three things: first, the persons who send the greeting are described; secondly, the persons greeted (1:1); thirdly, the good things he wishes them (1:2). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he mentions the persons who send the greeting; secondly, their condition (1:1).
Circa primum, primo ponuntur personae salutantes; secundo earum conditio, ibi servi, et cetera. Circa primum, primo ponitur persona principalis, cum dicit Paulus. Et interpretatur Paulus quasi modicus, in quo notatur eius humilitas. Is. LX, 22: minimus erit in mille, et parvus in gentem fortissimam. Secundo, ibi et Timotheus, ponitur persona adiuncta, quia fuerat eorum praedicator. Infra II, 20: neminem enim habeo tam unanimem, qui sincera affectione pro vobis sollicitus sit. In regard to the first he mentions, first of all, the principal person, when he says, Paul, which means “small.” In this he indicates his humility: “The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation” (Is. 60:22). Secondly, the co-sender, when he says, and Timothy, because he was their preacher: “I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare” (infra 2:20).
Deinde cum dicit servi, etc., ponitur conditio eorum. II Cor. IV, 5: non enim nosmetipsos praedicamus, sed Iesum Christum dominum nostrum: nos autem servos vestros per Iesum, et cetera. Sed contra Io. XV, 15: iam non dicam vos servos, et cetera. Respondeo. Duplex est servitus secundum duplicem timorem. Timor enim poenae causat malam servitutem, et de hac intelligitur dictum praemissum Io. XV, 6. Timor vero castus causat servitutem reverentiae, et de hac loquitur apostolus hic. Then when he says, servants of Christ Jesus, he states their condition: “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5). But this seems to conflict with John (15:15): “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing.” I answer that there are two kinds of servitude, corresponding to the two kinds of fear. Fear of punishment causes evil servitude, and this is the kind meant in the above text from John. But chaste fear causes reverential servitude, which is the kind the Apostle has in mind.
Personae salutatae sunt omnes de Ecclesia Philippensi. Et, primo, minores. Unde dicit omnibus sanctis qui sunt Philippis, quae est civitas quam Philippus condidit; et dicit sanctis, et hoc propter Baptismum. Rom. c. VI, 3: quicumque baptizati sumus in Christo, in morte ipsius baptizati sumus. Maiores autem tangit, dicens cum episcopis, et cetera. Quaestio est quare minores praeponit maioribus? Quia prius est populus, quam praelatus. Ez. XXXIV, 2: nonne greges pascuntur a pastoribus? Greges enim pascendi sunt a pastoribus, non e converso. Item cur intermittit presbyteros? Respondeo. Dicendum est quod comprehenduntur cum episcopis, quia in una civitate non sunt plures episcopi. Unde dicens in plurali, dat intelligere etiam presbyteros. Et tamen est alius ordo, quia ex ipso Evangelio hoc legitur quod post designationem duodecim apostolorum (quorum personas gerunt episcopi), designavit septuaginta duos discipulos, quorum locum sacerdotes tenent. Dionysius etiam distinguit episcopos et sacerdotes. Sed in principio, licet ordines fuerint distincti, non tamen nomina ordinum; unde hic comprehendit presbyteros cum episcopis. The persons greeted are the saints of the Church in Philippi: first, the lesser ones; hence he says, to all the saints who are at Philippi, which is a city founded by Philip. He calls them saints on account of their baptism: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Rom. 6:3). He includes the greater ones when he says, with the bishops and deacons. But why does he mention the lesser ones before the greater? Because the people are prior to the prelate: “Should not shepherds feed the sheep?” (Ez. 34:2). For the flocks are to be fed by the shepherds, and not vice versa. But why does he not mention the priests? I answer that they are included with the bishops, because there are not a number of bishops in a city; hence when he puts it in the plural, he means to include priests. Yet it is a distinct order, because we read in the gospel that after appointing twelve apostles (whose persons the bishops manifest), He appointed seventy-two disciples, whose place the priests hold. Dionysius also distinguished bishops from priests. But in the beginning, although the orders were distinct, there were not distinct names for the orders; hence here he includes priests with bishops.
Deinde ponit bona optata, ibi gratia, et cetera. Et sunt duo quae includunt omnia. Primum est gratia Dei remittens peccata. Eph. II, 8: gratia salvati estis, et cetera. Ultimum est pax hominis. Ps. CXLVII, 14: qui posuit fines tuos pacem, et cetera. Et per consequens optat bona media, et hoc a Deo patre. Iac. I, 17: omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum de sursum est, descendens a patre luminum. Item, per meritum humilitatis Christi, et ideo addit et domino Iesu Christo. Io. I, v. 17: gratia et veritas per Iesum Christum facta est. Eph. II, 14: ipse enim est pax nostra, et cetera. Then he mentions the good things he desires for them when he says, grace to you and peace. These two goods include everything: first, there is God’s grace remitting sins: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8); lastly, there is man’s peace: “He makes peace in your borders” (Ps. 147:14). Consequently, he wishes them all the good things between the two: and this, from God our Father: “Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (Jas. 1: 17), and by the merit of Christ’s humanity; hence he says, and from the Lord Jesus Christ: “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1: 17); “For he is our peace, who has made us both one” (Eph. 2:14).
Consequenter ponit epistolarem narrationem. Et circa hoc duo facit, quia primo agit gratias de praeteritis; secundo hortatur ad profectum in futurum, ibi scire autem vos volo, et cetera. Circa primum, primo praemittit gratiarum actionem pro eis; secundo materiam eius, ibi super communicatione, et cetera. Then he begins the letter’s message, in which he does two things: first, he gives thanks for past benefits; secondly, he urges them to continue making progress (1:12). In regard to the first: first, he gives thanks for them; secondly, he mentions the subject matter (1:5).
Gratias autem agit super adiuncto gaudio et deprecatione. Et ideo haec tria tangens, dicit gratias Deo nostro. Gratias agere, est recognoscere gratiam sibi factam. I Thess. ult.: in omnibus gratias agite. In omni memoria vestra, quia in eis nihil occurrit apostolo, quod non esset dignum gratiarum actione. Et hoc est valde magnum. Prov. X, 7: memoria iusti cum laudibus, et cetera. Pro omnibus. Is. LX, 21: populus autem tuus, omnes iusti in perpetuum, et cetera. Agit ergo gratias pro eorum bono, orationem et deprecationem pro custodia: totum tamen pro gaudio. I Reg. XII, 23: absit autem a me hoc peccatum in domino, ut cessem orare pro vobis. First, therefore, he expresses thanks along with joy and a prayer. And so, touching these three things he says, I thank my God. To give thanks is to acknowledge a favor conferred on oneself: “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:18). In all my remembrance of you, because in regard to them nothing occurred to the Apostle that was not worthy of thanksgiving; and this is very great: “The memory of the righteous is a blessing” (Prov. 10:7). For you all: “Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever” (Is. 60:21). He gives thanks for their blessings, he makes a prayer for their protection, and all of this with joy: “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you” (1 Sam. 12:23).
Deinde cum dicit super communicatione, etc., tangit de materia trium praedictorum. Et primo ponit materiam gratiarum actionis; secundo gaudii de futuris, ibi confidens, etc.; tertio deprecationis, ibi testis, et cetera. Then when he says, for your partnership in the gospel, he touches on the matter of the three things mentioned above. First, he mentions the reason for his thanksgiving; secondly, for his joy in things to come ( 1: 6); thirdly, for his prayer ( 1: 8).
Dicit ergo: super communicatione, scilicet qua communicatis doctrinae Evangelii, credendo et opere implendo. Haec est enim vera communicatio. Hebr. ult.: beneficentiae autem et communionis nolite oblivisci, et cetera. A prima die, et cetera. Eccli. XXVII, v. 12: homo sanctus in sapientia manet sicut sol, et cetera. Et hoc ipsum confidens de vobis gaudeo, quia qui coepit, et cetera. Ier. XVII, 5 s.: maledictus homo, qui confidit in homine, et ponit carnem brachium suum. Benedictus vir qui confidit in domino, et erit dominus fiducia eius. Et hoc in virtute Dei. Et ideo dicit qui coepit, et cetera. Io. XV, 5: sine me nihil potestis facere. Quod est contra Pelagianos, qui dicunt principium boni operis esse ex nobis, sed consummationem ex Deo. Sed hoc non est verum: quia principium boni operis in nobis est cogitare de bono, et hoc ipsum est a Deo. II Cor. III, 5: non quod sufficientes simus cogitare aliquid a nobis, quasi ex nobis, et cetera. In diem Christi Iesu, quo remunerabit singulos. II Tim. ult.: in reliquo reposita est mihi corona iustitiae, quam reddet mihi dominus, et cetera. I Cor. I, 8: confirmabit vos usque in finem sine crimine, et cetera. He says, therefore, for your partnership, whereby you share in the doctrine of the gospel by believing and by fulfilling it in work; for this is true partnership: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have” (Heb. 13:16); from the first day until now: “Among thoughtful people stay on” (Si. 27:12). And being confident of this very thing, I take joy in you because, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man” (Jer. 17:5), and in (17:7): “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.” And this by God’s power; hence he says, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). This is against the Pelagians, who say that the principle of every good work is from ourselves, but its completion is from God. But this is not true, because the principle in us of every good work is to think of it, and this itself is from God: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our sufficiency is from God” (2 Cor. 3:5). At the day of Jesus Christ, when He will reward each person: “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day” (2 Tim. 4:8); “He will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8).
Ratio gaudii ponitur cum dicit sicut est mihi, etc.; quia scilicet id iustum est quia congaudetis mihi de bonis meis. Eo quod habeam vos, etc., quasi dicat: habeo de vobis hanc conscientiam tales vos esse, ut scilicet gaudeatis de his de quibus et ego ideo gaudeo, quod gaudium est in vinculis meis, quia tunc pro Christo fuit ligatus, de quo gaudebat. Iac. I, 2 s.: omne gaudium existimate, fratres mei, cum in varias tentationes incideritis, scientes, et cetera. Act. V, 41: ibant apostoli gaudentes a conspectu Concilii, quoniam digni habiti sunt pro nomine Iesu contumeliam pati, et cetera. Et in defensione, et in confirmatione Evangelii, scilicet audacter praedicando, contra tyrannos et haereticos, et confirmando Evangelium in cordibus fidelium. Act. XII: perambulans ex ordine Galatiam regionem, et Phrygiam, confirmans omnes discipulos. Vel aliter, secundum Glossam. In corde, id est desiderio ut socii sitis sempiterni gaudii. Io. XVI, 22: gaudium vestrum nemo tollet a vobis. Et hoc non potest abstrahi a corde meo, quia etiam in vinculis existens et intentus confirmationi et defensioni Evangelii, sollicitudo de vobis non recedit de corde meo. The reason for his joy is given when he says: It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because it is right that you should rejoice with me in my blessing, because I hold you in my heart. As if to say: I have this knowledge of you that you are such; therefore, I rejoice so that you might rejoice in the things in which I rejoice, which is in my imprisonment. For he was imprisoned for Christ at that time and he rejoiced in it: “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect” (Jas. 1:2); “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41). And in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, namely, in preaching boldly against tyrants and heretics, and confirming the gospel in the hearts of the faithful: “He departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples” (Acts 18:23). Or another way according to a Gloss: in my heart, i.e., in my desire that you be partakers of eternal joy: “No one will take your joy from you” (Jn. 16:22). And this cannot be snatched from my heart, for even though I am imprisoned and intent on confirming and defending the gospel, my anxiety for you has not slipped from my heart.
1-2
8 μάρτυς γάρ μου ὁ θεός, ὡς ἐπιποθῶ πάντας ὑμᾶς ἐν σπλάγχνοις Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ. 9 καὶ τοῦτο προσεύχομαι, ἵνα ἡ ἀγάπη ὑμῶν ἔτι μᾶλλον καὶ μᾶλλον περισσεύῃ ἐν ἐπιγνώσει καὶ πάσῃ αἰσθήσει, 10 εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τὰ διαφέροντα, ἵνα ἦτε εἰλικρινεῖς καὶ ἀπρόσκοποι εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ, 11 πεπληρωμένοι καρπὸν δικαιοσύνης τὸν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς δόξαν καὶ ἔπαινον θεοῦ. 12 γινώσκειν δὲ ὑμᾶς βούλομαι, ἀδελφοί, ὅτι τὰ κατ' ἐμὲ μᾶλλον εἰς προκοπὴν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐλήλυθεν, 13 ὥστε τοὺς δεσμούς μου φανεροὺς ἐν Χριστῷ γενέσθαι ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ πραιτωρίῳ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς πάσιν, 14 καὶ τοὺς πλείονας τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐν κυρίῳ πεποιθότας τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου περισσοτέρως τολμᾶν ἀφόβως τὸν λόγον λαλεῖν. 15 τινὲς μὲν καὶ διὰ φθόνον καὶ ἔριν, τινὲς δὲ καὶ δι' εὐδοκίαν τὸν Χριστὸν κηρύσσουσιν: 16 οἱ μὲν ἐξ ἀγάπης, εἰδότες ὅτι εἰς ἀπολογίαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου κεῖμαι, 17 οἱ δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας τὸν Χριστὸν καταγγέλλουσιν, οὐχ ἁγνῶς, οἰόμενοι θλῖψιν ἐγείρειν τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου.
8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 12 I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14 and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
Posita materia gaudii de spe futura, hic ostendit super quo deprecationem pro eis facit. Et primo praemittit suum desiderium, quod ostenditur omnino fervens; secundo materiam deprecationis, ibi et hoc oro, et cetera. Having stated the reason for hope concerning the future, he now indicates the matters for which he makes supplication for them. First, he mentions his desire, which is shown to be very fervent; secondly, the matter of his prayer (1:9).
Et quia cordis desiderium soli Deo est manifestum, ideo invocat Deum testem quod pro eis deprecetur cum desiderio. Iob c. XII: ecce in caelo testis meus est, scilicet Deus, et cetera. Quomodo cupiam vos, scilicet ego, existens in visceribus Iesu Christi. Vel quomodo cupiam vos esse in eis; quasi dicat: quomodo cupiam vestram salutem et participationem viscerosae charitatis Christi. Lc. I, 78: per viscera misericordiae Dei, etc.; quasi dicat: quia ad profunda et intima cordis, virtus amoris pertingit. Vel cupiam ut sitis in visceribus Iesu Christi, id est ut ipsum intime diligatis, ut et diligamini ab eo; in hoc enim vita hominis consistit. Since the heart’s desire is known to God alone, he calls on God to witness that he prays for them with desire: “Behold, my witness,” God, “is in heaven” (Job 16:19). How I yearn for you all, i.e., I, living with the affection of Christ Jesus. Or, how I long for you to be in it; as if to say: How I long after your ,salvation and participation in the merciful heart of Christ. “Through the tender mercy of our God” (Lk. 1:78): As if to say that the power of love reaches to the inmost depths of the heart. Or, I long for you to be in the heart of Jesus Christ, i.e., that you may love Him intimately, and that you may be loved by Him; for man’s life consists in this.
Deinde cum dicit et hoc oro, etc., ponit deprecationem, et tria bona optat. Primo quantum ad interioris charitatis augmentum. Affectus enim interior perficitur per charitatem, et ideo non habenti charitatem optandum est ut habeat; habenti vero, ut perficiatur. Unde dicit ut charitas, et cetera. Pro augmento autem charitatis orandus est Deus, quia solus Deus hoc in nobis operatur. II Cor. IX, 8: potens est autem Deus omnem gratiam abundare facere in vobis, ut in omnibus semper omnem sufficientiam habentes, abundetis in omne opus bonum, et cetera. Et hoc necessarium est ut petamus et nos, quia Matth. V, 20: nisi abundaverit iustitia vestra plus quam Scribarum et Pharisaeorum, non intrabitis in regnum caelorum. Then when he says, and it is my prayer, he mentions his prayer. He asks three things: the first pertains to increasing charity within. For the interior affections are perfected by charity; therefore, if one lacks charity, he should desire to obtain it; if he has it, he should desire that it be made perfect. Hence he says, that your love may abound more and more. God is the one from whom an increase of charity should be sought, because God is the only one who works this in us: “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). Hence it is necessary that we pray for it, because “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:20).
Secundo quantum ad intellectum. Unde dicit in omni scientia. Sed numquid ex charitate provenit scientia? Sic, quia dicitur I Io. II, 27: et vos unctionem quam accepistis ab eo, maneat in vobis, et non necesse habetis ut aliquis doceat vos, sed sicut unctio eius docet vos de omnibus, et cetera. Item, charitas est spiritus, de quo dicitur Io. XVI, 13: cum venerit ille spiritus veritatis, docebit vos omnem, et cetera. Cuius ratio est, quia qui habet habitum, si rectus est habitus, sequitur inde rectum iudicium de his quae pertinent ad illum habitum; si vero corruptus, falsum. Sicut circa venerea temperatus habet bonum iudicium, intemperatus non sed falsum. Omnia autem quae a nobis fiunt, sunt informanda charitate, et ideo habens charitatem, habet rectum iudicium, et quantum ad cognoscibilia. Et sic dicit in omni scientia, qua scilicet agnoscat veritatem et inhaereat circa ea quae sunt fidei. Haec est scientia sanctorum, de qua dicitur Sap. X, 10. Et quantum ad operabilia, et sic dicit et in omni sensu, qui est vis cognoscitiva circa exteriora obiecta. Et proprium eius est ut statim iudicet de proprio sensibili recte. Et ideo hoc nomen translatum est ad interius iudicium rationis; unde sensati dicuntur qui habent rectum iudicium circa agibilia. Sap. I, v. 1: sentite de domino in bonitate, et cetera. Sap. c. VI, 16: cogitare ergo de illa, sensus est consummatus, et cetera. Sed hic sensus debet esse non tantum considerativus sed etiam discretivus inter bonum et malum, et inter bonum et melius. Unde subdit ut probetis, et cetera. Nota quod charitas perficit sensum ut probet bona; sed perfecta charitas ut probet meliora. I Cor. XII, 31: aemulamini meliora charismata, etc. et infra cap. XIV: sectamini charitatem, et cetera. Et ideo dicit potiora. Tertio quantum ad effectum. Et primo ponit immunitatem a malo; secundo perfectionem in bono. Primum in hoc quod dicit ut sitis sinceri. Est enim duplex peccatum vitandum, scilicet interioris corruptionis, qua homo corrumpitur in se, et hoc excluditur per sinceritatem. I Cor. V, 8: in azymis sinceritatis, et cetera. Aliud est in proximum, scilicet offensa. Et ideo dicit et sine offensa. I Cor. IV, 10: sine offensione estote Iudaeis et gentilibus, et Ecclesiae Dei, sicut ego, et cetera. Et II Cor. VI, 3: nemini dantes ullam offensionem, et cetera. In diem Christi Iesu, id est usque in finem vitae. Matth. XXIV, 13: qui perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit. Quantum ad gratiam dicit repleti fructu iustitiae, ut opera iustitiae quaedam fructus sint. Rom. VI, 22: habetis fructum vestrum in sanctificatione, et cetera. Vel fructu iustitiae, id est praemio iustitiae, scilicet corona. II Tim. IV, 8: in reliquo reposita est mihi corona iustitiae, et cetera. Sap. IV: bonorum enim laborum gloriosus est fructus, et cetera. Et hoc habetur per Christum, quia omnia, quae facimus, sunt bona per ipsum. Io. XV, 5: sine me nihil potestis facere, et cetera. Et haec facienda sunt hoc fine, scilicet in gloriam et laudem Dei, quia ex operibus sanctorum, Deus clarificatur, cum inde alii prorumpunt in laudem Dei. Ps. CL, 1: laudate dominum in sanctis eius, et cetera. Ier. XXXIII, 9: erit mihi in nomen, et in gaudium, et in laudem, et in exultationem cunctis gentibus terrae, quae audierint omnia bona, et cetera. The second request regards understanding; hence he says, with knowledge. But does knowledge arise from charity? It seems so, because it is stated in 1 John (2:27): “But the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie.” Furthermore, charity is the Spirit, of whom it is said in John (16:13): “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” The reason for this is that when a person has a habit, if that habit is right, then right judgment of things pertaining to that habit follows from it; but if it is corrupted, then false judgment follows. Thus, the temperate person has good judgment in regard to sex, but an intemperate person does not, having a false judgment. Now all things that are done by us must be informed with charity. Therefore, a person with charity has a correct judgment both in regard to things knowable; hence be says, with knowledge, by which one recognizes the truth and adheres to the truths of faith; and this is the knowledge of holy things mentioned in Wisdom (10:10); and in regard to things to be done; hence he says, and all discernment (sense), which is the faculty that deals with external objects. Its function is to judge correctly and quickly about the proper object of sense. As a result, this name has been transferred to the internal judgment of reason; hence, those who possess correct judgment in regard to what they should do are called sensible: “Think,” i.e., sense, “of the Lord with uprightness” (Wis. 1: 1): “To fix one’s thought on,” i.e., to sense, “her is perfect understanding” (Wis. 6:15). But this discernment should be able not only to recognize, but also to distinguish between, good and evil, and between good and better; hence he says, so that you may approve what is excellent: “Earnestly desire the higher gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31) and in (15:1): “Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts;” hence he says, what is excellent. The third request concerns behavior. First, he mentions immunity from evil, when he says that you may be pure. For there are two evils to be avoided: first, internal destruction, by which a man is destroyed in himself; and this is excluded by sincerity: “the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:8). The other concerns our neighbor, namely, offenses; hence he says, and blameless: “Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please all men in everything I do” (1 Cor. 10:32); “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry” (2 Cor. 6:3). For the day of Christ, i.e., to the end of our lives: “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt. 24:13). As to the effects of grace he says, filled with the fruits of righteousness. Good works are the fruit: “The return (fruit) you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Rom. 6:22). Or, the fruits of righteousness, i.e., the reward of justice, namely, the crown: “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8); “For the fruit of good labors is renowned” (Wis. 3:15). This is obtained through Jesus Christ, because all that we do is good through Him. “Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). Furthermore, these things must be done for this end, to the glory and praise of God, because God is glorified by the works of the saints, since they cause other people to break out in praise of God: “Praise God in his sanctuary (saints)” (Ps. 156: 1); “And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them” (Jer. 33:9).
Deinde cum dicit scire autem, etc., admonet ad futura. Et primo ponit exempla exequenda et vitanda; secundo concludit moralem monitionem in IV cap., ibi itaque, fratres mei charissimi, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit, quia primo ostendit quae sunt imitanda; secundo quae sunt vitanda, III cap., ibi de caetero, et cetera. Item prima dividitur in duas, quia primo inducit se eis imitandum; secundo alios, secundo cap. si qua ergo, et cetera. Item prima in tres, quia primo ponit exemplum profectum suum; secundo gaudium, quod habet ex profectu, ibi quid enim, etc.; tertio fructum ex profectu suo, ibi scio enim, et cetera. Item prima in duas. Primo praemittit profectum; secundo modum, ibi ita ut vincula mea, et cetera. Then when he says, I want you to know, brethren, he advises them in regard to the future. First, he gives examples to be followed and to be avoided; secondly, he concludes his moral exhortation (ch. 4). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he shows what should be imitated; secondly, what should be avoided (ch. 3). The first is divided into two parts: first, he urges them to imitate him; secondly, to imitate others (ch. 2). The first part is divided into three parts: first, he gives his own progress as an example; secondly, the joy he has in this progress (1:18); thirdly, the fruit of this progress (1:19). The first is again divided into two Parts: first, he mentions his progress; secondly, the manner (1:13).
Dicit ergo: monui vos ad profectum, et ut formam habeatis profectum meum, scire vos volo, et quae circa me sunt, exterius, quia tribulationes etsi exterius essent, non immutabant interius, sed magis ad profectum venerunt, quia ex eis fides praedicata magis profecit. II Cor. I, 6: sive tribulamur, pro vestra exhortatione et salute, sive consolamur, pro vestra consolatione, et cetera. He says, therefore: I have urged you to make progress; and in order that you might have my progress as a pattern, I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me outwardly, namely, tribulations, did not change me inwardly, but has really served to advance the gospel, because the result was that the faith I preached made greater progress: “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer” (2 Cor. 1: 6).
Et ostendit profectum. Primo quantum ad se; secundo quantum ad alios, ibi ut plures, et cetera. Quantum ad se quidem manifestum fuerat quod talia pro Christo pateretur constanter, ita ut vincularetur, unde dicitur ut vincula, etc., quod est gloriosum pro Christo. I Petr. c. IV, 15: nemo vestrum patiatur quasi homicida, aut fur, aut alienorum appetitor; si autem ut Christianus, non erubescat, et cetera. In omni praetorio, sicut in curia Caesaris, et cetera. Ex parte vero aliorum fides crescebat in communi. Unde dicit ut plures, et cetera. I Mach. c. IV: de elephantibus. Eccli. X, 2: secundum iudicem populi, sic et ministri eius, et cetera. Prov. XVIII: iustus quasi leo confidens absque terrore erit, et cetera. Ex parte tamen aliorum est diversitas, quia quidam bene loquebantur, quidam male. Et qui bene, quidam ex generali charitate et quidam ex speciali amore ad apostolum. Et qui male, quidam ex generali malitia, quidam ex speciali odio ad apostolum. Sed ut mihi videtur, apostolus duplicem ostendit causam propter quam quidam praedicabant. Primo propter invidiam. Et ideo apostolus eorum pravam intentionem ostendit, dicens quidam quidem propter invidiam, et cetera. Iac. III, 16: ubi zelus et contentio, ibi inconstantia, et omne opus pravum. I Cor. c. III, 3: cum sit inter vos zelus et contentio, nonne carnales estis? Secundo propter amorem Christi, et Evangelii. Unde dicit quidam propter bonam, et cetera. Ps. CL, 20: benigne fac in bona voluntate, et cetera. Sed apostolus addit dicens quidam vero ex charitate, scilicet quae facit bonam voluntatem, etc., quia ut supplerent defectum mei docentis, praedicaverunt. Deinde apostolus exponit quod dixerat, dicens quod quidam non secundum sanam intentionem, sed ex contentione. Corrupta eorum intentio dupliciter patuit: uno modo ut publice praedicando, turbationem facerent in populo gentili contra apostolum, supra illam quam habuit. Alio modo quia credebant quod Paulus audiens eos usurpare officium sibi commissum, turbaretur et ex hoc adderetur afflictio afflicto. Then he shows his own progress; secondly, that of others (1:14). In regard to himself, of course, it was obvious that he suffered for Christ with constancy, so that it has become known... that my imprisonment is for Christ. This redounds to Christ’s glory: “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrongdoer, or a mischief-maker; yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God” (1 Pet. 4:15). Throughout the whole praetorian guard, and in Caesar’s court. As for the progress of others, their faith has grown apace: most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear. “Like the magistrate of the people, so are his officials” (Si. 10:2); “The righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1). Yet there is some diversity among these, because some spoke properly and some not. Of those who spoke properly, some did so out of general love, and others out of love for the Apostle; of those who spoke improperly, some acted out of general malice, and some out of personal hatred of the Apostle. Yet it seems to me that the Apostle is revealing the two reasons why some preached: first, because of envy; consequently, to show their evil intention the Apostle says, from envy and rivalry: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (Jas. 3:16); “For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh?” (1 Cor. 3:5); secondly, out of love for Christ and the gospel; hence he says, but others from good will: “Deal favorably, O Lord, in your good will with Sion” (Ps. 50:20). The Apostle continues, the latter do it out of love, which causes good will, because they preached to make up for my being prevented from teaching. Then the Apostle explains what he had said, saying that, the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship and not according to a right intention. For their depraved intention is clear in two ways: first, by preaching publicly they caused a disturbance among the Gentiles against the Apostle and thus added to the affliction he already had; secondly, because they believed that Paul would be disturbed, when he heard that they were usurping the task committed to him, thereby adding more affliction to one already afflicted.
1-3
18 τί γάρ; πλὴν ὅτι παντὶ τρόπῳ, εἴτε προφάσει εἴτε ἀληθείᾳ, Χριστὸς καταγγέλλεται, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ χαίρω: ἀλλὰ καὶ χαρήσομαι, 19 οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ τῆς ὑμῶν δεήσεως καὶ ἐπιχορηγίας τοῦ πνεύματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, 20 κατὰ τὴν ἀποκαραδοκίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα μου ὅτι ἐν οὐδενὶ αἰσχυνθήσομαι, ἀλλ' ἐν πάσῃ παρρησίᾳ ὡς πάντοτε καὶ νῦν μεγαλυνθήσεται Χριστὸς ἐν τῷ σώματί μου, εἴτε διὰ ζωῆς εἴτε διὰ θανάτου. 21 ἐμοὶ γὰρ τὸ ζῆν Χριστὸς καὶ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος. 22 εἰ δὲ τὸ ζῆν ἐν σαρκί, τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου: καὶ τί αἱρήσομαι οὐ γνωρίζω. 23 συνέχομαι δὲ ἐκ τῶν δύο, τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων εἰς τὸ ἀναλῦσαι καὶ σὺν Χριστῷ εἶναι, πολλῷ [γὰρ] μᾶλλον κρεῖσσον: 24 τὸ δὲ ἐπιμένειν [ἐν] τῇ σαρκὶ ἀναγκαιότερον δι' ὑμᾶς.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice. 19 Yes, and I shall rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Supra apostolus descripsit profectum ex ipso subsecutum, hic agit de gaudio concepto ex hoc profectu. Et ponitur primo materia gaudii; secundo ipsum gaudium, ibi et in hoc gaudeo, et cetera. Above, the Apostle described the progress he has made; here he deals with the joy born of this progress: first, the cause of this joy; secondly, the joy itself (1:18b).
Contingit autem quandoque quod aliquod gaudium provenit ex bona causa, et hoc directe et per se, et quandoque ex mala causa et hoc indirecte et per accidens. Quando enim est ex bona causa, gaudendum est de effectu et de causa, sicut de eleemosyna facta propter Deum. Sed quando est ex causa mala, tunc est gaudendum de effectu, sed de causa non. Et sic de redemptione per Christum, licet fuerit ex scelere Iudae et Iudaeorum. Ita contigit in Ecclesia, ubi provenit utilitas quandoque per bonos praedicatores quo ad bonam intentionem, quandoque per malos quo ad malam; et de utraque gaudendum est, sicut dictum est. Et ideo dicit quid enim, et cetera. Per occasionem annuntiat Christum, qui non intendit hoc principaliter sed propter aliud, puta lucrum vel gloriam. Prov. XVIII, v. 1: occasionem quaerit, qui recedere vult ab amico. Per veritatem autem, quando ex recta intentione. Is. XXXVIII, 3: obsecro, domine, memento, quaeso, quomodo ambulaverim coram te in veritate, et corde perfecto, et cetera. Sed hoc utroque modo fit ad utilitatem Ecclesiae, ideo dicit si Christus annuntietur, etc., quia si aliud annuntiaret quam Christum, tunc multum interesset, quod fit quando falsa doctrina docetur. Augustinus: pastor qui propter veritatem annuntiat, est amandus; mercenarius qui propter lucrum, est tolerandus; qui falsus, expellendus. Sometimes it happens that joy arises from a good cause, and this directly and of itself; sometimes from an evil cause, and this indirectly and by accident. For when it springs from a good cause, one should rejoice both in the effect and in the cause, as in the case of giving an alms for the glory of God; but when it springs from an evil cause, one should rejoice in the effect but not in the cause, as in the redemption by Christ, since it came about from the crime committed by Judas and the Jews. The same thing happens in the Church when something beneficial results from good preachers with a good intention, and from evil preachers with an evil intention; nevertheless, one should rejoice in both cases, as has been said. He says, therefore: what then? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I shall rejoice. One announces Christ in pretense when he does not chiefly aim at this but at something else, as profit or glory; “He who is estranged seeks pretexts” (Prov. 18:1); but in truth, when it is done with a right intention: “Remember now, 0 Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in thy sight” (Is. 38:3). But either way the results are good for the Church; hence he says, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice, because if something other than Christ were proclaimed, there would be reason for concern. This happens when false doctrine is taught; “The shepherd who teaches for the sake of the truth should be loved; the hireling who teaches for gain should be tolerated; but the one who teaches what is false must be expelled” (Augustine).
Deinde ponit gaudium consequens, dicens et in hoc, scilicet quod vincula mea manifesta sunt propter Christum, quod Christus annuntiatur, gaudeo, in praesenti, Io. XIV, v. 28: si diligeretis me, gauderetis utique, etc., et gaudebo in futurum, Is. LI, 3: gaudium et laetitiam obtinebunt, et cetera. Then he mentions the joy which followed, when he says, in that, namely, that my chains are manifested for the sake of Christ, I rejoice, at present in the fact that Christ is preached: “If you loved me, you would have rejoiced” (Jn. 14:28); and I shall rejoice in the future: “They shall obtain joy and gladness” (Is. 51:11).
Deinde cum dicit scio enim, etc., ponit fructum ex profectu suo provenientem. Et primo ponit ipsum fructum; secundo movet quamdam dubitationem, ibi quod si vivere, et cetera. Item primo proponit fructum; secundo auxilium ipsum consequendi, ibi per vestram orationem, etc.; tertio assignat materiam fructus, ibi sed non in omni, et cetera. Then when he says, for I know that through your prayers..., he mentions the fruit resulting from his progress: first, he mentions the fruit; secondly, he raises a question (1:22). In regard to the first he does three things: first, he mentions the fruit; secondly, his help in obtaining it (1:19); thirdly, he assigns the material of the fruit (1:20b).
Dicit ergo: gaudeo de his, et hoc propter fructum provenientem ex eis in salutem aeternam. Is. XLV, 17: salvatus est Israel in domino salute aeterna, et cetera. Et hoc ideo, quia quando nos aliqua bona facimus cooperando saluti aliorum, redundat in salutem nostram. Si enim, ut dicitur Matth. XVIII, 6, qui scandalizaverit unum ex his pusillis, etc.; quanta gloria dignus est qui salutem multorum procurat? Auxilium autem est triplex, scilicet ex parte aliorum mutua oratio. Unde dicit per vestras orationes, scilicet ex quibus spero adiuvari a Deo. Iac. ult.: orate pro invicem, ut salvemini, et cetera. Ex parte Dei, de quo habemus spem salutis. Is. XXVI, 17 s.: a facie tua, domine, concepimus, et quasi parturivimus, et peperimus spiritum salutis. Et ideo dicit et subministrationem spiritus Iesu Christi. Rom. VIII, v. 26: spiritus adiuvat infirmitatem nostram. Et loquitur similitudinarie. Quando enim aliquis est debilis, indiget relevante ut sustentetur, et hoc est subministrare; et nos debiles sumus, ideo indigemus subministratione spiritus. Io. XIV, 26: et suggeret vobis omnia, etc.; quasi vobis subministrando. Ex parte nostra est spes in Deo, quia, Prov. c. XI, 28: qui confidit in divitiis, corruet. Oportet ergo quod spes nostra sit in Deo, et cetera. Ps. CXXIV, 1: qui confidunt in domino sicut mons Sion, et cetera. Et ideo dicit secundum expectationem, et spem meam. He says, therefore: I rejoice in these things on account of the fruit resulting from them for life everlasting: “Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation” (Is. 45:17), because when we do good by helping in the salvation of others, it redounds to our salvation. For if it is true that “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened about his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Mt. 18:6), how much glory does he deserve who gains the salvation of many? Now help depends on three things: first, on prayer by others; hence he says, through your prayers, by which I hope to be helped by God: “Pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects” (Jas. 5:16). Secondly, on God, in whom we place our hope for salvation: [“In your presence we have conceived, and have been as it were in labor and have brought forth the spirit of salvation”] (Is. 12:18); hence he says, and the help of the Spirit of Jews Christ: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Rom. 8:26). This will turn out for my deliverance. He speaks in a simile; for when a person is infirm, be needs to be delivered from his infirmity, if he is to be kept alive; and this is to help. But we are weak and infirm; therefore, we need the help of the Spirit: “He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (Jn. 14:26), by helping us, as it were. Thirdly, help depends on our trust in God, because “he who trusts in his riches will fair (Prov. 11:28). Therefore, our hope must be in God: “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever” (Ps. 125:1); hence he says, it is my eager expectation and hope.
Sed nonne spes est expectatio futurae beatitudinis? Dicendum est quod spes est motus appetitus in bonum arduum. Et hoc dupliciter: quia quando quis sperat adipisci per se, sic spes est sine expectatione; quando autem per alium, tunc est spes cum expectatione, et sic nos expectamus, spem habentes aliquid consequi per alium. Ps. XXXIX, 2: expectans expectavi dominum, et cetera. Rom. VIII, 24: spe salvi facti sumus. But isn’t hope the expectation of future happiness? I answer that hope is a movement of the appetite toward an arduous good; and this can occur in two ways: sometimes a person hopes to obtain something by himself, and then there is hope without expectation; but sometimes he hopes to obtain something through someone else, and then there is hope with expectation. This is the way we expect, when we have the hope of obtaining something through someone else: [“With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me”] (Ps. 40: 1); “For in this hope we were saved” (Rom. 8:24).
Sed dicit scio, et postea spero et expecto. Numquid certa est haec spes? Respondet apostolus dicens: ita, quia in nullo confundar. I Mac. II, 61: omnes qui sperant in illo, non infirmantur. Rom. V, 5: spes autem non confundit. Eccli. II, 11: nullus speravit in domino, et confusus est. But he says I know, and then speaks of expectation and hope. Is this hope certain? The Apostle answers that it is, saying, I shall not be at all ashamed: “None who put their trust in him will lack strength” (1 Mach. 2:61); “Hope does not disappoint us” (Rom. 5:5); “Whoever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame?” (Si. 2:10).
Huius primo rationem assignat, secundo exponit eam, ibi mihi enim vivere, et cetera. Ratio haec sumitur ex hoc, quod ipse totaliter ordinatur ad servitium Christi, quasi dicat: ideo haec mihi provenient in salutem, quia totaliter sum ad servitium Christi. Et primo ponit fiduciam; secundo perseverantiam; tertio certitudinem intentionis. Dicit ergo sed in omni fiducia, etc., quasi dicat: multi persequuntur me, sed ego confido in Deum. Is. XII, 2: fiducialiter agam, et non timebo. Ps. XI, 6: fiducialiter agam in eo. Sicut semper id est a principio conversionis. Act. IX, 27: quomodo in Damasco fiducialiter egerit, et cetera. Ita et nunc, Iob XXVII, v. 6: iustificationem meam quam coepi tenere, non deseram. He gives the reason for this and explains it, when he says, for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. The reason is based on the fact that he is entirely dedicated to the service of Christ. As if to say: the reason why this will turn out to my salvation is that I am totally at the service of Christ. He mentions his confidence when he says that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body. As if to say: many persecute me, but I put my trust in the Lord: “I will trust, and will not be afraid” (Is. 12:2). As always, i.e., from the beginning of my conversion: “At Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27); so now also: “I hold fast my righteousness, and will not let it go” (Job 27:6).
Tertio, ostendit quod sit eius recta intentio, quia magnificabitur Christus, qui cum sit verus Deus, non potest in seipso magnificari vel minorari, sed in nobis, id est in cognitione aliorum. Tunc ergo quis magnificat Christum, quando eius cognitionem dilatat. Eccli. c. XLIII, 35: quis magnificabit eum sicuti est a principio? Et hoc et verbo et facto, quando magnitudo divini effectus ostendit magnitudinem eius. Et inter effectus mirabiles iustificatio est haec, quamdiu est in corde hominis latens, non magnificabitur per eam Christus, nisi quantum ad cor illius, non quantum ad alios, sed quandocumque prorumpit in exteriora per actus corporales apparentes; tunc vere et proprie magnificatur. Et ideo ait in corpore meo. In corpore nostro Christus dupliciter magnificatur. Uno modo in quantum corpus nostrum deputamus ad obsequium eius, ministeria eius corporaliter exequendo. I Cor. VI, v. 20: glorificate, et portate Deum in corpore vestro. Alio modo corpus nostrum exponendo pro Christo. I Cor. XIII, 3: si tradidero corpus meum, ita ut ardeam, et cetera. Sed primus modus fit per vitam; secundus vero per mortem. Ideo dicit sive per vitam, quia vivendo operatur, sive per mortem. Rom. XIV, v. 8: sive vivimus, sive morimur, domini sumus, et cetera. Quod etiam intelligi potest de morte spirituali. Col. III, 5: mortificate membra vestra quae sunt super terram, et cetera. He shows that his intention is right because Christ will be honored. Since He is God, He cannot be honored (increased) or diminished in Himself, but in us, i.e., in our knowledge. For a person honors Christ when he increases his knowledge of Him: “Who can extol him as he is?” (Si. 43:31). And this in word and deed, when the greatness of His effects shows His greatness. Among these marvelous effects is justification. But as long as this lies hidden in a man’s heart, Christ is not honored by it, except in that heart, but not in regard to others, until it breaks out into external visible actions. Hence be says, in my body. Christ is honored in our body in two ways: in one way, inasmuch as we dedicate our body to his service by employing our bodies in his ministry: “Glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:20); in another way by risking our body for Christ: “If I deliver my body to be burned” (1 Cor. 13:3). The first is accomplished by life, the second by death: hence he says, whether by life, because the body acts only when living, or by death: “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord” (Rom. 14:8). This can also refer to spiritual death: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you” (Col. 3:5).
Deinde exponit quomodo mortificabitur per vitam et per mortem, dicens mihi enim vivere, et cetera. Vita enim importat motionem quamdam. Illa enim vivere dicuntur, quae ex se moventur. Et inde est quod illud videtur esse radicaliter vita hominis, quod est principium motus in eo. Hoc autem est illud, cui affectus unitur sicut fini, quia ex hoc movetur homo ad omnia. Unde aliqui dicunt illud, ex quo moventur ad operandum, vitam suam, ut venatores venationem, et amici amicum. Sic ergo Christus est vita nostra, quoniam totum principium vitae nostrae et operationis est Christus. Et ideo dicit apostolus mihi enim vivere, etc., quia solus Christus movebat eum. Et mori lucrum, hic apostolus proprie loquitur. Quilibet enim sibi ad lucrum reputat, quando vitam quam habet imperfectam potest perficere. Sic infirmus ad lucrum reputat sanam vitam. Vita nostra Christus est. Col. c. III, 3: vita vestra abscondita est cum Christo in Deo. Sed hic est imperfecta. II Cor. c. V, 6: quamdiu sumus in corpore, peregrinamur a domino. Et ideo quando morimur corpore, perficitur nobis vita nostra, scilicet Christus, cui tunc praesentes sumus. Ps. CXXVI, v. 2: cum dederit dilectis suis somnum, et cetera. II Tim. IV, 6: ego enim iam delibor, et tempus meae resolutionis instat, et cetera. Then he explains how He will be honored (?) by life and death, saying: for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Now life produces activity, for that seems to be at the root of man’s life which is the principle of his activity. Hence some call that by which they are roused to activity, their life; as hunters call hunting their life, and friends their friend. So, Christ is our life, because the whole principle of our life and activity is Christ; hence the Apostle says, for to me to live is Christ, because Christ alone moved him, and to die is gain. Here the Apostle is speaking precisely. For a person regards it a gain when he can improve the imperfect life he has; thus a sick person regards a healthy life a gain. Our life is Christ: “Your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). But here it is imperfect: “While we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:6). Therefore, when we die in the body, our life, namely, Christ, with whom we are then present, is perfected in us” [“He gives to his beloved in sleep”] (Ps. 126:2); “The time of my departure has come” (2 Tim. 4:6).
Deinde cum dicit quod si vivere, etc., ponit dubitationem quamdam circa ea quae dicta sunt. Et circa hoc duo facit. Primo ponit dubitationem; secundo solvit eam, ibi et hoc confidens, et cetera. Item prima in duas: quia primo ponit dubitationem; secundo proponit rationes ad utramque partem, ibi coarctor autem, et cetera. Then when he says, If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, he raises a doubt in regard to what has been said: first, he states the doubt; secondly, he solves it (1:25). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he states the doubt; secondly, he gives a reason for both sides (1:23).
Dicit ergo: si vivere in carne hic mihi est fructus, etc.; verum est quod in corpore meo, dum vivo, magnificatur Christus. Ergo vivere meum in carne, id est vita mea in carne, est huiusmodi fructus. Unde praedicat effectum de causa, id est si vita affert mihi hunc fructum, ut Christus magnificetur, vita in carne est bona et fructuosa. Rom. VI, 22: habetis fructum vestrum in sanctificationem, et cetera. Si ergo ita est, ignoro quid eligam, utrum mori, vel vivere. Rom. c. VIII, 26: nam quid oremus sicut oportet nescimus, et cetera. Sap. IX, 14: cogitationes enim mortalium sunt timidae, et incertae providentiae nostrae. He says, therefore: If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; as if to say: If Christ is glorified in my body as long as I am alive, my life in the flesh will bear fruit, i.e., if life brings me as its fruit that Christ is honored, life in the flesh is good and fruitful: “The return [fruit] you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Rom. 6:22). Therefore, if that is the case, I cannot tell which I shall choose, whether to die or to live: “For we do not know how to pray as we ought” (Rom. 8:26); “The reasoning of mortals is worthless, and our designs are likely to fail” (Wis. 9:14).
Sed quare dubitas? Quia coarctor, et cetera. Primo ponit rationem ad partem unam; secundo ad aliam. In homine enim duplex est motus, naturae scilicet et gratiae. Naturae ad non moriendum. II Cor. V, 4: nolumus expoliari, sed supervestiri, et cetera. Io. ult.: et alius ducet te quo tu non vis, et cetera. Et gratiae, quam suggeret charitas, quae movet ad dilectionem Dei et proximi. Hic affectus ad dilectionem Dei movet, ut simus cum Christo. Et ideo dicit desiderium habens dissolvi, non simpliciter, sed esse cum Christo. II Cor. V, 8: audemus autem, et bonam voluntatem habemus magis peregrinari a corpore, et praesentes esse ad dominum, et cetera. In quo notatur falsitas opinionis Graecorum, quod animae sanctorum post mortem non statim sunt cum Christo. Et hoc ideo opto, quia est multo melius esse cum Christo. Ps. LXXII, 25: quid enim mihi est in caelo, et cetera. Defecit caro mea, et cor meum, scilicet ad habendum bonum. Ps. LXXXIII, 11: melior est dies una in atriis tuis super millia, et cetera. Dilectio autem proximi movet ad profectum proximi, et ideo dicit permanere autem, etc., id est necessaria est vita mea propter utilitatem vestram. II Cor. V, 13: sive mente excedimus, Deo, sive sobrii sumus, vobis, et cetera. Vel aliter coarctor, etc., id est ex duplici parte insurgit desiderium dissolvi, etc., melius, et cetera. Sententia non mutatur. But why do you hesitate? Because I am hard pressed between the two. First, he gives a reason for one side; secondly, for the other side. The first reason is that there are two impulses in man, the impulse of nature and that of grace: of nature, not to die: “Not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed” (2 Cor. 5:5); “And another will carry you where you do not wish to go” (Jn. 21:18); and the impulse of grace, which charity follows, is to love God and neighbor. This impulse to love God moves us to be with God; hence he says, my desire is to depart, not absolutely, but to be with Christ: “We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). This shows the error in the opinion of the Greeks that the souls of the saints are not with Christ immediately after death. The reason why I desire this is that to be with Christ is far better. “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee” (Ps. 73:25); “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” (Ps. 84:10). But love of neighbor moves us to desire his betterment; hence he says, but to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account, i.e., my life is necessary for your benefit: “For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you” (2 Cor. 5:13). Or another way, I am hard pressed between the two, i.e., on two sides: there arises a desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. The sense is not changed.
Sed hoc non videtur dubitabile, quinimo videtur etiam apostolus in priorem partem declinare. Primum enim desiderium excitat in nobis dilectio Dei, secundum dilectio proximi: maius autem et melius est desiderium primum, igitur, et cetera. Respondeo. Dicendum est quod duplex est dilectio Dei, scilicet dilectio concupiscentiae, qua vult frui Deo et delectari in ipso, et hoc est bonum hominis. Item est dilectio amicitiae, qua homo praeponit honorem Dei etiam huic delectationi, qua fruitur Deo, et haec est perfecta charitas. Unde Rom. VIII, 38: neque mors, neque vita, neque Angeli, et cetera. Et subdit IX cap., 3: optabam ego anathema fieri pro fratribus meis, et cetera. Et hoc dixit, ut ostendat se esse perfectioris charitatis, quasi sit paratus propter amorem Dei et gloriam carere delectatione visionis Dei; et ideo hoc elegit, et bene, tamquam magis perfectum. But this does not seem to be subject to doubt; indeed, the Apostle seems to be inclined to the worse side. For the love of God rouses the first desire in us, and the love of neighbor the second. But the first is a greater and better desire. Therefore [Paul has chosen the less perfect]. I answer that the love of God is twofold, namely, concupiscible love, by which a man wills to love God and find his delight in Him; and this is for the man’s good. The other is the love of friendship, by which a man prefers the honor of God, even over this delight with which he enjoys God; and this is perfect charity. Hence it is stated in Romans (8:38): “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And then he continues in (9:3): “For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren.” He said this to show that be possessed a more perfect charity, as though for the love of God and neighbor he was prepared to lose the delight of seeing God. Therefore, he shows this as something more perfect.
1-4
25 καὶ τοῦτο πεποιθὼς οἶδα ὅτι μενῶ καὶ παραμενῶ πᾶσιν ὑμῖν εἰς τὴν ὑμῶν προκοπὴν καὶ χαρὰν τῆς πίστεως, 26 ἵνα τὸ καύχημα ὑμῶν περισσεύῃ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ διὰ τῆς ἐμῆς παρουσίας πάλιν πρὸς ὑμᾶς. 27 μόνον ἀξίως τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τοῦ Χριστοῦ πολιτεύεσθε, ἵνα εἴτε ἐλθὼν καὶ ἰδὼν ὑμᾶς εἴτε ἀπὼν ἀκούω τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν, ὅτι στήκετε ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι, μιᾷ ψυχῇ συναθλοῦντες τῇ πίστει τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, 28 καὶ μὴ πτυρόμενοι ἐν μηδενὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀντικειμένων, ἥτις ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς ἔνδειξις ἀπωλείας, ὑμῶν δὲ σωτηρίας, καὶ τοῦτο ἀπὸ θεοῦ: 29 ὅτι ὑμῖν ἐχαρίσθη τὸ ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ, οὐ μόνον τὸ εἰς αὐτὸν πιστεύειν ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ πάσχειν, 30 τὸν αὐτὸν ἀγῶνα ἔχοντες οἷον εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοὶ καὶ νῦν ἀκούετε ἐν ἐμοί.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may bear of you that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear omen to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine.
Posita dubitatione et rationibus hinc inde, hic solvit dubitationem. Et primo, quasi eligens unam partem, praenuntiat post futurum adventum suum ad eos quantum ad se; secundo ostendit quid requiratur ex parte eorum, ibi tantum digne, et cetera. Item prima in tres, quia primo praemittit futurum adventum; secundo ostendit fructum; tertio illum fructum exponit. Having stated the doubt and the reason for both sides, he then resolves it: first, as though choosing one side, he foretells what will be the result of his plan to visit them; secondly, he shows what is required on their part (1:26). In regard to the first he does three things: first, he mentions his coming visit; secondly, he shows its fruit; thirdly, he explains this fruit.
Dicit ergo: postquam supra dictum est quod permanere in carne necessarium est propter vos, et hoc quod mea vita est fructuosa vobis, scio, ideo scilicet quia permanebo, sed hoc quasi confidens de Deo. Prov. c. XVIII: iustus quasi leo confidens, et cetera. Manebo et permanebo, id est vivam et diu vivam. Sed contra, statim occisus est a Nerone. Respondeo. Dicendum est quod epistola est facta vel scripta primo anno incarcerationis, quod fuit primo anno Neronis. Unde postea vixit septem annis. He says, therefore: After saying that to remain in the flesh is necessary for you, because my life is fruitful for you, I know that I shall remain, being as it were convinced of this in God: “The righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28: 1); 1 shall remain and continue, i.e., I shall live and continue to live. But on the other hand he was soon killed by Nero. I answer that this letter was written in the first year of his imprisonment, which was also the first year of Nero’s reign. Hence he lived for seven years after this.
Omnibus vobis, id est ad utilitatem omnium vestrum. I Cor. X, 33: non quaerens quod mihi utile est, sed quod multis, ut salvi fiant. Et hoc ad profectum vestrum, id est, ut per meam exhortationem proficiatis in fide et gaudeatis de mea vita quam audistis, sed magis gauderetis si essem praesens. Rom. I, 11: desidero autem videre vos, et cetera. With you all, i.e., for the benefit of all of you: “I do not seek my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33). And this, for your progress, i.e., that through my exhortation you may progress in the faith and rejoice in my life, which you have heard about; but you would rejoice more, if I were present: I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you” (Rom. 1:11).
Deinde exponit quod dixerat, dicens ut gratulatio vestra, etc., id est si detur ut iterum veniam ad vos, est ut gaudium abundans sim vobis. Eph. III, 20: ei autem qui potens est omnia facere superabundanter quam petimus, aut intelligimus, et cetera. Et hoc in Christo Iesu, quia hoc ipsum quod gaudebant de eo, erat propter Christum. Philem. 20: fruar te in domino, et cetera. Then he explains what he had said, saying, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory, i.e., if it is granted me to come to you again, it will be in order that joy may abound in you: “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church” (Eph. 3:20). And this in Christ Jesus, because the fact that they rejoiced in him was for the sake of Christ: I want some benefit from you in the Lord!’ (Philem. 1:20).
Deinde cum dicit tantum digne, etc., ostendit quid requiratur ex parte eorum. Et circa hoc tria facit, quia primo facit hoc; secundo manifestat utilitatem inde consequentem; tertio explicat. Dicit ergo quod tantum ex parte eorum requiritur quod in Evangelio Christi digne conversentur, scilicet secundum quod doctrinae tali congruit. I Thess. II, 12: testificati sumus, ut ambularetis digne Deo, qui vocavit vos in suum regnum et gloriam, et cetera. Col. I, 10: ambuletis digne Deo, et cetera. Ut sive cum venero ad vos et videro vos, sive absens, audiam de vobis bona. Et hoc gaudium est mihi. I Io. III: maiorem horum non habeo gratiam, quam ut audiam filios meos in veritate ambulare, et cetera. Et nunc in speciali expetit ab eis, primo unitatem, secundo constantiam, ibi et in nullo, et cetera. Est autem sanctis necessaria unitas triplex, scilicet amoris; unde dicit audiam de vobis, quod scilicet statis in uno spiritu, quod est per amorem. Eph. IV, 3: solliciti servare unitatem spiritus in vinculo pacis. Et I Cor. VI, v. 17: qui autem adhaeret domino, unus spiritus est. Item concordiae; unde dicit unanimes, id est unam voluntatem, et animum habentes. Act. IV, 32: multitudinis credentium erat cor unum, et anima una. Ps. LXVII, 7: qui inhabitare facit unius moris in domo, et cetera. Item, cooperationis. Unde dicit collaborantes, etc., ut scilicet unus adiuvet alium. Ad hoc facit quod dicitur I Reg. XXV, 1: congregatus est Israel universus, et planxerunt eum, scilicet Samuelem. Prov. XVIII, 19: frater qui iuvatur a fratre quasi civitas firma. Then when be says, only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, be shows what is required on their part. He says that the only thing required of them is that they live worthy of the gospel of Christ, in a manner that conforms to that gospel: “We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12); “To lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him” (Col. 1: 10). And this is my joy: “No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth” (3 Jn. 4). Now he specifically desires from them unity and constancy. There are three kinds of unity required of the saints: first, the unity of love; hence he says, that I may hear, namely, that you stand firm in one spirit, through love: “Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3), and in 1 Corinthians (6:17) “He who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” Secondly, the unity of concord; hence he says, with one mind, i.e., have one will and one soul: “Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32); [“God makes men of one way to dwell in one house”] (Ps. 67:7). Thirdly, the unity of cooperation; hence he says, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, i.e., one helping the other. This is brought about by what is stated in 1 Kings (25: 1) “All Israel assembled and mourned for him,” namely, Samuel; “A brother helped is like a strong city” (Prov. 18:19).
Secundo expetit constantiam, ibi et in nullo, et cetera. Et primo inducit ad fortitudinem; secundo ponit rationem. Dicit ergo et in nullo, etc.; quia nihil possunt, nisi quantum Deus permittit. Lc. XXI, v. 18: capillus de capite vestro non peribit. Ps. I, 3: folium eius non defluet, et cetera. Is. LI, v. 12: quis tu ut timeas ab homine mortali, et a filio hominis, qui quasi foenum ita arescet? Ratio autem est triplex. Prima sumitur a fructu tribulationis; secunda ex dono duplici Dei; tertia ab actore. Dicit ergo non terreamini, quia est vobis fructus, id est ipsa persecutio quae in illis, scilicet persequentibus, est causa perditionis, sed vobis est causa salutis. Matth. XVI, 25: qui voluerit animam suam salvam facere, perdet eam, et cetera. Io. XII, 25: qui amat animam suam perdet eam. Os. XII: perditio tua ex te, Israel, tantummodo ex me auxilium tuum, et cetera. Et hoc a Deo, a quo pro munere donatum est vobis, quod sustineatis tribulationes patienter. Secondly, he expects constancy: and not frightened in anything by your opponents. First, he urges them to be brave, because their opponents can do only as much as God allows: “But not a hair of your head will perish” (Lk. 21:18); “Its leaf does not wither” (Ps. 1: 3); “Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass?” (Is. 51:12). There are three reasons for this: the first is taken from the fruit of tribulation. He says, therefore: not frightened, because there is fruit for you in that persecution which to them, i.e., to the persecutors, is a clear omen of their destruction; but to you it is a cause of salvation: “Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 16:25); “He who loves his life loses it” (Jn. 12:25); “I will destroy you, O Israel; who can help you?” (Hos. 13:9). And this from God, from whom it has been granted to you to endure tribulation patiently.
Secunda ratio, ut in eum credatis. Eph. II, v. 8: gratia enim estis salvati per fidem, quod est magnum et primum donum. Et etiam ut pro illo patiamini, quod est maius donum, ut scilicet curam Christi agatis, quasi athletae eius. Act. V, 41: ibant apostoli gaudentes a conspectu Concilii, et cetera. Si ergo utile est et honorificum, ideo agatis fortiter. The second reason is that you should believe in him: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8), which is the great and first gift; but also suffer for his sake, which is a greater gift, namely, that you should act for Christ as his athlete: “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41). This is useful and honorable; hence you should act bravely.
Tertia ratio sumitur ex exemplo, quia ita tractat eosdem, sicut nos qui sumus primitiae fidelium. Et ideo dicit idem certamen habentes, quale et vidistis in me, scilicet apud vos, quando nudus fui verberatus Philippis, propter pythonissam liberatam, Act. XVI, v. 16 s.: et nunc audistis de me, qui sum in vinculis. The third reason is taken from his example, because he deals with them as people who are the first fruits of the faith. Hence he says, engaged in the same conflict which you saw to be mine, namely, when among you I was naked and beaten by the Philippians because I freed the girl with the spirit of divination (Acts 16); and now hear to be mine, who am in prison.
2-1
1 εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί, 2 πληρώσατέ μου τὴν χαρὰν ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ φρονῆτε, τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγάπην ἔχοντες, σύμψυχοι, τὸ ἓν φρονοῦντες, 3 μηδὲν κατ' ἐριθείαν μηδὲ κατὰ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν, 4 μὴ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστος σκοποῦντες, ἀλλὰ [καὶ] τὰ ἑτέρων ἕκαστοι.
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Supra praebuit se in exemplum patientiae et sanctitatis, hic ad idem adducit exempla aliorum. Et primo ponit exemplum Christi; secundo exempla suorum discipulorum, quos ad eorum confirmationem mittere promittit, ibi spero autem in domino, et cetera. Circa primum tria facit, quia primo praemittit exhortationem; secundo inducit exemplum, ibi hoc enim sentite, etc.; tertio concludit propositum ex exemplo Christi, ibi itaque, charissimi mei, et cetera. Circa primum, primo est considerandum medium quo eos inducit; secundo ad quod inducit, ibi implete gaudium, et cetera. Utitur autem, circa primum, quadruplici medio. Primo ex devotione ad ipsum Christum; secundo ex charitate proximi; tertio ex speciali societate; quarto ex miseratione. Above, he offered himself as an example of patience and holiness; here he presents others as an example of the same: first, he gives the example of Christ; secondly, the examples of his disciples, whom, he promises to send to strengthen them (2:19). In regard to the first he does three things: first, he prefaces his exhortation; secondly, he gives an example (2:5); thirdly, he concludes with the example of Christ (2:12). In regard to the first we must consider: first, the means by which he leads them; secondly, to what he leads them (2:2). In regard to the first he uses four means: first, their devotion to Christ; secondly, their love of neighbor; thirdly, their society; fourthly, their mercy.
Dicit ergo si qua ergo consolatio, et cetera. Haec quatuor media quae hic consequenter ponuntur, omnia referuntur ad hoc quod subdit implete, et cetera. Et est sensus, quasi dicat: consolari volo in vobis. Si qua ergo consolatio, id est si quam consolationem mihi afferre vultis in Christo, implete meum gaudium. Is. LXI, 3: ut ponerem fortitudinem lugentibus Sion, et cetera. II Cor. I, 4: consolatur nos in omni tribulatione, ut et ipsi possimus consolari, et cetera. Ex parte vero charitatis fraternae, dicit si quod solatium charitatis, scilicet est, implete gaudium meum. Gal. III: fructus autem spiritus est charitas, gaudium, pax, et cetera. Ps. CXXXII, 1: ecce quam bonum, et cetera. He says: So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy. These four means which were mentioned all refer to his request: complete my joy. The meaning is as though he were saying: I want to be consoled in you. If there is any encouragement in Christ, i.e., if you wish to afford me consolation in Christ, complete my joy: “To grant to those who mourn in Zion-to give to them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning” (Is. 61:3); “Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:4). As for fraternal charity he says, if any incentive of love... complete my joy: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace” (Gal. 5:22); “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” (Ps. 13-3: 1).
Item ex speciali societate, et haec est inter homines, qui communicant in rebus. Sicut socii in bellicis armis, ita boni spirituales, quae sibi communicant in spiritualibus bonis. Et ideo dicit si qua societas spiritus, scilicet est mihi ad vos, implete meum gaudium. Quasi dicat: exhibui ego vobis multam consolationem vestram; si ergo socii mei estis, exhibete idem et vos mihi. Eph. IV, 3: solliciti servare unitatem spiritus in vinculo pacis, et cetera. Prov. XVIII, 24: vir amicabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater. Item ex miseratione, cum dicit si qua viscera miserationis. Col. III, 12: induite vos sicut electi Dei sancti et dilecti viscera misericordiae, et cetera. As for that special fellowship which prevails among men who share various things, as soldiers share the arms of warfare, he says, if any participation in the Spirit between me and you, complete my joy. As if to say: I have afforded you much consolation; therefore, if you are my companions, afford the same to me: “Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. (Eph. 4:3); “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). As to their mercy he says, if any affection and sympathy: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness (Col. 3:12).
Deinde ponit ea ad quae inducit. Et primo in generali, dicens implete, etc., quasi dicat: gaudeo in vobis, propter bona quae vidi et audivi de vobis; sed quando haec perficientur, tunc gaudium meum crescet et tandem perficietur. Unde illud implete, scilicet proficiendo in bonum. Secundo in speciali monet ad mutuam charitatem, cuius unitas in duobus consistit, scilicet interius in affectu et exterius in effectu. I Io. III, 18: non diligamus verbo, neque lingua, sed opere et veritate. Prima designatur in obiecto charitatis, cum dicit idem sapite. Sapientia enim est cognitio altissimarum causarum, quia eius est iudicare; quod nullus potest sine causa altissima. Et ideo sapientia est cognitio de divinis. Idem ergo sapite, etc., quasi dicat: idem sapiatis circa ea quae sunt fidei. Rom. XV, 5 s.: Deus autem patientiae et solatii det vobis idipsum sapere in alterutrum secundum Iesum Christum, ut uno ore glorificetis Deum. Sed hoc fit per charitatem eamdem; ideo sequitur eamdem charitatem habentes. Col. III, 14: super omnia charitatem habentes, quod est vinculum perfectionis. Item, quantum ad effectum, sunt duo necessaria, scilicet consensus duorum in idem ex parte affectus, et iudicium rationis concors in eodem. Quantum ad primum dicit unanimes, scilicet in agendis. Ps. LXVII, 7: qui habitare facit unius moris in domo. Rom. c. XV, 6: uno ore honorificetis Deum. Quantum ad secundum dicit idipsum sentientes. Quod ita differt ab hoc quod dicit idem sapite, sicut hoc quod dicit unanimes, ab eo quod dicit eamdem charitatem habentes. Then he indicates what he is urging them to do: first, in general, when he says, complete my joy. As if to say: I always rejoice in you on account of the good things I have seen and heard of you; but when these multiply, my joy will grow and finally become perfect. Therefore, complete it, by making progress in good. Secondly, in particular, when he urges them to mutual love, whose unity consists in two things: first, in the affections: “Let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth” (1 Jn. 3:18), bearing on the object of charity; hence he says, being of the same mind. For wisdom in the mind is knowledge of the loftiest causes, because it pertains to wisdom to judge, and no one can do this without knowing the highest cause. Consequently, wisdom is concerned with divine things. Therefore, being of the same mind. As if to say: Have the same mind in regard to the things of faith: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:5). But this depends on having the same charity; hence he says, having the same love: “And above all these put *on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col. 3:14). As for its effect, which consists in two persons consenting to the same thing, two things are required. As to the first he says, being in full accord, namely, in acting: [“God makes men of one way to dwell in one house” (Ps. 67:7)]; “That together you may with one voice glorify God” (Rom. 15:6). As to the second he says, and of one mind. This differs from the statement being of the same mind, as being in full accord differs from having the same love.
Secundo, monet ad humilitatem; circa quam primo excludit contraria humilitati; secundo monet ad eam. Contraria autem humilitati sunt quae oriuntur ex superbia. Haec autem sunt proprie exterior contentio, quia humiles sibi cedunt. Prov. XIII, 10: inter superbos semper iurgia sunt, et cetera. Iac. III, 16: ubi zelus et contentio, ibi inconstantia et omne opus pravum. Ideo dicit nihil per contentionem. Aliud est inanis gloria. Superbus enim inordinate appetit suam excellentiam, etiam in opinione aliorum. Gal. V, 26: non efficiamur inanis gloriae cupidi, invicem provocantes, invicem invidentes, et cetera. Io. VIII, 50: ego autem non quaero gloriam meam, et cetera. Ideo hic dicit neque per inanem gloriam. Et sequitur monitio sed in humilitate superiores invicem arbitrantes. Sicut enim pertinet ad superbiam quod homo se extollat supra se, ita ad humilitatem quod homo se subiiciat secundum suam mensuram. Then he exhorts them to humility: first, he excludes whatever is contrary to humility; secondly, he exhorts them to it. The things contrary to humility are those which spring from pride: one is outward contention, because the humble yield to one another: “By insolence the heedless make strife” (Prov. 13:10); “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (Jas. 3:16). Therefore, he says, do nothing from selfishness. The other is vainglory, for a proud person desires his own excellence, even in the opinion of others: “Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another” (Gal. 5:26); I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it and he will be the judge” (in. 8:50). Thus, he says here, or conceit. This is followed by the admonition, but in humility count others better than yourselves. For just as it pertains to pride that a man extol himself above himself, so to humility that he restrain himself according to his limitations.
Sed quomodo superior poterit hoc implere? Aut enim non cognoscit se esse superiorem, et virtutem suam, et sic non est virtuosus, quia non est prudens. Aut scit, et sic non potest alium existimare superiorem se. Respondeo. Dicendum est, quod nullus est sic bonus, quin in eo sit aliquis defectus, et nullus est sic malus, quin habeat aliquid boni. Unde non oportet quod eum praeponat sibi simpliciter, sed quantum ad hoc dicat in mente sua sic: forte in me est aliquis defectus, qui non est in illo. Et hoc ostendit Augustinus in libro de virginitate, quomodo virgo praeferat sibi coniugatam, quia forte ferventior. Sed, detur quod quantum ad omnia sit ille bonus, et ille malus, nihilominus tu et ille geritis duplicem personam, scilicet tui, et Christi. Si ergo illum non praeponas, ratione suae personae, praeponas ratione imaginis divinae. Rom. XII, 10: honore invicem praevenientes. But how can a superior person do this? For he either does not know that he is superior and virtuous, and then he is not virtuous, because be is not prudent; or he does know, and then he cannot consider some as superior to himself. I answer that no one is so good that there is no defect in him, or so evil that he has no good. Therefore, he should not prefer another to himself absolutely, but because he can say in his mind: “Perhaps there is some defect in me that is not in this other person.” Augustine shows this in the book On Virginity, when he recommends that a virgin prefer a married woman to herself on the ground that she may be more fervent. But suppose that one person is good from every aspect, and another evil; nevertheless, you and he bear a double person, namely, yours and Christ’s. Therefore, if you cannot prefer him to yourself by reason of his person, you can do so by reason of the divine image: “Outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom. 12:10).
Tertio monet ad mutuam sollicitudinem, dicens non quae sua, et cetera. I Cor. XII, v. 25: pro se invicem sollicita sunt membra, et cetera. I Cor. XIII, 5: charitas non quaerit quae sua sunt. Thirdly, he urges them to mutual care, saying let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others: “That the members may have the same care for one another” (1 Cor. 12:25); “Love does not insist on its own way” (1 Cor. 13:5).
2-2
5 τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, 6 ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ, 7 ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος: καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος 8 ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Postquam apostolus posuit exhortationem suam, hic hortatur ad virtutem humilitatis, exemplo Christi. Et primo inducit ad imitandum Christi exemplum; secundo ponit eius exemplum, ibi qui cum in forma, et cetera. After giving his exhortation, the Apostle urges them to the virtue of humility according to Christ’s example. First, he exhorts them to follow the example of Christ; secondly, he gives the example (2:6).
Dicit ergo: sitis humiles, ut dixi, ideo hoc sentite, id est experimento tenete quod fuit in Christo Iesu. Notandum quod quinque modis debemus hoc sentire, scilicet quinque sensibus. Primo videre eius charitatem, ut ei conformemur illuminati. Is. XXXIII, 17: regem in decore suo videbunt, et cetera. II Cor. III, 18: nos autem omnes revelata facie gloriam Dei speculantes, et cetera. Secundo audire eius sapientiam, ut beatificemur. III Reg. X, 8: beati viri tui, et beati servi tui, hi qui stant coram te, et audiunt sapientiam tuam. Ps. XVII, 45: in auditu auris obedivit mihi. Tertio odorare gratias suae mansuetudinis, ut ad eum curramus. Cant. I, 3: trahe me post te, curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum. Quarto gustare dulcedinem eius pietatis, ut in Deo semper dilecti simus. Ps. XXXIII, 9: gustate et videte quoniam suavis est dominus. Quinto tangere eius virtutem, ut salvemur. Matth. IX, 21: si tetigero tantum fimbriam vestimenti eius, salva ero. Et sic sentite quasi tangendo per operis imitationem. He says, therefore: Be humble, as I have said; hence have this mind among yourselves, i.e., acquire by experience the mind which you have in Christ Jesus. It should be noted that we should have this mind in five ways according to the five senses: first, to see His glory, so that being enlightened, we may be conformed to Him: “Your eyes will see the king in his beauty” (Is. 33:17); “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18); secondly, to hear His wisdom, in order to become happy: “Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom” (1 Kgs. 10:8); “As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me” (Ps. 18:44). Thirdly, to smell the grace of His meekness, that we may run to Him: “Your anointing oils are fragrant... draw me after you” (Cant. 1:3); fourthly, to taste the sweetness of His mercy, that we may always be in God: “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:9); fifthly, to touch His power, that we may be saved: “If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well” (Mt. 9:21).
Deinde cum dicit qui cum in forma Dei, etc., proponit exemplum Christi. Then when he says, who, though he was in the form of God, etc., he proposes the example of Christ. First, he mentions Christ’s majesty; secondly, His humility (2:7); thirdly, His exaltation (2:9).
Et primo praemittit Christi maiestatem; secundo ponit eius humilitatem, ibi semetipsum, etc.; tertio exaltationem, ibi propter quod, et cetera. Et primo maiestatem Christi praemittit, ut magis humilitas commendetur. Et duo proponit pertinentia ad Christi dignitatem, scilicet divinae naturae veritatem; secundo aequalitatem, ibi non rapinam. Dicit ergo qui, scilicet Christus, cum in forma, et cetera. Unumquodque enim dicitur in natura generis vel speciei per suam formam, unde forma dicitur natura rei. Et sic esse in forma Dei est esse in natura Dei, per quod intelligitur quod sit verus Deus. I Io. ult.: ut simus in vero filio eius Iesu Christo. Sed non est intelligendum quod aliud sit forma Dei et aliud ipse Deus: quia in simplicibus et materialibus idem est forma et id cuius est, maxime in Deo. He mentions Christ’s majesty first, in order that His humility might be more easily recommended. In regard to His majesty he proposes two things, namely, the truth of His divine nature, and His equality. He says, therefore: who, namely, Christ, though he was in the form of God. For it is through its form that a thing is said to be in a specific or generic nature; hence the form is called the nature of a thing. Consequently, to be in the form of God is to be in the nature of God. By this is understood that He is true God: [“That we may be in his true Son, Jesus Christ” (1 Jn. 5:20) ]. However, it should not be supposed that the form of God is one thing and God himself another, because in simple and immaterial things, and especially in God, the form is the same as that whose form it is.
Sed quare potius dicit in forma, quam in natura? Quia hoc competit nominibus propriis filii tripliciter. Dicitur enim et filius, et verbum, et imago. Filius enim est qui generatur, et finis generationis est forma. Et ideo, ut ostendatur perfectus Dei filius, dicit in forma, quasi habens perfecte formam patris. Similiter verbum non est perfectum nisi quando ducit in cognitionem naturae rei; et sic verbum Dei in forma Dei dicitur, quia habet totam naturam patris. Similiter nec imago dicitur perfecta, nisi habeat formam cuius est imago. Hebr. I, 3: cum sit splendor gloriae, et figura substantiae eius, et cetera. But why does he say, in the form, rather than “in the nature”? Because this belongs to the proper names of the Son in three ways: for He is called the Son, the Word and the Image. Now the Son is the one begotten, and the end of begetting is the form. Therefore, to show the perfect Son of God he says, in the form, as though having the form of the Father perfectly. Similarly, a word is not perfect unless it leads to a knowledge of a thing’s nature; and so the Word of God is said to be in the form of God, because He has the entire nature of the Father. Finally, an image is not perfect, unless it has the form of that of which it is the image: “He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature” (Heb. 1:3).
Sed numquid habet eam perfecte? Sic, quia non rapinam, et cetera. Quod posset dupliciter intelligi. Uno modo de humanitate, et ita non intelligebat Paulus, quia hoc esset haereticum; quia hoc esset rapina, si referretur ad humanitatem. Ideo exponendum est alio modo, scilicet de divinitate, secundum quam dicitur de Christo. Repugnat etiam rationi aliter dicere, quia natura Dei non est receptibilis in materia; quod autem aliquis existens in natura aliqua magis vel minus participet eam, est ex materia, sed ibi non est; ergo dicendum est, quod arbitratus est non esse rapinam, scilicet se esse aequalem Deo, quia est in forma Dei, et cognoscit bene naturam suam. Et quia cognoscit hoc, ideo dicitur Io. V, 18: aequalem se Deo facit; sed hoc non fuit rapina: sicut quando Diabolus et homo volebat ei aequari. Is. XIV, 14: ero similis altissimo, etc., et Gen. c. III, 5: eritis sicut dii. Haec autem fuit rapina; ideo pro hac Christus venit satisfacere. Ps. LXVIII, 5: quae non rapui, tunc exsolvebam. Deinde cum dicit sed semetipsum, etc., humilitatem Christi commendat. Primo quantum ad mysterium incarnationis; secundo quantum ad mysterium passionis, ibi humiliavit se, et cetera. Circa primum ponit humilitatem; secundo eius modum et formam. But does He have it perfectly? Yes, because He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. This can be taken two ways: in one way, of His humanity. But this is not the way Paul understood it, because it would be heretical; for it would be a grasping [robbery] if it referred to his humanity. Therefore, it must be explained in another way, namely, of His divinity, according to which equality with God is said of Christ. It is contrary to reason to say otherwise: because the nature of God cannot be received in matter; but the fact that someone existing in a certain nature participates in that nature to a greater or lesser degree is due to the matter; which is not the case here. Therefore, we must say that He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, because He is in the form of God and knows His own nature well. And because He knows this, it is stated in John (5:18): “He called God his Father, making himself equal with God.” But this is not a grasping, as it was when the devil and man wished to be equal to Him: “I will make myself like the Most High” (Is. 14:14); “You will be like God” (Gen. 3:5), for which Christ came to make satisfaction: “What I did not steal must I now restore?” (Ps. 69:4). Then when he says, but emptied himself, he commends Christ’s humility: first, as to the mystery of the incarnation; secondly, as to the mystery of the passion (2:8). In regard to the first: first, he mentions His humility; secondly, its manner and form (2:7).
Dicit ergo sed semetipsum, et cetera. Sed quia erat plenus divinitate, numquid ergo evacuavit se divinitate? Non, quia quod erat permansit et quod non erat, assumpsit. Sed hoc est intelligendum secundum assumptionem eius quod non habuit, sed non secundum assumptionem eius quod habuit. Sicut enim descendit de caelo, non quod desineret esse in caelo, sed quia incepit esse novo modo in terris, sic etiam se exinanivit, non deponendo divinam naturam, sed assumendo naturam humanam. He says, therefore, He emptied himself. But since He was filled with the divinity, did He empty Himself of that? No, because He remained what He was; and what He was not, He assumed. But this must be understood in regard to the assumption of what He had not, and not according to the assumption of what He had. For just as He descended from heaven, not that He ceased to exist in heaven, but because He began to exist in a new way on earth, so He also emptied Himself, not by putting off His divine nature, but by assuming a human nature.
Pulchre autem dicit exinanivit. Inane enim opponitur pleno. Natura autem divina satis plena est, quia ibi est omnis bonitatis perfectio. Ex. XXXIII, 19: ostendam tibi omne bonum. Natura autem humana, et anima non est plena, sed in potentia ad plenitudinem; quia est facta quasi tabula rasa. Est ergo natura humana inanis. Dicit ergo exinanivit, quia naturam humanam assumpsit. How beautiful to say that He emptied himself, for the empty is opposed to the full! For the divine nature is sufficiently full, because every perfection of goodness is there. But human nature and the soul are not full, but capable of fulness, because it was made as a slate not written upon. Therefore, human nature is empty. Hence he says, He emptied himself, because He assumed a human nature.
Tangit ergo, primo, naturae humanae assumptionem, dicens formam servi accipiens. Homo enim ex sua creatione est servus Dei, et natura humana est forma servi. Ps. XCIX, 3: scitote quoniam dominus ipse est Deus, et cetera. Is. XLII, 1: ecce servus meus, et cetera. Ps. III, 4: tu autem, domine, susceptor meus es, et cetera. Cur dicitur convenientius formam servi, quam servum? Quia servus est nomen hypostasis vel suppositi, quod non est assumptum sed natura: quod enim suscipitur, distinguitur a suscipiente. Non ergo filius Dei assumpsit hominem; quia daretur intelligi quod homo esset aliud a filio Dei, cum tamen filius Dei factus sit homo. Accepit ergo naturam in persona sua, ut esset idem in persona filius Dei et filius hominis. First, he touches on the assumption of human nature when he says, taking the form of a servant. For by reason of his creation man is a servant, and human nature is the form of a servant: “Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his” (Ps. 100:3); “Behold my servant, whom I uphold” (Is. 42:1); “But thou, 0, Lord, art a shield about me” (Ps. 3:4). But why is it more fitting to say the form of a servant, rather than “Servant” Because servant is the name of a hypostasis, which was not assumed, but the nature was; for that which is assumed is distinct from the one assuming it. Therefore, the Son of God did not assume a man, because that would mean that he was other than the Son of God; nevertheless, the Son of God became man. Therefore, He took the nature to His own person, so that the Son of God and the Son of man would be the same in person.
Secundo tangit naturae conformitatem, dicens in similitudinem hominum factus, scilicet secundum speciem. Hebr. II, 17: debuit per omnia fratribus assimilari. Et si dicas quod in domino Iesu Christo non convenit speciem accipere, verum est, quae resultet ex divinitate et humanitate, quasi divinitas et humanitas convenissent in unam naturam communem. Unde sequeretur quod divina natura (ut ita loquar) mutaretur. Secondly, he touches on the conformity of His nature to ours when he says, being born in the likeness of men, namely, according to species: “Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect” (Heb. 2:17). If you say that it is not fitting to speak of a species in the Lord Jesus Christ: it is true in the sense that a new species does not arise from His divinity and humanity, as though His divinity and humanity agreed in having one common species of nature, for it would follow that His divine nature, so to say, would have changed.
Tertio naturae humanae conditiones ponit, dicens et habitu inventus ut homo, quia defectus omnes et proprietates continentes speciem, praeter peccatum, suscepit. Et ideo habitu inventus ut homo, scilicet in exteriori conversatione, quia esuriit ut homo, fatigatus fuit, et huiusmodi. Hebr. IV, 15: tentatum per omnia pro similitudine absque peccato. Bar. III, 38: post haec in terris visus est, et cum hominibus conversatus est. Et sic habitum possumus referre ad exteriores habitudines. Vel habitu, quia ipsam humanitatem accepit quasi habitum. Est autem habitus quadruplex. Unus mutat habentem, et ipse non mutatur, ut stultus per sapientiam. Alius mutatur et mutat, ut cibus. Alius, qui nec mutat, nec mutatur, ut annulus adveniens digito. Alius, qui mutatur, et non mutat, ut vestimentum. Et per hanc similitudinem natura humana in Christo dicitur habitus, qui sic advenit divinae personae, quod non mutavit ipsam; sed mutata est in melius, quia impleta est gratia et veritate. Io. I, 14: vidimus gloriam eius, gloriam quasi unigeniti a patre, plenum gratiae et veritatis. Dicit ergo in similitudinem hominum factus, ita tamen quod non mutatur, quia habitu inventus est ut homo. Thirdly, he mentions the conditions of His human nature when he says, and being found in human form. For He assumed all the defects and properties associated with the human species, except sin; therefore, he says, and being found in human form, namely, in His external life, because He became hungry as a man and tired and so on: “One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning” (Heb. 4:15); “Afterward [He] appeared upon earth and lived among men” (Bar. 3:37). Thus, we can refer form to outward activities. Or in human form [in habit], because He put humanity on as a habit. For there are four kinds of habit [habitus] or ways in which something is “had”: one kind changes a person without itself being changed, as a fool by wisdom; another is changed and also changes the possessor, as food; a third neither changes the possessor nor is changed, as a ring worn on the finger; another is changed and does not change the possessor, as a dress. And by this likeness the human nature in Christ is called a habit or “something had”; because it comes to the divine person without changing it, but the nature itself was changed for the better, because it was filled with grace and truth: “We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (Jn. 1:14). He says, therefore, being born in the likeness of men, but in such a way that He is not changed, because in habit He was found as a man.
Sed advertendum est quod ex hoc verbo habitu, etc., aliqui erraverunt. Unde tangitur triplex opinio VI distinct. III Sentent. Prima est quod humanitas Christi advenit ei accidentaliter, quod est falsum: quia suppositum divinae naturae factum est suppositum humanae naturae; et ideo accidentaliter non advenit ei, sed substantialiter, non quod divinitas naturaliter non advenit ei, sed substantialiter praedicetur de ipso. Et per hoc etiam excluditur error Photini, qui dixit quod Christus esset purus homo, non de virgine, quia dicitur cum in forma Dei esset. Ergo prius in forma Dei erat, quam acciperet formam servi, ex qua est minor patre, quia non rapinam, et cetera. Vincitur ergo quod per formam servi meruit. Item excluditur error Arrii, qui dixit quod esset minor patre, quia non rapinam, et cetera. Item Nestorii, qui dixit quod unio esset intelligenda secundum inhabitationem, inquantum scilicet Deus inhabitavit hominem, et quod alius est filius hominis et alius filius Dei. Sed Rabanus dicit quod apostolus incarnationem nominat exinanitionem. Constat autem quod pater inhabitat et spiritus sanctus: ergo et isti sunt exinaniti, quod est falsum. Item dicit: semetipsum exinanivit, ergo idem est qui exinanitus est, et exinaniens. Sed huiusmodi est filius Dei, quia ipse semetipsum exinanivit, ergo est unio in persona. Item Eutichetis, qui dixit quod ex duabus naturis resultat etiam una natura. Ergo non accepit formam servi, sed quamdam aliam, quod est contra hoc. Item Valentini, qui dixit quod attulit corpus de caelo. Item Apollinaris, qui dixit quod non habuit animam. Sic enim non esset in similitudinem hominum factus. It should be noted that some have fallen into error on account of this phrase, being found in human form. Hence he touches on several opinions: the first is that Christ’s humanity accrues to Him as an accident. This is false, because the person existing in the divine nature became a person existing in the human nature; therefore, it is present not as an accident, but substantially: not that the humanity is united to the Word in His nature, but in His person. By this is excluded the error of Photinus, who said that Christ was true man but not of the Virgin: however, Paul says, he was in the form of God; therefore, He was in the form of God before receiving the form of a servant, as a result of which He is less than the Father, because He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. Arius’ error is also excluded, for he said Christ was less than the Father; but Paul says, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. And Nestorius’ error, who said that the union should be taken as an indwelling, so that God dwells in the Son of man as in a temple, and that the Son of man is a person distinct from the Son of God. And Rabanus says that the incarnation was an emptying. Now it is evident that the Father and the Holy Spirit are involved in every indwelling; therefore, they too are emptied. But this is false. Furthermore, Paul says, He emptied himself; therefore the person emptied and the one emptying are the same. But this is the Son, because He emptied Himself. Therefore, the union is in the person. Also the error of Eutyches, who said that one nature results from the two. Therefore, He did not receive the form of a servant, but a different one, which is contrary to what the Apostle says. Also the error of Valentinus, who said that He took His body from heaven; and the error of Appollinaris, who said that He had no soul. If this were so, He would not have been born in the likeness of man.
Deinde cum dicit humiliavit semetipsum, etc., commendat humilitatem Christi quoad mysterium passionis eius. Et primo ostendit humilitatem Christi; secundo modum, ibi factus obediens, et cetera. Est ergo homo, sed valde magnus, quia idem est Deus et homo, et tamen humiliavit se. Eccli. III, 20: quanto maior es, humilia te in omnibus. Matth. XI, 29: discite a me, quia mitis sum et humilis corde. Then when he says, He humbled himself, he commends Christ’s humility as indicated in His passion: first, he shows Christ’s humility; secondly, its manner (2: 8). Therefore He was man, but very great, because the same one is God and man; yet He humbled himself: “The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself” (Si. 3:18); “Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29).
Modus humiliationis et signum humilitatis est obedientia, quia proprium superborum est sequi propriam voluntatem: quia superbus quaerit altitudinem; ad rem autem altam pertinet quod non reguletur alio, sed ipsa alia regulet, et ideo obedientia contrariatur superbiae. The manner and the sign of His humility is obedience, whereas it is characteristic of the proud to follow their own will, for a proud person seeks greatness. But it pertains to a great thing that it not be ruled by something else, but that it rule other things; therefore, obedience is contrary to pride.
Unde volens ostendere perfectionem humilitatis et passionis Christi, dicit quod factus est obediens, quia si fuisset passus non ex obedientia, non fuisset ita commendabilis: quia obedientia dat meritum passionibus nostris. Sed quomodo factus est obediens? Non voluntate divina, quia ipsa est regula; sed voluntate humana, quae regulata est in omnibus secundum voluntatem paternam. Matth. c. XXVI, 39: verumtamen non sicut ego volo, sed sicut tu. Et convenienter introducit in passione obedientiam, quia prima praevaricatio est facta per inobedientiam. Rom. V, 19: sicut enim per inobedientiam unius hominis peccatores constituti sunt multi, ita et per obedientiam unius hominis, iusti constituuntur multi. Prov. XXI, 28: vir obediens loquetur victorias. Sed quod magna et commendabilis sit haec obedientia, patet: quia tunc est obedientia magna, quando sequitur imperium alterius contra motum proprium; motus autem voluntatis humanae ad duo tendit: ad vitam et ad honorem; sed Christus non recusavit mortem. I Petr. III, 18: Christus semel pro peccatis nostris mortuus est, et cetera. Item non fugit ignominiam. Unde dicit mortem autem crucis, quae est ignominiosissima. Sap. II, 20: morte turpissima condemnemus eum. Sic ergo nec refugit mortem, nec genus ignominiosae mortis. Hence, in order to show the greatness of Christ’s humility and passion, he says that He became obedient; because if He had not suffered out of obedience, His passion would not be so commendable, for obedience gives merit to our sufferings. But how was He made obedient? Not by His divine will, because it is a rule; but by His human will, which is ruled in all things according to the Father’s will: “Nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt” (Mt. 26:39). And it is fitting that He bring obedience into His passion, because the first sin was accomplished by disobedience: “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19); [“The obedient man shall speak of victory” (Prov. 21:28) ]. That this obedience is great and commendable is evident from the fact that obedience is great when it follows the will of another against one’s own. Now the movement of the human will tends toward two things, namely, to life and to honor. But Christ did not refuse death: “Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous” (1 Pet. 3:18). Furthermore, He did not flee ignominy; hence he says, even death on a cross, which is the most shameful: “Let us condemn him to a shameful death” (Wis. 2:20). Thus, He neither refused death nor an ignominous form of death.
2-3
9 διὸ καὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα, 10 ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων, 11 καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός. 12 ὥστε, ἀγαπητοί μου, καθὼς πάντοτε ὑπηκούσατε, μὴ ὡς ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ μου μόνον ἀλλὰ νῦν πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τῇ ἀπουσίᾳ μου, μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε: 13 θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, now only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Supra commendavit Christi humilitatem, hic commendat eius praemium, quod est exaltatio et gloria. Lc. XIV, 11 et c. XVIII, 14: omnis qui se exaltat, humiliabitur, et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur. Iob XXII, v. 29: qui humiliatus fuerit, erit in gloria. Nota triplicem exaltationem Christi, scilicet quantum ad gloriam resurgentis, ibi propter quod, et cetera. Quantum ad notificationem suae divinitatis, ibi et donavit, et cetera. Et quantum ad reverentiam totius creaturae, ibi ut in nomine, et cetera. Above he praised Christ’s humility, here he cites its reward, which is exaltation and glory: “Every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk. 14.11); “God save the lowly” (Job 22:29). Note the threefold exaltation of Christ. First, as to the glory of the resurrection (2:9a); secondly, as to the manifestation of His divinity (2:9b); thirdly, as to the reverence shown by every creature (2:10).
Dicit ergo propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum, scilicet ut de morte resurgeret. Item, de mortalitate ad immortalitatem. Rom. VI, 9: Christus resurgens ex mortuis iam non moritur, mors illi ultra non dominabitur. Ps. CXVII, 16 s.: dextera domini exaltavit me, non moriar, sed vivam. Item, exaltavit eum in dextris suis constituendo. Eph. I, 20 s.: constituens illum ad dexteram suam in caelestibus supra omnem principatum, et potestatem, et virtutem, et dominationem, et omne nomen, et cetera. Sed verum est quod alii exaltantur in gloria, et in immortalitate, sed ille plus, quia dedit, ei nomen, et cetera. Nomen autem imponitur ad significandam rem aliquam, et tanto nomen est altius, quanto res significata per illud est altior, et ideo nomen divinitatis est altius. Ps. VIII, 2: domine dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum, et cetera. Ergo hoc nomen, ut Deus diceretur et esset, dedit isti, scilicet Christo, pater, tamquam vero Deo. He says, therefore God has highly exalted him, namely, that He should rise from the dead and pass from mortality to immortality: “Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him” (Rom. 6:9); “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly! I shall not die, but I shall live” (Ps. 118:16). He also exalted Him by setting Him on His right hand: “He raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:20,). But while it is true that others are raised to glory and immortality, He is more so, because God bestowed on him the name which is above every name. Now a name is imposed to signify some thing, and the loftier the thing signified by a name, the loftier is the name: hence the name of the divinity is highest: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth!” (Ps. 8:1). Therefore, this name, that He should be called and should be God, the Father gave Him, i.e., to Christ, as to the true God.
Sed Photinus dicit, quod hoc ponitur hic sicut praemium humilitatis Christi: et dicit, quod non est verus Deus, sed quod sit sibi data quaedam eminentia creaturae, et similitudo divinitatis: quod non est verum, quia dictum est supra: cum in forma Dei esset, et cetera. Dicendum ergo est quod in Christo est duplex natura, et unum suppositum. Haec enim persona Deus est et homo; et ideo potest hoc dupliciter exponi: uno modo ut donaverit ei hoc nomen pater, inquantum est filius Dei, et hoc ab aeterno per generationem aeternam; quae donatio nihil est aliud quam aeterna eius generatio. Io. V, 26: sicut pater habet vitam in semetipso, sic dedit et filio vitam habere in semetipso, et cetera. Alio modo de Christo homine, et sic pater dedit illi homini nomen, ut Deus esset, non per naturam, quia alia est natura Dei, et alia hominis, sed ut esset Deus per gratiam, non adoptionis sed unionis, qua simul esset Deus et homo. Rom. I, 4: praedestinatus est filius Dei in virtute, ille scilicet qui factus est ei ex semine David secundum carnem. Et haec est expositio Augustini secundum intentionem apostoli. Similiter habetur Act. c. II, 36: certissime sciat omnis domus, et cetera. Prima autem est Ambrosii. But Photinus says that this is mentioned here as a reward for Christ’s humility and that it does not mean He is true God, but merely that He received a certain pre-eminence over the creature and a likeness of the godhead. This however, is not true, because it was stated that he was in the form of God. Therefore, one must answer that there are two natures and one hypostasis in Christ: for this person is God and man. Therefore, this can be explained in two ways: in one way, that the Father gave Him this name inasmuch as He is the Son of God; and this from all eternity by an eternal engendering, so that this giving is no more than His eternal generation: “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself” (Jn. 5:26). In another way it can refer to Christ as man; and then the Father gave that man the name of being God not by nature, because God’s nature is distinct from the nature of man, but to be God by the grace, not of adoption, but of union, by which He is at once God and man: “Designated Son of God in power,” He, namely, “who was descended from David according to the flesh” (Rom. 1:4). This second way is Augustine’s explanation in keeping with the Apostle’s intention. Similarly, it is stated in Acts (2:36) “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” The first is Ambrose’s.
Sed quaeris, quantum ad utramque expositionem obiiciendo, cur, postquam dixit humiliavit semetipsum, etc., sequitur hic propter quod, etc., cum praemium non praecedat meritum. Non ergo aeterna generatio, nec incarnatio est praemium passionis Christi, quia praecedunt. Sed dicendum est, quod in sacra Scriptura dicitur aliquid fieri, quando innotescit. Donavit ergo, id est fecit manifestum mundo, quod hoc nomen haberet. Hoc enim manifestum est in resurrectione, quia ante non erat sic nota divinitas Christi. Et huic concordat textus sequens, quasi non donaverit quod non haberet, sed ut hoc omnes venerentur. Et ponitur duplex veneratio, scilicet in subiectione operis, et in confessione oris, ibi et omnis lingua, et cetera. Dicit ergo et dedit illi nomen quod est super omne nomen, etiam secundum quod homo. Ideo subdit ut in nomine Iesu, quod est nomen hominis, omne genu flectatur. Phil. II, v. 10 et Is. XLV, 24: mihi curvabitur omne genu, et cetera. But you might object to both explanations and ask why he says, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death and follows with, therefore God has highly exalted him, since the reward does not precede the merit. Therefore, neither the eternal engendering nor the incarnation is the reward of Christ’s passion, because they precede it. The answer is that in Sacred Scripture a thing is said to occur when it is known. Therefore, God bestowed, i.e., made manifest to the world, that He has this name. This was manifested in the resurrection, because prior to it the divinity of Christ was not that well known. This is supported by the text which follows: it implies that He did not give Him a name He did not already have, but that all should venerate it. And he mentions two types of veneration, namely, subjecting the body and confessing with the mouth: and every tongue confess. He says therefore: He has given Him a name which is above all names, even as man; hence he adds, that at the name of Jesus, which is the name of the man, every knee should bow; “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear’ (Is. 45:23).
Sed hic erravit Origenes, quia cum audivit quod omne genu flectatur, quod est reverentiam exhibere, reddidit futurum quandoque quod omnis creatura rationalis, sive Angeli, sive homines, sive Daemones subiicerentur Christo subiectione charitatis. Sed contra hoc est illud Matth. XXV, 41: ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum, et cetera. Sed dicendum est, quod est duplex subiectio: una voluntaria, et alia involuntaria. But here is where Origen erred, because when he heard that every knee should bow, which is a sign of subjection, he believed that at some future time every rational creature, whether angels or men or devils, would be subjected to Christ by the allegiance of charity. But this is contrary to Matthew (25:41): “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” It should be noted that there are two kinds of subjection: one is voluntary and the other involuntary.
Et est futurum, quod omnes Angeli sancti Christo subiiciantur voluntarie; et ideo dicit: omne genu flectatur. Et ponitur signum pro signato. Ps. XCVI, 7: adorate eum, omnes Angeli eius. Item quod homines beati, et sancti ac iusti hoc modo subiicientur. Ps. LXXXV, v. 9: omnes gentes, quascumque fecisti, venient, et adorabunt coram te, domine, et glorificabunt nomen tuum. Sed Daemones et damnati non sic, sed involuntarie subiiciuntur. Iac. II, 19: Daemones credunt, et contremiscunt, et cetera. In the future it will come about that all the holy angels will be subject to Christ voluntarily; hence he says, every knee should bow, where he mentions the sign for the thing signified: [“Adore him all his angels” (Ps. 96:8) ]. Likewise, holy and just and beatified men will be subject in this way: “All the nations thou has made shall come and bow down before thee, 0 Lord, and shall glorify thy name” (Ps. 86:9); but not the devils and the damned, for they will be subject involuntarily: “Even the demons believe—and shudder” (Jas. 2:19).
Deinde cum dicit et omnis lingua confiteatur, etc., ponitur exhibitio reverentiae in confessione oris. Omnis lingua, scilicet caelestium, terrestrium et Infernorum. Non de confessione laudis dicitur hoc respectu Infernorum sed de coacta, quae fit per recognitionem Dei. Is. XL, 5: videbit omnis caro pariter, quod os domini locutum est, et cetera. Ps. XCVIII, 3: confiteatur nomini tuo magno, quoniam terribile et sanctum est, et cetera. Et hoc, quia dominus Iesus Christus, etc., iste scilicet homo, in gloria, et cetera. Non dicit in simili, quia in eadem. Io. V, 23: omnes honorificent filium, sicut honorificant patrem. Et notandum est, quod in principio dicit qui cum in forma, etc., hic dicit in gloria, quia futurum erat quod illud quod ab aeterno habuit, omnibus innotesceret, ut Io. XVII, 5: clarifica me tu, pater, apud temetipsum claritate quam habui priusquam mundus fieret apud te. Then when he says, and every tongue confess, he touches on the reverence shown by confessing with the mouth: Every tongue, namely, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. This does not refer to a confession of praise from those under the earth, but to a forced confession, which is made by recognizing God: “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Is. 40:5); “Let them praise thy great and terrible name! holy is he!” (Ps. 99:3). And this confession will recognize that Jesus Christ is Lord [in] the glory of God the Father. He does not say in a similar glory, because it is the same glory: “That all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father?” (in. 5:23). It should be noted that earlier he had said that, he was in the form of God, but here he says in the glory, because it would come to pass that what He had from all eternity would be known by all: “Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made” (Jn. 17:5).
Deinde cum dicit itaque, fratres, etc., concluditur exhortatio. Et circa hoc tria facit: quia primo hortatur ad bene agendum; secundo ostendit quomodo debent agere, ibi omnia autem, etc.; tertio, quo fructu, ibi ut sitis, et cetera. Item prima in tres. Quia primo commemorat praeteritam obedientiam; secundo ostendit quid agere debeant, ibi non in praesentia, etc.; tertio dat fiduciam adimplendi, ibi Deus enim, et cetera. Then when he says, Therefore, my beloved, the exhortation is brought to an end. In regard to this he does three things: first, he exhorts them to act well; secondly, how to do so (2:14); thirdly, with what fruit (2:15). The first part is divided into three: first, he recalls their past obedience; secondly, he shows what they should do (2:12); thirdly, he gives them confidence in accomplishing this (2:13).
Dicit ergo: itaque ex quo Christus sic se humiliavit et propter hoc est exaltatus, debetis scire quod si humiliemini et exaltabimini, et hoc debetis facere, quia semper obedivistis. Et facit mentionem de obedientia, commendando bona eorum, et hoc ideo, quia per obedientiam intelligitur omnis virtus: quia ex hoc est homo iustus, quod mandata Dei custodit. Rom. VI, 16: servi estis eius cui obedistis, sive peccati ad mortem, sive obeditionis ad iustitiam, et cetera. Item, omne bonum, quantumcumque bonum est per se, per obedientiam redditur melius. Prov. XXI, 28: vir obediens loquetur victorias. Item, quia obedientia inter alias est maxima. Nam offerre de rebus exterioribus est magnum, sed maius si de corpore, maximum autem si de anima et voluntate tua, quod fit per obedientiam. I Reg. XV, 22: melior est obedientia, quam victimae, et auscultare magis quam offerre adipem arietum, et cetera. Sed si sic fecistis, hortor ut adhuc sic faciatis de caetero. He says, therefore: Since Christ thus humbled Himself and was exalted for it, you ought to realize that if you are humbled, you shall also be exalted; and you should do this as you have always obeyed. He recalls their obedience to show its relevance to good works, because every virtue is included under obedience. For a man is just inasmuch as he keeps God’s commandments: “Do you not know that if you yield yourself to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16). Furthermore, every good work, no matter how good it is of itself, is made better by obedience; [“The obedient man shall speak of victories” (Prov. 21:28)]. Finally, obedience is one of the greatest of the virtues: for to offer something from one’s external things is great; to offer something from the body is greater; but the greatest is to offer something from your soul and will: and this is done by obedience: “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22). If you have acted thus, I urge you to continue doing the same.
Deinde cum dicit non in praesenti, etc., ostendit quid agere debeant. Et primo monet ut agant fideliter, quia servus infidelis non servit, nisi quando dominus videt, quia non curat, nisi placere; sed fidelis semper bene operatur. Et ideo dicit non in praesentia mea tantum, quia sic videretur quod non faceretis ex instinctu bonae voluntatis. Eph. VI, 6 s.: non ad oculum servientes, quasi hominibus placentes, sed ut servi Christi, facientes voluntatem Dei: ex animo cum bona voluntate servientes domino, et non hominibus. Secundo, ut humiliter, ibi cum metu et tremore, et cetera. Superbus enim non timet, sed humilis. I Cor. X, 12: qui se existimat stare, videat ne cadat. Prov. XXVIII, 14: beatus homo qui semper est pavidus. Ps. II, 11: servite domino in timore, et exultate ei cum tremore. Tertio salubriter, ibi vestram salutem operamini. Matth. XXIV, 13: qui perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit. Then when he says, not only as in my presence, he shows what they should do. First, he urges them to act faithfully, because an unfaithful servant serves only when the master is looking, because he seeks only to please; but a faithful servant always works well. Hence he says, not only as in my presence, for then it would appear that you are not acting from the instinct of good will: “Not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6). Secondly, that they act humbly, when he says, with fear and trembling, for the proud man does not fear, but the humble does: “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12); “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord always” (Prov. 28:14); “Serve the Lord with fear, with trembling kiss his feet” (Ps. 2: 11). Thirdly, that they act with an eye toward salvation- work out your own salvation: “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt. 24:13).
Deinde cum dicit Deus enim, etc., confirmat fiduciam et excludit quatuor falsas existimationes. Unam hominum credentium quod homo per liberum arbitrium possit salvari absque divino auxilio. Contra hoc dicit Deus, et cetera. Io. XIV, 10: pater in me manens, ipse facit opera: et XV, 5: sine me nihil potestis facere. Then when he says, for God is at work in you, both to will and to work, he strengthens their confidence, and he excludes four false opinions: the first is the opinion of those who believe that man can be saved by his own free will without God’s help. Against this he says: For God is at work in you, both to will and to work: “The Father who dwells in me does his works” (Jn. 14:10); “Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).
Alii omnino negant liberum arbitrium, dicentes quod homo necessitatur a fato, vel a providentia divina. Et hoc excludit, cum dicit in vobis. Quia interius per instinctum movet voluntatem ad bene operandum. Is. c. XXVI, 12: omnia enim opera nostra operatus es in nobis. Tertia Pelagianorum, sicut et primi, dicentium electiones esse in nobis, sed prosecutiones operum in Deo, quia velle est a nobis sed perficere a Deo. Et hoc excludit, dicens et velle et perficere. Rom. IX, 16: non est volentis, scilicet velle, sine auxilio Dei, neque currentis, scilicet currere, sed miserentis est Dei. Quarta quod Deus facit omne bonum in nobis, et hoc per merita nostra. Hoc excludit, cum dicit pro bona voluntate, scilicet sua, non pro meritis nostris, quia ante gratiam Dei nihil boni meriti est in nobis. Ps. l, 20: benigne fac, domine, in bona voluntate tua, et cetera. The second are those who deny free will altogether and say that man is necessitated by fate or by divine providence. He excludes this when he says, in you, because He moves the will from within to act well: “Thou has wrought for us all our works” (Is. 26:12). The third, like the first, is that of the Pelagians who say that choices are in us, but the performing of works in God, because willing comes from us, but accomplishing comes from God. He excludes this when he says, both to will and to work: “It depends not upon man’s will,” i.e., without God’s help, “or exertion, but upon God’s mercy” (Rom. 9:16). The fourth is the opinion that God accomplishes every good in us and does this through our merits. He excludes this when he says [according to] for his good pleasure, and not our merits, because before we get God’s grace there is no good merit in us: “Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure” (Ps. 51:18).
2-4
14 πάντα ποιεῖτε χωρὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν, 15 ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης, ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ, 16 λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες, εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα. 17 ἀλλὰ εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίρω καὶ συγχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν: 18 τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ ὑμεῖς χαίρετε καὶ συγχαίρετέ μοι. 19 ἐλπίζω δὲ ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ τιμόθεον ταχέως πέμψαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα κἀγὼ εὐψυχῶ γνοὺς τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν. 20 οὐδένα γὰρ ἔχω ἰσόψυχον ὅστις γνησίως τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν μεριμνήσει, 21 οἱ πάντες γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ζητοῦσιν, οὐ τὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 22 τὴν δὲ δοκιμὴν αὐτοῦ γινώσκετε, ὅτι ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον. 23 τοῦτον μὲν οὖν ἐλπίζω πέμψαι ὡς ἂν ἀφίδω τὰ περὶ ἐμὲ ἐξαυτῆς: 24 πέποιθα δὲ ἐν κυρίῳ ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς ταχέως ἐλεύσομαι. 25 ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην ἐπαφρόδιτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ συστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, 26 ἐπειδὴ ἐπιποθῶν ἦν πάντας ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἀδημονῶν διότι ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἠσθένησεν. 27 καὶ γὰρ ἠσθένησεν παραπλήσιον θανάτῳ: ἀλλὰ ὁ θεὸς ἠλέησεν αὐτόν, οὐκ αὐτὸν δὲ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐμέ, ἵνα μὴ λύπην ἐπὶ λύπην σχῶ. 28 σπουδαιοτέρως οὖν ἔπεμψα αὐτὸν ἵνα ἰδόντες αὐτὸν πάλιν χαρῆτε κἀγὼ ἀλυπότερος ὦ. 29 προσδέχεσθε οὖν αὐτὸν ἐν κυρίῳ μετὰ πάσης χαρᾶς, καὶ τοὺς τοιούτους ἐντίμους ἔχετε, 30 ὅτι διὰ τὸ ἔργον Χριστοῦ μέχρι θανάτου ἤγγισεν, παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ ἵνα ἀναπληρώσῃ τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα τῆς πρός με λειτουργίας.
14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. 20 I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. 21 They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come also. 25 1 have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me.
Supra apostolus induxit ad faciendum opera salutis, hic docet eos modum faciendi. Et primo docet ipsum modum, secundo assignat rationem eius, ibi ut sitis, et cetera. Above, the Apostle exhorted them to do works leading to salvation; here he teaches them how. First, he teaches them the way to do these works; secondly, he gives the reason (2:15).
Docet duplicem modum faciendi, scilicet sine murmure et sine dubitatione. Opera enim virtutum sunt difficillima, et in his habet locum murmuratio. I Cor. X, 10: neque murmuraveritis, sicut quidam eorum murmuraverunt, et perierunt ab exterminatore. Et ne dubitetis an fiant. Iac. I, 6: qui enim haesitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur, et circumfertur, et cetera. First, he points out two ways to act, namely, without grumbling or questioning. For virtuous works are very difficult, and offer a fertile field for grumbling: “We must not grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer” (1 Cor. 10: 10). Furthermore, they should not hesitate about doing them: “He who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (Jas. 1:6).
Ponit autem huius rationem, et primo ex parte eorum; secundo ex parte apostoli, ibi ad gloriam, et cetera. Circa primum ponitur triplex ratio. Prima in comparatione ad fideles, cum dicit ut sitis sine querela. Lc. I, 6: incedentes in omnibus mandatis et iustificationibus domini sine querela, et cetera. Sine peccato autem nullus esse potest, sed bene sine querela. Unde ad hoc monet. Secundo in comparatione ad Deum, ibi simplices, et cetera. Filius enim est similis patri; Deus autem simplex est; unde simplices simus sicut filii Dei, quod est, quando intentio est ad unum. Iac. I, 8: vir duplex animo, inconstans est in omnibus viis suis. Matth. c. X, 16: estote prudentes sicut serpentes, et simplices sicut columbae. Tertio in comparatione ad infideles, ibi sine reprehensione, etc., id est ut bene se habeant ad infideles, ut scilicet sint sine offensione, in medio nationis pravae, quantum ad mala opera, et perversae, quantum ad infidelitatem: et hoc est quando non possunt infamari ab eis. I Tim. V, 14: nullam occasionem date adversario maledicti gratia. Et huius ratio ponitur, ibi inter quos, et cetera. Quia qualitercumque mundus varietur, luminaria caeli clara manent. Matth. c. V, 14: vos estis lux mundi, et cetera. Lucens non quantum ad essentiam, quia sic tantum Deus lux est. Io. I, 4: et vita erat lux hominum, et cetera. At vero sancti non sic. Io. I, 8: non erat ille lux, et cetera. He gives reasons for this: first, on their part, and then on the part of the Apostle. On their part he gives three reasons: first, in regard to the faithful when he says, that you may be blameless: “Walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Lk. 1:6). For no one can exist without sin, but he can without grumbling; hence he urges them to do this. Secondly, in regard to God, and innocent children of God. For a son is like his Father. But God is innocent; hence we are innocent sons of God, when our intention is directed to one object: “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (Jas. 1:8); “Be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Mt. 10:16). Thirdly, in regard to unbelievers, without blemish, i.e., behave well toward unbelievers and give no offense in the midst of a crooked, as to evil works, and perverse generation, as to unbelief. And this is when they cannot be defamed by them: “Give the enemy no occasion to revile us” (1 Tim. 5:14). He gives the reason for this when be says, among whom you shine as lights in the world, because no matter how the world changes, the lights of the world remain bright: “You are the light of the world” (Mt. 5:14). They are luminous, not in essence, because God alone is light in this way: “The life was the light of man” (Jn. 1:4). The same is true of the saints: “He was not the light” (Jn. 1:8).
Sed sunt lux, inquantum habent aliquid lucis illius qui erat lux hominum, scilicet verbi Dei irradiantis nobis. Et ideo dicit verbum vitae continentes, scilicet verbum Christi. Io. VI, 68: domine, ad quem ibimus? Verba vitae aeternae habes. Ps. CXVIII, 105: lucerna pedibus meis verbum tuum, et cetera. But they are light inasmuch as they have some of that light which was the light of men, i.e., of the Word of God radiating on us. Therefore he says, holding fast the word of life, i.e., the word of Christ: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:69); “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).
Deinde ponit rationem ex parte apostoli, ibi ad gloriam meam. Secundo manifestat rationem, quia subditi debent bene agere, etiam ut cedat in gloriam praelatorum. Eorum enim est gloria, quando subditi sunt bene instructi. Prov. X, v. 1: filius sapiens laetificat patrem, et cetera. I Thess. II, 20: vos enim estis gloria nostra, et cetera. Et hoc in diem Christi, quando scilicet adducet secum fideles. Et hoc propter duo est ad gloriam, scilicet propter laborem in praedicatione et propter passionem mortis quam sustinuit. Et ideo dicit quia non in vacuum cucurri, neque in vacuum laboravi. Cursum dicit praedicationem, propter agilitatem, quia a Ierusalem usque in Hispaniam. Item labores, propter contradictiones et poenas quas pertulit, et hoc non in vacuum, immo in multum fructum. I Cor. XV, 10: gratia eius in me vacua non fuit. Then he gives a reason on the part of the Apostle: so that I may be proud; secondly, he explains the reason, because subjects should act well so as to redound to the glory of their prelates. For it is their glory, when subjects are well behaved: “A wise son makes a glad father” (Prov. 10:1); “You are our glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:20). And this, in the day of Christ, namely, when He will lead His faithful to Himself. This redounds to his glory for two reasons; because of the labor and suffering he endured in preaching. Therefore, he says, that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. He calls preaching a running because of his agility in traveling from Jerusalem to Spain. He says labor, because of the contradictions and punishments he suffered; and this not in vain, but in much fruit: “His grace toward me was not in vain” (1 Cor. 15: 10).
Item propter passionem, ibi sed et si immolor. Convertens enim aliquos, quasi de illis quos convertit, offert sacrificium Deo. Sed quandoque offerentes a tyrannis occisi sunt supra sacrificium, sicut habetur Lc. XIII, 1. Et ideo dicit: offero Deo sacrificium de vobis. Sed si contingat quod et ego supra hoc immolor, id est, occasione sacrificii conversionis vestrae occidar, gaudeo propter me. Iac. c. I, 2: omne gaudium existimate, fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis, et cetera. Et congratulor vobis quod habetis fidem etiam cum periculo personae meae, cui et in hoc congratulamini. Et ideo dicit idipsum gaudete et congratulamini mihi. Rom. XII, v. 15: gaudere cum gaudentibus. He refers to his suffering when he says, even if I am to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith. For in converting others he offers to God a sacrifice of those he converts. But sometimes tyrants mingle the blood of the offerers with their sacrifices, as in Luke (13:0); hence he says’ I offer God the sacrifice of your faith. And if it turn out that I myself am immolated, i.e., killed, by reason of offering the sacrifice of your conversion, I am glad on my part: “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials” (Jas. 1:2), and rejoice with you all, that you have the faith, even with danger to my person with whom you rejoice in this too; hence he says, likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me: “Rejoice with those who rejoice” (Rom. 12:15).
Deinde cum dicit spero autem, etc., proponit in exemplum discipulos suos. Et primo Timotheum, secundo Epaphroditum, ibi necessarium autem, et cetera. Circa primum, primo praemittit missionem Timothei; secundo commendat eum, ibi neminem, etc.; tertio innuit tempus missionis, ibi hunc igitur, et cetera. Then when he says, I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, he proposes his own disciples as an example: first, Timothy and then, Epaphroditus. In regard to the first he does three things: first, he promises to send Timothy; secondly, he commends him (2:20); thirdly, he hints at the time he will send him (2:23).
Dicit ergo spero, et cetera. Notandum est, quod apostolus sic habuit fiduciam in Deo, quod etiam minima attribuebat Deo. II Cor. III, 5: non quod sufficientes simus cogitare aliquid a nobis quasi ex nobis, sed sufficientia nostra ex Deo est. Littera est plana. He says, therefore, I hope in the Lord Jews to send Timothy to you soon. Here it should be noted that the Apostle has such trust in God that he attributes the slightest things to God: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our sufficiency is from God” (2 Cor. 3:5). The text is clear.
Deinde commendat eum, et primo ex charitate ad eos; secundo ex devotione ad apostolum, ibi experimentum, et cetera. Et sic facit bonus mediator, quia illos diligit, hunc veneratur. Item primo ponit commendationem; secundo exponit, ibi omnes enim quae, et cetera. Dicit ergo mitto, etc., quia neminem, etc., scilicet in profectum vestrum. Ps. LXVII, 7: qui inhabitare facit unius moris in domo. Qui sollicitus sit. Rom. XII, 8: qui praeest in sollicitudine. Sincera affectione, quia solum propter Deum. II Cor. I, 17: ex sinceritate, sicut ex Deo, coram Deo, in Christo loquimur. Ratio autem quare neminem, etc., quia omnes quae, etc., id est non quae ad salutem proximorum sunt, et ad honorem Dei quaerunt, sed quae ad lucrum et gloriam, et quae sua sunt. Then he praises him: first, on account of his love for them, and secondly, because of his devotion to the Apostle. Thus he makes a good mediator, because he loves them and he venerates him. He says: I am sending Timothy because I have no one like him, i.e., so interested in your progress: [“He makes men of one way to dwell in one house” (Ps. 67:7)] who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. Genuinely anxious, because it is for God alone: “We are as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:17). The reason why I have no one of the same mind is because all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ, i.e., they do not seek things pertaining to the salvation of their neighbor and the glory of God, but pertaining to their profit and glory and themselves.
Sed numquid Lucas et Epaphroditus et alii, qui erant cum apostolo, quaerebant quae sua sunt? Respondeo. Dicendum est, quod in societate apostoli plures erant, qui hoc quaerebant, qui et deseruerunt eum. II Tim. IV, 10: demas enim me dereliquit, diligens saeculum, et abiit Thessalonicam: Crescens in Galatiam: Titus in Dalmatiam: Lucas et mecum solus. Sed consuetudo est quod aliquando Scriptura loquitur de nonnullis, sicut de omnibus. Ier. c. VI, 13: a minori quippe usque ad maiorem omnes avaritiae student, et a propheta usque ad sacerdotem cuncti faciunt dolum, et cetera. Et ideo est distributio accommoda. But did Luke and Epaphroditus and the others, who were with the Apostle seek the things that were their own? I answer that in the company of the Apostle were many who sought this and who deserted him: “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me” (2 Tim. 4:9). But it is a custom that sometimes the Scripture speaks of some as though of all: “From the least to the greatest of them, every one is greedy for unjust gains and from prophet to priest, every one deals falsely” (Jer. 6:13). Therefore it is a narrowed use of the word “all.”
Et si vultis scire, quomodo se habet ad me, respondeo experimentum, etc., id est quasi esset specialis filius. I Cor. IV, 17: ideo, misi ad vos Timotheum, qui est filius meus charissimus et fidelis in domino, et cetera. Hunc ergo sic sollicitum pro vobis, sic mihi charum, spero, et cetera. And if you would know how he has behaved in regard to me, I answer that, Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel, i.e., as though he were a special son: I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord” (1 Cor. 4:17). 1 hope therefore to send him, so solicitous for you and so dear to me.
Sed quare non statim? Est sciendum, quod aliter est de Christo et de aliis sanctis. In Christo enim est plenitudo gratiarum, unde habuit semper notitiam omnium; non sic alii sancti. Unde apostolus praevidebat aliqua de futuris circa se, aliqua ignorabat. Et sic non revelatum erat sibi, an deberet liberari de vinculis. Et ideo dicit mox, et cetera. Quia si detur facultas, personaliter veniam. Et ideo confido, et cetera. Sed tamen liberatus a vinculis non fuit. Ps. XVII, 29: quoniam tu illuminas lucernam meam, domine Deus meus, illumina tenebras meas. Semper enim aliquid tenebrosum est in sanctis. But why not at once? Because it is otherwise with Christ and with the other saints. In Christ was fulness of grace; hence He always had knowledge of all things; but not so the other saints. Hence the Apostle foresaw some things about himself and was ignorant of others. Thus, he received no revelation that he would be delivered from his imprisonment; hence he says, just as soon as I see how it will go with me, because if I were granted leave, I would come to you in person; consequently, I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come also. But he was not freed from his prison: “Yea, thou dost light my lamp: the Lord my God lightens my darkness” (Ps. 18:28). For there is always some darkness in the saints.
Deinde cum dicit necessarium, etc., proponit in exemplum alium suum discipulum, scilicet Epaphroditum. Et primo describit ipsum; secundo ostendit quomodo suscipiatur, ibi excipite, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit, quia primo commendat eum; secundo ostendit causam missionis, ibi quoniam quidem, etc.; tertio eam exponit, ibi nam et infirmatus est, et cetera. Then when he says, I have thought it necessary, he proposes another disciple as an example, namely, Epaphroditus. First, he describes him; secondly, he suggests how he should be received (2:29)., In regard to the first he does three things: first, he praises him; secondly, he states the reason why he is sending him (2:26); thirdly, he explains it (2:27).
Dicit ergo necessarium, et cetera. Nominat autem eum fratrem, propter fidem. Matth. c. XXIII, 8: omnes vos fratres estis, et cetera. Cooperatorem, scilicet in labore praedicationis. Prov. XVIII, 19: frater qui iuvatur a fratre, quasi civitas firma. Et commilitonem, et cetera. Quia simul passi tribulationem. II Tim. c. II, 3: labora sicut bonus miles Christi Iesu, et cetera. Apostolum, id est doctorem. Hic fuit episcopus Philippensium, et missus ab eis ut serviret apostolo, et ideo dicit ministrum necessitatis meae. Infra IV, 18: repletus sum acceptis ab Epaphrodito, quem misistis in odorem suavitatis, hostiam acceptam, placentem Deo. Sed quare? Ad satisfaciendum desiderio, quo desiderio desiderabat videre vos. Rom. I, 11: desidero enim vos, et cetera. Item ad subveniendum suae tristitiae, quia tristis erat de vestra tristitia, quam conceperatis, quando audistis eum infirmari. Et exponit causam, dicens nam et infirmatus est usque ad mortem, scilicet secundum iudicium medicorum, non autem secundum providentiam divinam, sed ad honorem Dei. Io. XI, 4: infirmitas haec non est ad mortem, sed pro gloria Dei. Ideo sequitur sed Deus misertus est eius. Ps. VI, 3: miserere mei, domine, quoniam infirmus sum, et cetera. Et non solum, et cetera. Quia tristitiam temporalem et naturalem habuit de afflictionibus suis, sicut et Christus legitur aliquando habuisse. He says, therefore: I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need. He calls him his brother on account of the Father: “You are all brethren” (Mt. 23:8); and fellow worker, i.e., in the work of preaching: “A brother helped is like a strong city” (Prov. 18:19); and fellow soldier, because we have suffered tribulation together: “Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:3); and your messenger, i.e., teacher. He was the bishop of the Philippians and sent by them to serve the Apostle; hence he says, and minister to my need: “I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice, acceptable and pleasing to God” (infra 4:18). But why? To satisfy the desire with which he has been longing for you all: “For I long to see you” (Rom. 1:11), and also to relieve him of his sorrow, because he was sad at the sorrow you felt, when you heard that he was sick. He explains the reason, saying: Indeed he was ill, near to death, i.e., in the opinion of the physicians, though not according to God’s providence, but for the glory of God; “This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God” (Jn. 11:4). Thus he continues: but God had mercy on him; “Be gracious to me, 0 Lord, for I am languishing” (Ps. 6:2); and not only on him but on me also, because Paul had suffered the temporal and natural sadness of his affliction, as Christ is said to have suffered sometimes.
Consequenter concludit missionem, et patet littera, et ostendit quomodo recipiatur, et secundo huius causam. Recipiendus est honorifice in domino, cuius est minister. Gal. IV, 14: sicut Angelum Dei excepistis me, sicut Christum Iesum. I Tim. V, 17: qui bene praesunt presbyteri, duplici honore digni habeantur: maxime qui laborant in verbo et doctrina, et cetera. Et hoc propter, etc., id est propter Deum et salutem fidelium, usque ad mortem accessit. Io. XV, 13: maiorem charitatem nemo habet, ut animam suam ponat quis pro amicis suis, et cetera. Tradens. Io. X, 11: bonus pastor animam suam ponit pro ovibus suis. Et hoc ut impleret, etc., quod vos personaliter non potuistis circa meum obsequium. Then he concludes by indicating how he should be received and why. He should be received honorably in the Lord, whose minister he is: “You received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus” (Gal. 4:14); “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17). And this because he nearly died for the work of Christ, i.e., for God and the salvation of the faithful: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13); risking his life: “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). And he did this, to complete your service to me, which you personally could not do.
3-1
1 τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί μου, χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ. τὰ αὐτὰ γράφειν ὑμῖν ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐκ ὀκνηρόν, ὑμῖν δὲ ἀσφαλές. 2 βλέπετε τοὺς κύνας, βλέπετε τοὺς κακοὺς ἐργάτας, βλέπετε τὴν κατατομήν. 3 ἡμεῖς γάρ ἐσμεν ἡ περιτομή, οἱ πνεύματι θεοῦ λατρεύοντες καὶ καυχώμενοι ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐν σαρκὶ πεποιθότες, 4 καίπερ ἐγὼ ἔχων πεποίθησιν καὶ ἐν σαρκί. εἴ τις δοκεῖ ἄλλος πεποιθέναι ἐν σαρκί, ἐγὼ μᾶλλον: 5 περιτομῇ ὀκταήμερος, ἐκ γένους Ἰσραήλ, φυλῆς βενιαμίν, ἑβραῖος ἐξ ἑβραίων, κατὰ νόμον φαρισαῖος, 6 κατὰ ζῆλος διώκων τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, κατὰ δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐν νόμῳ γενόμενος ἄμεμπτος. 7 [ἀλλὰ] ἅτινα ἦν μοι κέρδη, ταῦτα ἥγημαι διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ζημίαν. 8 ἀλλὰ μενοῦνγε καὶ ἡγοῦμαι πάντα ζημίαν εἶναι διὰ τὸ ὑπερέχον τῆς γνώσεως Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ κυρίου μου, δι' ὃν τὰ πάντα ἐζημιώθην, καὶ ἡγοῦμαι σκύβαλα ἵνα Χριστὸν κερδήσω 9 καὶ εὑρεθῶ ἐν αὐτῷ,
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not irksome to me, and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil-workers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks be has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee, 6 as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him.
Proposuit exempla quae sequi deberent, hic ostendit quorum exempla debent vitare. Et circa hoc tria facit; quia primo praemittit quos vitare debent; secundo exemplum vitandi per conversationem sanctorum, ibi vos enim, etc.; tertio inducit ad vitandum eos quos illi reputabant imitabiles, ibi imitatores, et cetera. Iterum prima pars dividitur in tres particulas; quia primo praemittit finem huius doctrinae; secundo scribendi necessitatem, ibi eadem vobis, etc.; tertio necessitatis rationem, ibi videte, et cetera. Above, he proposed the example they should follow; here he shows whose example they should avoid. In regard to this he does, three things: first, he mentions whom they should avoid; secondly, the examples the saints gave of avoiding (3:3); thirdly, be urges them to avoid those whom they considered worthy of imitation. The first is divided into three parts: first, he mentions the purpose of his doctrine; secondly, why he must write (3:1); thirdly, the reason it is necessary (3:2).
Intentio admonitionis est removere fideles gentes a legalibus, ad quae quidam eos inducebant. Et ideo dicit o fratres, scilicet per fidem, de caetero, id est postquam vos monui, ut supra, gaudete in domino tantum, non in legalibus observantiis. Hab. III, v. 18: ego autem in domino gaudebo, et exultabo in Deo Iesu meo, et cetera. Et hoc, quia eadem, quae dixi in praesentia, non est mihi pigrum vobis scribere in absentia. Verba enim de facili transeunt, sed scripta manent. Eccli. XXXVIII, v. 25: sapientiam scribe in tempore vacuitatis, et cetera. Iud. I, 3: omnem sollicitudinem faciens scribendi vobis de communi vestra salute, necesse habui scribere vobis, et cetera. Rom. c. XV, 15: audacius scripsi vobis, fratres, ex parte tamquam in memoriam vos reducens, et cetera. The aim of the admonition is to keep the Gentile believers from the ceremonies of the Law, to which certain persons were persuading them; hence he says finally, i.e., after my warnings, my brethren, namely, in the faith, rejoice in the Lord only, and not in the ceremonies of the Law: I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Hab. 3:18). And this because it is not irksome to me to write in my absence the same things I said when I was present. For words soon pass away, but writings endure: “The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure; and he who has little business may become wise” (Si. 38:24); “Beloved, being very eager to write to you of our common salvation, I found it necessary to write” (Jude 1:3); “But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder” (Rom. 15:15).
Et causa huius necessitatis est quia instant seductores; et ideo oportet instantius veritatem scribere, unde dicit videte, id est observate, et cetera. Et tria de his dicit: scilicet saevitiam cordis irrationabilem; unde dicit canes. Glossa: natura canis est, ut statim ex ira latret, non ex ratione, sed ex consuetudine. Sic et illi, Is. LVI, 11: canes impudentissimi nescierunt saturitatem, ipsi pastores nesciverunt intelligentiam, et cetera. Apoc. ult.: foris canes, et cetera. Secundo perversae doctrinae seminationem, ibi malos operarios, quia non fideliter in vinea domini laborant, nec bonum semen in agro mittunt. Matth. XIII, 28: inimicus homo hoc fecit, et cetera. II Tim. II, 15: cura teipsum probabilem exhibere Deo, et cetera. Tertio dissensionis, ibi concisionem. Et hoc verbo utitur in eorum suggillationem. Praedicant enim circumcisionem, quae non potest stare cum gratia Christi. Gal. V, 2: si circumcidamini, Christus nihil vobis proderit. Unde alludens vocabulo, dicit concisionem, quasi non circumcisionem, sed concisionem habeant. The need for this admonition is that certain seducers are busy; therefore, he must be busier in writing to them; hence be says, look out for the dogs, look out for the evil-workers. He mentions three things about them: first, the unreasoning cruelty of their hearts; hence he says dogs: “It is the nature of a dog to bark from anger, not from reason but from habit” (Gloss). These people do the same: “The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. The shepherds also have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way” (Is. 56:11); “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers” (Rev. 22:15). Secondly, the perverse doctrine they sow: evil-workers, because they do not labor faithfully in the Lord’s vineyard or sow good seed in the soil: “An enemy has done this” (Mt. 13:28); “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Thirdly, he mentions their error: those who mutilate the flesh [concession]. He uses this word to describe their mark, for they preach circumcision, which seeks to rival Christ’s grace: “If you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you” (Gal. 5:2). Hence playing on the word, he says concision, as though they had not circumcision, but a cut.
Deinde cum dicit nos autem, etc., ostendit quomodo vitentur a sanctis. Et primo quomodo ab omnibus; secundo quomodo ab ipso, ibi quapropter, et cetera. Then when he says, for we are the true circumcision, he shows how they should be avoided by the saints: first, how they are avoided by others; secondly, by himself: (3:4).
Dicit ergo: ego dico quod illi sunt concisio, sed nos vera circumcisio, qui spiritu, et cetera. Est autem duplex circumcisio, scilicet corporalis, et spiritualis. Rom. II, 28: non enim, qui in manifesto Iudaeus est, neque quae in manifesto in carne est circumcisio; sed qui in abscondito Iudaeus est, et circumcisio cordis in spiritu, non littera, et cetera. Circumcisio enim carnis est, quae est de superfluo carnis, sed circumcisio spiritus, per quam spiritus sanctus abscindit superfluas interiores concupiscentias. Et ideo dicit nos sumus, etc., id est qui interius circumcidit nos Deo. Rom. II: testis enim est mihi Deus, cui servio in spiritu meo in Evangelio filii eius, et cetera. I Cor. XIV, 15: psallam spiritu, psallam et mente; orabo spiritu, orabo et mente, et cetera. Data est autem circumcisio, ut ostenditur Rom. IV, 16, ut signum fidei Abrahae ostenderetur, ut scilicet eius fides ostenderetur vera, quae fuit fides de futuro semine. Gal. III, 16: Abrahae dictae sunt promissiones, et cetera. Est ergo circumcisio signum fidei Abrahae de Christo. Ille ergo circumciditur, qui interius per spiritum sanctum renovatur in Christo, qui est veritas circumcisionis. Col. II, 11: circumcisi estis circumcisione non manufacta in expoliatione corporis carnis, sed in circumcisione Christi, et cetera. Et non habentes fiduciam in carne, id est in carnali circumcisione, quia, ut dicitur Io. VI, v. 63: spiritus est qui vivificat, caro autem non prodest quicquam. Sumitur autem caro aliquando in nobis pro carnali concupiscentia, quandoque pro carnis cura, et quandoque pro carnali observantia. Et utrumque debemus circumcidere, nec in eis gloriari. He says, therefore: I say that they are those who mutilate the flesh, but we who worship God are the true circumcision. For circumcision is of two kinds, namely, bodily and spiritual: “For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal” (Rom. 2:28). For the circumcision of the flesh cuts off superfluous flesh; but the circumcision of the spirit is that by which the Holy Spirit cuts away superfluous internal concupiscences. Therefore, he says: We are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, i.e., who circumcises us inwardly to God. “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son” (Rom. 1:9); 1 will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also” (1 Cor. 14:15). But circumcision is given as a sign of Abraham’s faith, to show that his faith, which believed in an offspring to come, was true: “The promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring” (Gal. 3:16). Therefore, circumcision is a sign of Abraham’s faith in Christ. Consequently, he is circumcised who by the Holy Spirit is renewed inwardly in Christ, who is the truth of the circumcision: “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands” (Col. 2:11). We put no confidence in the flesh, i.e., in the circumcision of the flesh, because, as it is stated in John (6:63): “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is no avail.” The word “flesh” is sometimes taken for fleshly concupiscence, sometimes for the care of the flesh, and sometimes for observances of the flesh.
Deinde cum dicit quamquam ego, etc., ponit exemplum proprium, et primo praemittit eminentiam suam, quam habebat in statu legali; secundo ostendit quomodo eam contempsit, ibi sed quae, et cetera. Primum proponit primo in generali; secundo explicat per partes, ibi circumcisus, et cetera. Then when he says, though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also, he gives his own example: first, he mentions the prestige he had under the Law; secondly, he shows how he scorned it (3:7). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he makes a general statement; secondly, he explains it part by part (3:5).
Circa primum duo facit, quia primo ostendit fiduciam, quam habere potuit in legalibus, dicens: non debemus habere fiduciam in legalibus, quamquam habeam, id est possem habere si vellem, quia in quo quis audet, in insipientia dico, audeo et ego, etc., ut dicitur II, 21. Et hoc etiam excellentius, quia ego magis. II Cor. XI, 23: ut minus sapiens dico, plus ego, et cetera. Et hoc totum adducit, ut efficacius destruat observationes legales. Multi enim contemnunt quae nesciunt, vel non habent, et hoc non valet; sed tunc quando aliquis habet et contemnit, et non gloriatur in eis. Sic, si apostolus non habuisset locum in statu legalium, poterat dici quod ideo ad statum Evangelii venit. Et ideo ostendit per hoc eminentiam suam in statu illo. Et primo quantum ad genus; secundo quantum ad conversationem, ibi secundum legem, et cetera. Quantum ad primum tripliciter, quantum ad generis sacramentum, quia circumcisus octavo die. Gen. XVII, 10: ut sit signum foederis inter me et vos, et cetera. Et dicit octava die, quia haec erat differentia inter proselytos et eos qui erant de genere Abrahae, quia illi non octava die, sed iam adulti quando convertebantur, sed isti secundum legem octava die. Gen. XVII, 12: infans octo dierum circumcidetur ex vobis. Sic ergo non ut proselytus, sed ut vere Israelita fuit. Secundo quantum ad ipsum genus, et primo quantum ad gentem, cum dicit ex genere Israel. Ex Abraham enim duae gentes descenderunt: una per Isaac, et alia per Ismael. De primo, duae: una per Esau, et alia per Iacob. Sed duae, scilicet quae ex Esau et Ismaelitae, non sunt consecutae haereditatem, sed solus Iacob, qui et Israel. Ideo dicit ex genere Israel. II Cor. XI, 22: Israelitae sunt, et ego. In regard to the first he does two things: first, he shows the confidence he could have had in the things of the Law, saying: We must not put our confidence in the things of the Law, though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also, i.e., I could have, if I desired, because “Whatever anyone dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that,” as he says in 2 Corinthians (11:21). And I can do this with more reason, because I have done more: “I am talking like a madman” (2 Cor. 11:23). He mentions all these things in order more effectively to destroy the observances of the Law. For many scorn things they do not know or do not have; and this is not right, but only when a person has something and then scorns it and does not glory in it. Thus, if the Apostle had no prestige during the time of the Law, this could be cited as the reason why he went over to the gospel. Therefore, he shows the prestige he had under the Law: first, in general, and secondly, according to the life he led: as to the Law a Pharisee. As to the first, in three ways: first, in regard to the sacrament of his race, because he was circumcised on the eighth day: “It shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you’ (Gen. 17:11). He says on the eighth day because this was the difference between proselytes and the descendants of Abraham: the former were not circumcised on the eighth day, but as adults, when they were converted; but the latter on the eighth day according to the Law: “He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised” (Gen. 17:12). Thus it was not as a proselyte but as a true Israelite that he was circumcised. Secondly, in regard to his race when he says, of the people of Israel. For two races descended from Abraham: one through Isaac, and the other through Ishmael. From Isaac also two races descended: one through Esau and one through Jacob. But the one from Esau and the one from Ishmael were not included in the inheritance, but only Jacob who is also called Israel; hence he says, of the people of Israel: “Are they Israelites? So am I” (2 Cor. 11:22).
Item quantum ad tribum, quia in tribu Israel erant quidam de ancillis, scilicet de Bala et Zelpha; quidam de liberis, scilicet Lia et Rachel; et inter istos quidam semper erant in cultu Dei, scilicet levi, Iuda et Beniamin. Aliae, tempore Ieroboam, conversae sunt ad idola. Et ideo tribus Beniamin privilegiata erat, quia in fide et dilectione uxoris, et in ea templum. Deut. XXXIII, 12: Beniamin amantissimus domini habitabit confidenter in eo, quasi in thalamo tota die morabitur, et inter humeros illius requiescet, et cetera. Gen. XLIX, v. 27: Beniamin lupus rapax mane comedet praedam, et vespere dividet spolia. Quo figurabatur Paulus, qui fuit quandoque contra Ecclesiam. Tertio quantum ad nomen et linguam, cum dicit Hebraeus. Aliqui dicunt quod Hebraeus dicitur ab Abraham: et hoc dicit Augustinus, sed postea retractat. Sed dicitur ab Heber, de quo Gen. XI, 14. Quod autem non ab Abraham, patet, quia etiam Abraham dicitur Hebraeus. Gen. XIV, 13: nuntiavit Abrahae Hebraeo. Dicit Glossa super Gen. XI, quod tempore Heber divisum est labium gentium omnium, et illa lingua, quae prius erat, remansit in familia Heber, et in cultu unius Dei, et inter omnes Hebraeos. Natus est etiam ex parentibus Hebraeis, et ideo dicit ex Hebraeis. Then in regard to his tribe, because in the tribe of Israel some were descended from bondwomen, i.e., from Bala and Zelpha, and some from free women, namely, Lia and Rachel. Among these some persevered in the worship of God, namely, the tribes of Levi, Juda and Benjamin, but the others turned to idols during the time of Jeroboam. Therefore, the tribe of Benjamin was privileged, because it continued in the faith and worship of God, and the temple was built in it: “The beloved of the Lord, he dwells in safety by him; he encompasses him all the day long, and makes his dwelling between his shoulders” (Deut. 33:12); “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey, and at evening dividing the spoil” (Gen. 49:27). He prefigured Paul who in his early days persecuted the Church. Thirdly, in regard to his name and tongue when he says, a Hebrew. Some say that the word “Hebrew” comes from Abraham, as Augustine did, but later retracted. But it is taken from Heber (Gen. 11:16). That it does not come from Abraham is evident, because Abraham himself is called a Hebrew: “Then one who had escaped came, and told Abram the Hebrew” (Gen. 14:13). A gloss on Genesis (11) says that in the time of Heber the languages of all nations were separated, but the primitive language remained in the family of Heber and in the worship of the one God and among all the Hebrews. He was also born of Hebrew parents; hence he says, born of Hebrews.
Deinde ostendit suam eminentiam quo ad conversationem. Et primo quantum ad sectam, cum dicit secundum legem Pharisaeus. Apud Iudaeos siquidem erant tres sectae, scilicet Pharisaeorum, Sadducaeorum et Essenorum. Sed Pharisaei magis ad veritatem accedebant, quia Sadducaei negabant resurrectionem, neque credebant esse Angelos, neque spiritus. Pharisaei autem utrumque confitentur, ut dicitur Act. XXIII, 8. Et ideo in hoc commendabilior est secta Pharisaeorum. Quomodo autem Pharisaeus fuerit, dicitur Act. XXVI, 5: quoniam secundum certissimam sectam nostrae religionis vixi Pharisaeus. Secundo, quantum ad aemulationem quam habuerunt Iudaei, licet non secundum scientiam in persequendo Christianos, ideo dicit persequens Ecclesiam Dei. Gal. I, 23: qui persequebatur nos aliquando, nunc autem evangelizat fidem quam aliquando expugnabat. Et Act. XXVI, 9: et ego quidem existimaveram me adversus nomen Iesu Nazareni debere multa contraria agere, quod et feci Ierosolymis, et multos sanctorum ego in carceribus inclusi, et cetera. I Cor. XV, 9: non sum dignus vocari apostolus, quoniam persecutus sum Ecclesiam Dei. Then he shows the prestige he had in his manner of life: first of all, in regard to his sect when he says, as to the law a Pharisee. For there were three sects among the Jews, namely, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes. But the Pharisees were closer to the truth, because the Sadducees denied the resurrection and did not believe in angels or spirits, while the Pharisees believed both, as it is stated in Acts (23). For this reason the sect of the Pharisees was more commendable. That he was a Pharisee is stated in Acts (26:5): “According to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.” Secondly, in regard to the zeal which the Jews had, although not according to knowledge, in persecuting Christians; hence he says, a persecutor of the church. “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” (Gal. 1:23); “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem” (Acts 26:9); “I am unfit, to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Cor. 15:9).
Tertio, quantum ad innocentiam conversationis. Ideo dicit secundum iustitiam, et cetera. Haec iustitia consistit in exterioribus, sed iustitia fidei est cordis. Act. XV, 9: fide purificans corda eorum. Nam, quantum ad iustitiam exteriorem, apostolus innocenter vixit. Et ideo dicit sine querela, et cetera. Non autem ait sine peccato quia querela est peccatum scandali proximorum in his, quae sunt exteriora. Lc. I 6: incedentes in omnibus mandatis et iustificationibus domini sine querela, et cetera. Et ideo non est contrarium quod dicitur Eph. II, 3: in quibus et nos ambulavimus, quia veram iustitiam fidei, quae facit hominem purum, tunc non habuit, sed solum legis. Thirdly, in regard to the innocence of his manner of life; hence he says, as to righteousness under the Law blameless. This justice consists in externals, but the justice of faith is of the heart: “God who knows the heart... cleanse their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9). As to external justice the Apostle lived innocently; hence he says, blameless. He does not say “without sin,” because blame is concerned with a sin of scandal against one’s neighbor in matters that are external: “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Lk. 1:6). Therefore, he does not contradict what he says in Ephesians (2:3). “Among these we all once lived,” because he did not then have the true justice of faith, which makes a man pure, but only the justice of the Law.
Deinde cum dicit sed quae mihi, etc., ostendit contemptum suae eminentiae in legalibus. Et primo ostendit propter quid legalia contempsit in generali; secundo in speciali, ibi verumtamen, et cetera. Then when he says, but whatever gain I had, be shows his contempt for the prestige he had under the Law: first, he shows in general why he scorned the things of the Law; secondly, in detail (3: 8).
Dicit ergo: haec quae fuerunt, etc., id est reputabam magna, scilicet quod Pharisaeus, etc., haec sum arbitratus propter Christum mihi detrimenta, id est reputo quod sunt mihi in detrimentum. Legales enim observantiae, quae tempore legis erant efficaces, per Christum factae sunt noxiae. Et ideo dicit detrimenta. Et finis huius est Christus. Et ideo dicit propter Christum. Et exponit, quia primo propter Christum cognoscendum, secundo propter Christum adipiscendum. Quantum ad primum dicit verumtamen existimo omnia detrimenta esse; verum est, si eis inniteretur. Et hoc quod aliquando feci, reputo mihi detrimentum, et hoc propter desiderium rectae scientiae Christi domini mei. I Cor. II, 2: nihil reputavi me scire, nisi Iesum Christum, et hunc crucifixum. Et hoc propter eminentem scientiam, et cetera. Quia haec superat omnes alias scientias. Nihil enim melius potest sciri, quam verbum Dei, in quo sunt omnes thesauri sapientiae et scientiae absconditi, Col. II, 3. He says, therefore: Whatever gain I had, i.e., prestige, namely, to be a Pharisee and so on, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ, i.e., I came to regard them as hindrances. For the observances of the Law, which were effective during the time of the Law, became harmful after Christ; hence he says, loss. And the reason for abandoning them was Christ; hence he says, for the sake of Christ. He explains this: first, that he acted thus in order to know Christ, and secondly to obtain Him. In regard to the first he says, Indeed I count everything as loss. This is true, if he had continued to depend on them. What I did formerly, I now regard a loss on account of my desire for a correct understanding of Christ, my Lord: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). Because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, since this transcends all knowledge. For there is nothing better to be known than the Word of God m whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3).
Quantum ad secundum dicit propter quem omnia, et cetera. Et primo ostendit, quod propter Christum adipiscendum contempsit legalia; secundo ostendit, quod possit Christum adipisci, ibi non habes, et cetera. Dicit ergo omnia detrimentum feci, habendo me ad ea sicut ad detrimentum et vilia, et hoc ut Christum lucrifaciam, id est adipiscar ipsum, et adiungar ei per charitatem. In regard to the second he says, for his sake I have suffered the loss of all things. First, he shows that he scorned the observance of the Law in order to obtain Christ; secondly, how he could obtain Christ: not having a righteousness of my own, based on Law. He says, therefore: I have suffered the loss of all things by regarding them as vile and contemptible, that I may gain Christ, i.e., obtain Him and be united to Him by charity.
3-2
9b μὴ ἔχων ἐμὴν δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐκ νόμου ἀλλὰ τὴν διὰ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, τὴν ἐκ θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην ἐπὶ τῇ πίστει, 10 τοῦ γνῶναι αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς ἀναστάσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ [τὴν] κοινωνίαν [τῶν] παθημάτων αὐτοῦ, συμμορφιζόμενος τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ, 11 εἴ πως καταντήσω εἰς τὴν ἐξανάστασιν τὴν ἐκ νεκρῶν. 12 οὐχ ὅτι ἤδη ἔλαβον ἢ ἤδη τετελείωμαι, διώκω δὲ εἰ καὶ καταλάβω, ἐφ' ᾧ καὶ κατελήμφθην ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ]. 13 ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ ἐμαυτὸν οὐ λογίζομαι κατειληφέναι: ἓν δέ, τὰ μὲν ὀπίσω ἐπιλανθανόμενος τοῖς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν ἐπεκτεινόμενος, 14 κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.
9b Not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Ostendit supra praeterita lucra contemnere propter Christum, et ostendit quod intendebat Christum cognoscere, et Christum lucrari, et hoc intendit hic specialiter exponere. Et primo quomodo desiderat Christum lucrari et inveniri in eo per iustitiam; secundo per passionis tolerantiam, ibi configuratus, et cetera. Circa primum, primo ostendit quae sit iustitia, quam dereliquit; secundo quae sit quam quaerit, ibi sed, et cetera. Above, he showed that he scorned past gains for the sake of Christ, that is, in order to know and win Christ; here he intends to explain these things: first, how he desires to gain Christ and be found in Him by justice; secondly, by enduring sufferings (3:10). In regard to the first, he does two things: first, he shows which justice he abandoned; secondly, which one he now seeks (3:9).
Sciendum est autem, quod iustitia quandoque sumitur ut est specialis virtus, per quam homo ponit rectitudinem in his, quae sunt ad communem convictum et secundum quod est in his directiva. Nam temperantia est circa interiores passiones, iustitia autem est ad alterum. Alio modo iustitia dicitur virtus generalis, secundum quod homo servat legem propter bonum commune, et hoc modo frequenter in Scriptura sacra ponitur pro observantia divinae legis. Ps. CXVIII, v. 121: feci iudicium et iustitiam, scilicet, legem, quam servabat ex amore, quasi motus ex se: et sic est virtus. Non autem si alio modo, id est ex aliqua exteriori causa, scilicet vel propter lucra, vel propter poenas, et si observatio ei displiceat. Et secundum hoc est duplex modus iustitiae: unus est iustitiae moralis, alius est iustitiae legalis, per quam, legem non ex amore, sed timore servat. Et ideo dicit non habens meam iustitiam, quae ex lege est, quia, ut dicit Augustinus, brevis differentia legis et Evangelii, est amor et timor. Rom. VIII, 15: non accepistis spiritum servitutis iterum in timore, sed accepistis spiritum adoptionis, et cetera. It should be noted that justice is taken sometimes as the special virtue through which a man fulfills what is right in matters pertaining to life in society, in the sense that it directs a person in this matter; for temperance deals with one’s own internal passions, but justice deals with another person. In another way justice is a general virtue, inasmuch as a man observes the law for the common good. This is the sense in which it is used in Scripture for the observance of the divine law: “I have done what is just and right” i.e., the law (Ps. 119:121), which he obeyed out of love, as though moved by his own initiative. In this way it is a virtue, but not if he is moved in some other way, such as by an external cause or for the sake of gain or because of punishments, where to obey might be personally displeasing. According to this there are two kinds of justice: one is moral justice; the other is legal justice, which makes one obey the law not from love but from fear. Therefore he says, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, because as Augustine says: “The slight difference between the Law and the Gospel is fear and love”; “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship” (Rom. 8:15).
Sed si tua est, quomodo est ex lege? Respondet: imo est mea, quia humana virtute, absque habitu gratiae interioris iustificantis, facio talia opera, sed ex lege est, sicut a docente. Vel mea est, quod praesumo per me eam servare. Rom. X, 5: Moyses enim scripsit, quoniam iustitiam, quae ex lege est, qui fecerit homo, vivet in ea. But if your righteousness is your own, how is it from the Law? I answer that it is indeed mine, because I accomplish such works with human power without the inward vesture of sanctifying grace; but it is from the Law as from the one teaching. Or, it is mine to presume to obey it by myself: “Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it” (Rom. 15:5).
De hac iustitia, quam quaerit, tria dicit: scilicet modum adipiscendi, actorem, et fructum. Modus est quia non adipiscitur, nisi ex fide Christi. Rom. V, 1: iustificati igitur ex fide, pacem habeamus ad Deum per dominum nostrum Iesum Christum. Rom. III, 22: iustitia autem Dei per fidem Iesu Christi in omnes, et super omnes, qui credunt. Actor autem est Deus, et non homo. Rom. c. VIII, 33: Deus qui iustificat. Rom. IV, 5: credenti autem in eum, qui iustificat impium, reputatur fides eius ad iustitiam, secundum propositum gratiae Dei. Et ideo dicit quae ex Deo est, et cetera. Act. V, 32: et spiritus sanctus quem dedit Deus omnibus, et cetera. Fructus est cognitio eius, et virtus resurrectionis eius, et societas sanctorum eius. Concerning this justice which he seeks, he states three things, namely, the method of acquiring it; its author; and its fruit. The method is that it is not obtained except by faith in Christ: “Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1); “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (Rom. 3:22). For the author is God and not man: “It is God who justifies” (Rom. 8:33); “And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness” (Rom. 4:5). Therefore he says, the righteousness from God that depends on faith: “The Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:32). The fruit is knowledge of Him and the power of His resurrection and to be in the company of His saints.
Et de huiusmodi, secundum duplicem cognitionem, potest dupliciter agi. Uno modo exponendo de cognitione viae, et sic oportet tria cognoscere de eo. Primo eius personam, scilicet quod est verus Deus, et verus homo. Et ideo dicit ad cognoscendum illum. Io. XIV, 9: tanto tempore vobiscum sum, et non cognovistis me, et cetera. Secundo gloriam resurrectionis eius. Unde dicit et virtutem resurrectionis eius, id est resurrectionem virtuosam factam propria virtute. Tertio qualiter eum imitentur, ibi et societatem, scilicet ut ei sociemur in passione. I Petr. II, 21: Christus passus est pro nobis, vobis relinquens exemplum ut sequamini vestigia eius. Secundo de cognitione experimentali, et incipit a posteriori, quod est ultimum in executione, et primum in intentione. Primum est agnitio Dei per essentiam, ad quam ducit fides. Ier. XXXI, 34: omnes cognoscent me a minimo eorum usque ad maximum, dicit dominus, et cetera. Et ideo dicit ad cognoscendum illum. Secundo quia non solum anima glorificatur, sed ex hoc etiam corpus erit gloriosum. Ideo dicit et virtutem resurrectionis eius, scilicet ex qua resurgemus. I Cor. XV, 14: si Christus non resurrexit, vana est fides nostra, et cetera. Tertio societatem, quia per experientiam habebimus quantum valeat societas passionis eius. I Cor. I, 9: fidelis autem Deus per quem vocati estis in societatem filii eius Iesu Christi domini nostri. These things can be explained in two ways according to the two forms of knowledge: in one way, in terms of knowledge available in this life. In that case one must know three things about Him: first, His person, namely, that He is true God and true man; hence he says, that I may know him: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9). Secondly, the glory of His resurrection; hence he says, and the power of his resurrection, i.e., the powerful resurrection performed by His own power. Thirdly, how to imitate Him, when he says, and may share his sufferings, namely, be associated with Him in His passion: “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). In the other way, by practical knowledge, which begins from what is later, which is the last thing accomplished but the first thing intended. The first thing intended is the knowledge of God through His essence, to which faith leads: “They shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest” (Jer. 31:34); therefore, he says, that I may know him. Secondly that not only the soul will be glorified, but the body also; hence he says, and the power of his resurrection, namely, by which we shall rise: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain” (1 Cor. 15:14). Thirdly, the value of sharing His suffering, because we shall know how much it benefits us to be associated with His passion: “Cod is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9).
Deinde cum dicit configuratus, etc., ostendit quomodo velit lucrari et inveniri in eo per tolerantiam passionis. Et primo ponit tolerantiam, secundo fructum, ibi si quo modo, et cetera. Then when he says, becoming like him in his death, he shows how he would like to grow and be found in Him by enduring His sufferings: first, he mentions the endurance; secondly, its fruit (3:11).
Dicit ergo: inveniar non solum habens iustitiam, sed configuratus morti eius, ut patiar propter iustitiam et veritatem, sicut Christus. Gal. ult.: ego enim stigmata domini Iesu in corpore meo porto. Fructus vero est, si quo modo, et cetera. Ex passionibus enim hic toleratis homo pervenit ad gloriam. Rom. VI, 5: si enim complantati facti sumus similitudini mortis eius, simul et resurrectionis erimus. II Tim. c. II, 11: si commortui sumus, et convivemus; si sustinemus, et conregnabimus. Rom. c. VIII, 17: si tamen compatimur, ut et glorificemur. Et dicit si quo modo, propter difficultatem, arduitatem, et laborem. Matth. VII, 14: arcta est via quae ducit ad vitam, et pauci sunt, qui inveniunt eam, et cetera. Amos IV, 12: praepara te in occursum Dei tui Israel, et cetera. Christus enim surrexit per potentiam propriam, homo autem non propria potestate, sed gratia Dei. Rom. VIII, 11: qui suscitavit Iesum Christum a mortuis, vivificabit et mortalia corpora vestra, propter inhabitantem spiritum eius in vobis. Vel potest intelligi de occursu sanctorum, quando occurrent Christo descendenti de caelo ad iudicium. He says, therefore: let me be found not only having justice but also conformed to his death, that I might suffer for justice and truth as Christ did: I bear on my body the marks of Jesus” (Gal. 6:17). But its fruit is that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. For one reaches glory by sufferings endured here: “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Rom. 6:5); “If we have died with him, we shall also live with him” (2 Tim. 2:11); “Fellow heirs of God with Christ, provided we suffer with him” (Rom. 8:17). He says, if possible, because of its difficulty, arduousness and labor: “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Mt. 7:14); “Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” (Amos 4:12). For Christ rose by His own power, but man not by his own power, but by the grace of God: “He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you” (Rom. 8:11). Or it can refer to meeting the saints, when they shall meet Christ descending from heaven to judge.
Deinde cum dicit nam quod iam, etc., ostendit quomodo differtur suum desiderium. Et primo ostendit quid de se sentit; secundo hortatur alios ut idem de se sentiant, ibi quicumque enim perfecti, et cetera. Iterum prima in duas, quia primo ostendit quomodo deficit a perfectione interna; secundo hoc exponit, ibi fratres, ego me, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit. Primo ostendit se non pervenisse ad perfectionem; secundo quod ad eam tendit sequor autem, et cetera. Then when he says, not that I have already obtained this, he shows how his desire is deferred: first, he shows what he thinks of himself; secondly, he asks them to think the same thing of themselves (3:15). The first is divided into two parts: first, he shows how far short he is of the perfection intended-, secondly, he explains this (3:13). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he shows that he has not arrived at perfection; secondly, that he is tending toward it (3:12b).
Tendens in aliud duo intendit, scilicet adipisci quaesitum et frui illo. Frustra enim quaereret, si non eo frueretur et inhaereret. Et ideo dicit non quod iam acceperim, scilicet gloriam quam quaero. Sap. V, 17: accipient regnum decoris, et diadema speciei de manu Dei sui. Aut iam perfectus sim. I Cor. XIII, 10: cum venerit quod perfectum est, evacuabitur quod ex parte est. In tending toward it he seeks two things, namely, to obtain what he desires, and to enjoy it; for he would be seeking in vain, if he were not to enjoy it and inhere in it; therefore he says, not that I have already obtained, namely, the glory I seek: “ But the righteous live forever... therefore they will receive a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord” (Wis. 5:16); or am already perfect: “When the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away” (1 Cor. 13:10).
Sed contra: estote perfecti, Matth. c. V, 48 et Gen. XVII, 1: esto perfectus. Respondeo. Dicendum est, quod duplex est perfectio, scilicet patriae et viae. Perfectio namque hominis consistit in hoc, quod adhaereat Deo per charitatem, quia unumquodque est perfectum secundum modum quo adhaeret suae perfectioni. Anima autem potest adhaerere Deo dupliciter perfecte. Uno modo, ut totam actionem suam referat in Deum actualiter, et cognoscat ut cognoscibilis est: et haec est patriae. Sed inhaesio viae est duplex. Una de necessitate salutis, ad quam omnes tenentur, scilicet ut in nullo cor suum quis applicet ad id quod est contra Deum, sed habitualiter referat totam vitam in eum. Et isto modo dicit dominus, Matth. XXII, 37: diliges dominum Deum tuum, et cetera. Alia est supererogationis, quando quis ultra communem statum inhaeret Deo, quod fit removendo cor a temporalibus, et sic magis appropinquat ad patriam; quia quanto deficit cupiditas, tanto plus crescit charitas. Quod ergo hic dicitur, intelligitur de perfectione patriae. But this attitude is contrary to the command to be perfect (Mt. 5:48) and (Gen. 17:1). I answer that perfection is twofold, namely, of heaven and of earth. For man’s perfection consists in adhering to God through charity, because a thing is perfect to the degree it adheres to its perfection. But the soul can adhere to God in two ways: in one way, perfectly, so that a person actually refers his actions to God and knows Him as He can be known; and this is in heaven. But adherence in this life is of two kinds: one is necessary for salvation, and all are bound to it, namely, that a person in no case place his heart in anything against God, and that he habitually refer his whole life to Him. The Lord says of this way: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). The other is of supererogation, when a person adheres to God above the common way. This is done when he removes his heart from temporal things, the better to approach heaven, because the smaller covetousness becomes, the more charity grows. Therefore, what is said here refers to the perfection of heaven.
Deinde cum dicit sequor autem, etc., ostendit conatum ad eam, dicens sequor, scilicet Christum. Io. VIII, 12: qui sequitur me, non ambulat in tenebris, et cetera. Io. c. X, 3: oves meae vocem meam audiunt, et sequuntur. Et hoc si quo modo comprehendam. I Cor. IX, 25: sic currite, ut comprehendatis. I Then when he says, but I press on, he shows his efforts toward it, saying, I press on, namely, after Christ: “He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12) and in (10:27): “My sheep hear my voice... and they follow me.” And this, to make it my own [to comprehend Him]: “So run that you may obtain the prize” (1 Cor. 9:24).
Sed contra, quia Deus est incomprehensibilis, quia Ier. XXXI, 37 dicitur: si mensurari potuerint caeli desursum, et investigari fundamenta terrae deorsum, et cetera. Respondeo. Dicendum est, quod comprehendere uno modo est includere, sicut domus comprehendit nos. Alio modo idem est quod attingere et tenere. Primo ergo modo est incomprehensibilis, quia non potest includi in intellectu creato, cum sit simplicissimus, quia non perfecte vides eum nec amas, sicut est visibilis et amabilis, sicut qui nescit demonstrationem, nescit demonstrative, sed opinative. Deus autem perfecte seipsum cognoscit ut cognoscibilis est. Cuius ratio est, quia res cognoscitur secundum modum sui esse et veritatis. Deus autem lux est et veritas infinita, sed nostrum lumen est finitum. Et ideo dicit sequor si quo modo comprehendam, hoc intelligendo secundo modo, scilicet attingendo. Cant. ult.: tenui eum, nec dimittam, et cetera. In quo et comprehensus sum. Quod tripliciter intelligitur. Nam tota gloria est in dicta Dei comprehensione, ut scilicet Deus sit praesens animae nostrae. Sed non omnes habent aequalem beatitudinem, quia quidam clarius vident, sicut etiam quidam ardentius amabunt et plus gaudebunt. Unde quilibet habebit certam mensuram, et hoc ex praedestinatione divina. Et ideo dicit in quo et comprehensus sum; quasi dicat: in tali mensura intendo comprehendere, secundum quod mihi dispositum est a Christo. Vel sequor ut comprehendam sicut comprehensus sum; quasi dicat: ut videam eum sicut ipse me videt. I Io. III, 2: videbimus eum sicuti est, id est non per similitudinem, sed per essentiam. Vel comprehendam videndo Christum gloriosum. In quo comprehensus sum, id est in illa gloria qua apparuit quando conversus sum. But on the other hand God is incomprehensible, because it is said in Jeremiah (31:37): “If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the descendants of Israel.” I answer that in one sense, to comprehend means to enclose, as a house comprehends us; in another sense, it means to attain and hold. In the first sense He is incomprehensible, because He cannot be enclosed in a created intellect, since He is most simple and because you do not know or love Him to the degree that He is knowable and loveable, as a person who does not know a truth by demonstration but by opinion does not know it as perfectly as it can be known. But God knows Himself, as far as He is knowable. The reason for this is that a thing is known according to the mode of its own being and truth. God, however, is infinite light and truth, whereas our light is finite. Hence he says, but I press on to make it my own, that is, to comprehend Him in the second way, i.e., by attaining: I held him, and would not let him go” (Cant. 3:4), because Christ Jesus has made me his own. This can be taken in three ways: for all glory depends on apprehending God, i.e., that God be present to our soul. But not all have equal happiness: because some see more clearly, just as some will love more ardently and will rejoice more. Hence each person will have a definite amount according to God’s predestination; therefore, he says, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. As if to say: I intend to comprehend in such an amount as has been decided by Christ. Or, I press on to make it my own, as I am owned (apprehended). As if to say: that I may see Him as He sees me: “We shall see him as he is” (Jn. 3:2), not through a likeness, but through His essence. Or, to make it my own, by seeing Christ in glory, in which I am apprehended, i.e., in that glory in which He appeared, when I was converted.
Deinde cum dicit fratres, ego, etc., exponit quae dixerat; et primo de defectu perfectionis; secundo de sequela, ibi unum autem, et cetera. Then when he says, brethren, I do not consider.... he explains what he had said: first, about his lack of perfection: secondly, the consequence (3:13b).
Dicit ergo ego, etc.; quasi dicat: non sum sic superbus, quod attribuam mihi quod non habeo, sed sequor, etc.; quod tripliciter legitur: uno modo sic: unum arbitror, scilicet quod quae retro sunt, et cetera. Vel non arbitror me comprehendisse, sed prosequor unum, scilicet ad destinatum, et cetera. Vel non arbitror me comprehendisse illud supra. Ps. XXVI, 4: unam petii, et cetera. Et tunc ostendit quid deseruit, quia vel temporalia lucra vel temporalia bona, vel merita praeterita, quia non debet homo comparare Deo merita praeterita. He says: I do not consider that I have made it my own. As if to say: I am not so vain as to attribute to myself something I do not yet have; but I press on toward the goal. This can be taken in three ways: In one way thus: but one thing I do, namely, forgetting what lies behind... I press on toward the goal. Or, I do not consider that I have made it my own, but I press on toward one thing, namely, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Or, I do not consider that I have made it my own, namely, that which is above: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after” (Ps. 27:4). Then he shows what he deserted, namely, temporal things or past merits, because a man should not count his past merits.
Secundo ostendit ad quid tendit, scilicet ad ea, etc., id est vel quae pertinent ad fidem Christi, vel maiora merita, vel caelestia. Ps. LXXXIII, 6: ascensiones in corde suo disposuit, et cetera. Et dicit extendens. Qui enim aliquid vult capere, extendit se quantum potest. Sed debet cor extendere se per desiderium. Sap. VI, v. 21: concupiscentia sapientiae ducit ad regnum perpetuum, et cetera. Sed ad quid tendit? Ad destinatum bravium, quod est praemium solius currentis. I Cor. IX, 24: omnes quidem currunt, sed unus accipit bravium. Dico autem ad hoc bravium destinatum mihi a Deo, quod est supernae vocationis Dei. Rom. VIII, v. 30: quos praedestinavit, hos et vocavit, et cetera. Et hoc in Christo Iesu, id est, per fidem Christi. Secondly, be shows what his destination is, namely, straining forward to what lies ahead, i.e., which pertains to faith in Christ or greater merits or heavenly things: “They go from strength to strength (Ps. 84:5). He says straining forward, because a person who wishes to take anything must exert himself as much as he can. But the heart should stretch itself by desire: “The desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom” (Wis. 6:20). For the prize, which is the reward only of those who run: “In a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize” (1 Cor. 9:24); to this prize destined for me by God, namely, of the upward call of God: “Those whom he predestined he also called” (Rom. 8:30), and this in Christ Jesus, i.e., by faith in Christ.
3-3
15 ὅσοι οὖν τέλειοι, τοῦτο φρονῶμεν: καὶ εἴ τι ἑτέρως φρονεῖτε, καὶ τοῦτο ὁ θεὸς ὑμῖν ἀποκαλύψει: 16 πλὴν εἰς ὃ ἐφθάσαμεν, τῷ αὐτῷ στοιχεῖν. 17 συμμιμηταί μου γίνεσθε, ἀδελφοί, καὶ σκοπεῖτε τοὺς οὕτω περιπατοῦντας καθὼς ἔχετε τύπον ἡμᾶς. 18 πολλοὶ γὰρ περιπατοῦσιν οὓς πολλάκις ἔλεγον ὑμῖν, νῦν δὲ καὶ κλαίων λέγω, τοὺς ἐχθροὺς τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, 19 ὧν τὸ τέλος ἀπώλεια, ὧν ὁ θεὸς ἡ κοιλία καὶ ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ αὐτῶν, οἱ τὰ ἐπίγεια φρονοῦντες. 20 ἡμῶν γὰρ τὸ πολίτευμα ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὑπάρχει, ἐξ οὗ καὶ σωτῆρα ἀπεκδεχόμεθα κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, 21 ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τοῦ δύνασθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ὑποτάξαι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα.
15 Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17 Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so have as you have an example in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Supra proposuit quomodo ab ultima perfectione deficiebant, nunc hortatur alios ad idem sentiendum. Et primo ponitur exhortatio; secundo quid ab eis necessario exigatur, ibi verumtamen ad quod pervenimus, et cetera. Above he showed how he was wanting in final perfection; now he urges others to have the same attitude: first, he gives an exhortation; secondly, what is necessarily expected of them (3:16).
Dicit ergo quicumque, etc., scilicet quod ego sentio, scilicet quod non sum perfectus. Quomodo ergo si perfecti sumus, sentimus quasi non perfecti? Respondeo. Dicendum quod perfecti perfectione viae, sed non perfecti perfectione comprehensionis, quando scilicet tota intentio fertur actu in Deum. In via vero habitualiter, quod scilicet nihil contra Deum faciamus. He says: Let those of us who are mature be thus minded, namely, think what I think, i.e., that I am not perfect. But if we are perfect, bow can we think that we are not perfect? I answer that some are perfect with the perfection of this life, but not with the perfection of the life of heaven, namely, when their entire intention will be actually borne toward God; but in this life they are perfect habitually when they do nothing contrary to God.
Et dicit quicumque, quia quanto quis est perfectior, tanto imperfectum se magis cognoscit. Iob ult.: auditu auris audivi te, nunc autem oculus meus videt te. Idcirco ipse me reprehendo, et ago poenitentiam in favilla et cinere, et cetera. Hebr. V, 14: perfectorum est solidus cibus: eorum qui pro consuetudine exercitatos habent sensus ad discretionem boni et mali. He says, those of us, because the more perfect a person is the more imperfect he considers himself to be: I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5); “Solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14).
Et si quid aliter, et cetera. In Glossa quatuor modis dicitur, et primo ponuntur duo sensus magis litterales. Unus talis: dico quod vos sentiatis quod ego, scilicet vos esse imperfectos; tamen si quid aliter, id est melius de vobis sapiatis, quam ego de me, hoc ipsum est vobis per revelationem divinam donatum. Et quando altius est vobis revelatum aliquid quod non mihi, non contradico, sed cedo vestrae revelationi. Verumtamen nolo, quod propter hanc revelationem ab unitate Ecclesiae discedatis; sed teneamus ex unitate illud ad quod pervenimus, ut idem sapiamus, et cetera. Quae unitas Ecclesiae consistit in unitate veritatis fidei, et rectitudinis bonae operationis. Et utraque servanda est. II Cor. ult. XIII, 11: perfecti estote, exhortamini, idem sapite, et cetera. Et eadem regula bonae vitae et operationis. Gal. ult. VI, 16: quicumque hanc regulam secuti fuerint, pax super illos et misericordia, et cetera. Vel aliter: dico, etiam si vos propter ignorantiam vel infirmitatem aliter sapitis, quam veritas habet, humiliter confiteamini, nec proterve defendatis. Matth. XI, 25: abscondisti haec a sapientibus et prudentibus, et revelasti ea parvulis, et cetera. Vel aliter: dico, quod idem sentiamus, scilicet nondum comprehendisse; sed si quid aliter nunc sapiatis, quam sapiendum sit in futuro, quia nunc videmus in speculo, tunc autem facie ad faciem Deus revelabit in futuro. Ps. XXVIII, 9: revelabit condensa, et cetera. Vel aliter: sive sapiatis hic obscure, sive in futuro manifeste, Deus revelabit, quia fides ex Deo est. Verumtamen, etc., non mutatur. And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you. Four renditions of this are found in a Gloss: the first two are more literal. One is this: I say that you should think as I do, namely, that you are imperfect; yet if you think otherwise, i.e., better of yourselves than I do of myself, this very thing has been granted to you by divine revelation: and when something loftier is revealed to you than to me, I will not contradict but will yield to your revelation. Nevertheless, I do not want you to separate from the unity of the Church because of this revelation; but in unity, let us hold true to what we have attained. This unity consists in the unity of the truth of faith and the rectitude of good action; and both must be preserved: “Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace” (2 Cor. 13:1-1). And the same holds for a good life and good actions: “Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God “Gal. 6:16). Or another way: I say that if on account of ignorance or weakness you think otherwise than the truth holds, let us admit it humbly and do not defend it stubbornly: “Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes” (Mt. 11:25). Or another way: I say that we should be of the same mind, namely, that we have not yet made it our own; but if in anything you are now otherwise minded than you will be in the future, because “now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12), God will reveal it in the future: “The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness,... and strips the forests bare; and in his temple all cry Glory!” (Ps. 29:9). Or another way: Whether you understand dimly here, or clearly in the future, God will reveal that, because faith is from God. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Deinde cum dicit imitatores, etc., inducit ad sui et aliorum imitationem, ut caveant malos. Et primo proponit intentionem; secundo rationem, ibi multi enim, et cetera. Then when he says, join in imitating me, be urges them to imitate him and others, but to avoid the wicked- first, he makes his point; secondly, he gives the reason (3:18).
Dicit ergo: quia haec reputo ut stercora, etc., in hoc imitatores, et cetera. Io. X, 3: vocem eius audient, et cetera. Ego sum pastor, vos oves meae per imitationem. Imitatores mei estote, I Cor. IV, 17, sicut et ego Christi, et cetera. Et observate, id est diligenter considerate, qui ita ambulant, sicut ego. Et vos scire potestis ex regula et doctrina mea. I Tim. IV, 12: exemplum esto fidelium in verbo, in conversatione, in charitate, in fide, in castitate. I Petr. V, 3: forma facti gregis ex animo. He says, therefore: Because I regard these things as dung, that I may gain Christ, brethren, join in imitating me in this: “The sheep hear his voice” (Jn. 10:3). 1 am the shepherd; you are my sheep by imitating me: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1), and mark, i.e., carefully consider, those who so live as you have an example in us. And you can tell from my example and doctrine: “Set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity (1 Tim. 4:12); “Being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3).
Deinde cum dicit multi, etc., ponitur ratio monitionis: et primo ex parte vitandorum; secundo ex parte imitandorum, ibi nostra autem conversatio, et cetera. Ne autem haec videatur ex odio dicere, praemittit suam affectionem; secundo ostendit quales sunt vitandi, ibi inimicos, et cetera. Then when he says, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ, he gives the reason for his admonition: first, on the part of those to be avoided; secondly, of those to be followed (3:20). But lest this admonition seem to proceed from hatred: first, he mentions his affection; secondly, he describes the ones to be avoided (3:18b).
Dicit ergo: dico quod imitandi indigent observatione: quia quidam aliter incedunt, scilicet de malo in peius. Ps. LXXXI, v. 5: in tenebris ambulant, et cetera. Quos, etc., vobiscum praesens, nunc autem et flens, prae compassione. Ier. IX, 1: quis dabit capiti meo aquam, et oculis meis fontem lacrymarum, et plorabo die ac nocte interfectos populi mei? Et huius rationem ostendit, dicens inimicos, etc., quos describit, primo ex opere; secundo ex intentione, ibi quorum Deus, et cetera. Item circa primum, primo proponit opus; secundo eventum operis ostendit, ibi quorum finis, et cetera. He says, therefore: I say that the ones to follow should be watched, because some walk otherwise, namely, from bad to worse: “They walk about in darkness” (Ps. 82:5). Of whom I have often told you, when I was with you, and now tell you even with tears of compassion: “0 that my head were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jer. 9:1). He gives the reason for this when he says, enemies of the cross of Christ. First, he describes them from their work; secondly, from their intention (3:19). In regard to the first: first, he mentions their work; secondly, he shows the results of their work (3: 19).
Opus eorum est exercitium inimicitiae contra crucem Christi, scilicet dicentium quod nullus potest salvari sine legalibus, in quo evacuant virtutem crucis Christi. Gal. II, 21: si enim ex lege iustitia, ergo Christus gratis, id est sine utilitate, mortuus est. I Cor. I, v. 18: verbum enim crucis pereuntibus quidem stultitia est: his autem, qui salvi fiunt, id est, nobis, virtus Dei est. Et quid eveniet? Certe nobis vita per crucem Christi: illis autem contrarium, quia incurrent mortem. Unde dicit quorum finis interitus, scilicet mortis aeternae. Iob XXVIII, v. 3: lapidem caliginis et umbram mortis dividit, et cetera. Their work is to practice enmity against the cross of Christ, namely, those who say that no one can be saved without observing the ceremonies of the Law, in which they nullify the power of the cross of Christ: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1: 18). And what will be the result? Certainly to us life through the cross of Christ; but to the others the opposite, because they incur death. Hence he says, their end is destruction, i.e., eternal death.
Deinde describit eos quantum ad intentionem. Et primo manifestat eorum intentionem; secundo ostendit intentionis eventum, ibi: et gloria, et cetera. Dicit ergo quorum Deus, etc., quasi dicat: ideo hoc disseminant, scilicet legalia esse observanda, propter lucrum et gloriam propriam, ut satisfaciant ventri. Rom. ult.: domino non serviunt, sed suo ventri, et per dulces sermones et benedictiones seducunt corda innocentium. Eccle. VI, 7: omnis labor hominis in ore eius, sed anima illius non implebitur. Et dicit, Deus, quia proprium Dei est ut sit principium primum et finis ultimus. Unde qui pro fine habet aliquid, illud est Deus suus. Item quaerunt gloriam suam, contra illud Io. VIII, 50: ego gloriam meam non quaero; est qui quaerat et iudicet, et cetera. Sed eventus eorum erit in confusione. Os. c. IV, 7: gloriam eorum in ignominiam commutabo. Et hoc eorum, qui terrena sapiunt, id est, quibus terrena placent, et ea quaerunt. Et hi confundentur, quia status eorum transit. Rom. VIII, 13: si secundum carnem vixeritis, moriemini, et cetera. Glossa: quorum Deus, etc., Dei proprium est iustificare; qui ergo in cibis iustificationem ponebant, dicebant Deum ventrem. Item, est in confusione, quia in confusibilibus, scilicet in circumcisione pudendorum, et occisione brutorum. Then he describes their intention: first, he reveals their intention; secondly, the result of that intention (3:19). He says: their god is the belly. As if to say: they spread this doctrine, namely, that the ceremonies of the Law must be observed, for their own gain and glory to satisfy their belly: “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own belly, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simpleminded” (Rom.. 16:18); “All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied” (Eccl. 6:7). Hence he says god, because it is peculiar to God to be the first principle and the ultimate end; hence those who have something as an end have it as their God. Furthermore, they seek their own glory against what is stated in John (8:50): “Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it and he will be the judge.” The result will be their shame: “I will change their glory into shame” (Ho. 4:7). This is the way things will turn out for those whose minds are fixed on earthly things, i.e., those whom earthly things please and who seek them. They will be ashamed because their state passes; “If you live according to the flesh you will die” (Rom. 8:13).
Consequenter ostendit quales sunt imitandi, ibi nostra autem conversatio, et cetera. Et primo describit in eis caelestem conversationem; secundo expectationem, ibi unde etiam salvatorem, etc.; tertio utilitatem, ibi qui reformabit corpus humilitatis. Then he describes the ones to be imitated when he says, our commonwealth is in heaven. First, he describes the heavenly commonwealth in them; secondly, their expectation (3-20b); thirdly, its usefulness (3:21).
Dicit ergo: illi terrena sapiunt, sed non est sic de nobis, quia nostra conversatio in caelis est, id est perficitur per contemplationem. II Cor. IV, 18: non contemplantibus nobis quae videntur, sed quae non videntur, et cetera. Item per affectionem, quia sola caelestia diligimus. Item per operationem, in qua est caelestis repraesentatio. I Cor. XV, 49: sicut portavimus imaginem terreni, portemus et imaginem caelestis. He says: they seek earthly things, but not we, because our commonwealth is in heaven, i.e., is made perfect by contemplation: “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18); and by affection, because we love only heavenly things; and by our actions, in which there is a representation of heaven: “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Cor. 15:49).
Sed quare est ibi conversatio? Quia inde expectamus optimum auxilium. Ps. CXX, v. 1: levavi oculos meos in montes, et cetera. Matth. VI, 21: ubi est thesaurus tuus, ibi est et cor tuum. Unde dicit unde expectamus salvatorem nostrum. Is. XXX, 18: beati omnes qui expectant eum. Lc. XII, 36: similes hominibus expectantibus dominum suum, quando revertatur a nuptiis, et cetera. But why is our commonwealth there? Because that is the source from which we expect the most help: I lift up my eyes to the bills from whence my help comes” (Ps. 121: 1); “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also (Mt. 6:21). Hence be says, and from it we await a Savior: “Blessed are the eyes that look for him” (Is. 30:18); “Be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks” (Lk. 12:36).
Tria autem facit iste adventus. Primo communem resurrectionem. Ideo dicit reformabit corpus humilitatis, id est abiectionis, quia est mortalitati subiectum. Iob c. XXV, 6: homo putredo, et filius hominis vermis. I Cor. XV, 43: seminatur in corruptione, surget in incorruptione: seminatur in ignobilitate, surget in gloria: seminatur in infirmitate, surget in virtute. Hoc corpus sic abiectum reformabit, id est ad propriam formam reducet. Rom. VIII, 11: qui suscitavit Iesum Christum a mortuis, vivificabit et mortalia corpora nostra, et cetera. This coming involves three things: first, the general resurrection; hence he says, who will change our lowly, because it is subject to death, body: “Man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm” (Job 25:6); “What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power” (1 Cor. 15:42). This abject body He will change [reform], i.e., reduce it to His form: “He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you” (Rom. 8:11).
Secundo sanctorum imitationem. Ideo dicit configuratum corpori claritatis suae. Corpus siquidem Christi est glorificatum per gloriam divinitatis suae, et hoc meruit per suam passionem: quicumque ergo participat virtutem divinitatis per gratiam, et passionem Christi imitatur, glorificabitur. Apoc. III, 21: qui vicerit, dabo ei sedere mecum in throno meo, sicut ego vici, et sedi cum patre meo in throno eius. I Io. III, 2: similes ei erimus. Matth. XIII, 43: tunc iusti fulgebunt sicut sol in regno patris eorum. Et hoc facit secundum operationem divinitatis suae, id est, per virtutem in ipso, per quam possit sibi subiicere omnia. Omnes enim Christo subiicientur, quidam quantum ad salutem, quidam quantum ad poenam: in primis exercebit misericordiam, in secundis iustitiam. Ps. VIII, 8: omnia subiecisti sub pedibus eius, et cetera. I Cor. XV, 28: pater subiecit omnia filio. Io. V, 19: quaecumque pater facit, et filius similiter facit. Secondly, the imitation of the saints; hence he says, to be like his glorious body. The body of Christ, of course, is glorified by the glory of His divinity; and He merited this by His passion. Therefore, whoever shares in the power of the divinity by grace and imitates the passion of Christ shall be glorified: “He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat clown with my Father on his throne” (Rev. 3:21); “We shall be like him” (1 Jn. 3:2); “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Mt. 13:43). Thirdly, the power by which He does this: by the power of his Godhead, i.e., by the power in Him which enables him even to subject all things to himself: for all will be subject to Christ; some unto salvation, and some unto punishment. Toward the first He will exercise mercy, and toward the second justice: “Thou hast given dominion over the works of thy hands” (Ps. 8:6); “For God has put all things in subjection under his feet” (1 Cor. 15:27); “Whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise” (Jn. 5:19).
4-1
1 ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοὶ καὶ ἐπιπόθητοι, χαρὰ καὶ στέφανός μου, οὕτως στήκετε ἐν κυρίῳ, ἀγαπητοί. 2 εὐοδίαν παρακαλῶ καὶ συντύχην παρακαλῶ τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν κυρίῳ. 3 ναὶ ἐρωτῶ καὶ σέ, γνήσιε σύζυγε, συλλαμβάνου αὐταῖς, αἵτινες ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ συνήθλησάν μοι μετὰ καὶ κλήμεντος καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν συνεργῶν μου, ὧν τὰ ὀνόματα ἐν βίβλῳ ζωῆς. 4 χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε: πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε. 5 τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. ὁ κύριος ἐγγύς. 6 μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε, ἀλλ' ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 7 καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. 8 τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνά, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε: 9 ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί, ταῦτα πράσσετε: καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθ' ὑμῶν.
1 Therefore, my brethren, who I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. 6 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.
Supra proponit eis exempla sequenda, hic, per admonitionem moralem, ostendit qualiter se debeant habere. Et primo ostendit qualiter se habeant in futurum; secundo commendat eos de praeterito, ibi gavisus sum autem, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit. Primo monet ad persistendum in iam habito; secundo ad proficiendum in melius, ibi gaudete in domino semper, et cetera. Iterum prima dividitur in duas partes. Quia primo inducit ad perseverandum in generali; secundo ponit speciales modos ad singulares personas, ibi Euchodiam rogo, et cetera. Circa primum primo commemorat ad eos suum affectum; secundo ponit monitionem, ibi sic state, et cetera. Above, he proposed examples for them to follow; here in a moral exhortation he shows how they should conduct themselves: first, how they should act in the future; secondly, he commends them on the past (4:10). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he urges them to persevere in what they already have; secondly, to advance to something better (4:4). The first is divided into two parts: first, he gives them a general exhortation to persevere; secondly, he lays down special ways for definite persons (4:2). In regard to the first: first, he reminds them of his own affection; secondly, he gives the exhortation (4:lb).
Affectum autem suum commendat quintupliciter. Primo secundum fidem ostendens eos sibi dilectos; unde dicit fratres, scilicet per fidem. Matth. XXIII, 8: omnes vos fratres estis. Secundo per charitatem; unde dicit charissimi. I Cor. X, 14: charissimi mihi, et cetera. Tertio secundum desiderium; unde dicit desideratissimi. Supra: testis est mihi Deus quomodo cupiam, et cetera. Et dico desideratissimi, quia desidero vos, vel quia me desideratis. Quarto per gaudium; unde dicit gaudium meum. Et hoc, scilicet quia estis boni. Prov. X, 1: filius sapiens laetificat patrem, et cetera. Quinto per rationem gaudii; unde dicit corona mea. I Thess. c. II, 19: quae est enim spes nostra aut gaudium, aut corona gloriae, nonne vos? et cetera. He certifies his affection in five ways: first, by reason of the faith, by showing that he loves them; hence he says, my brethren, i.e., through faith: “You are all brethren” (Mt. 23:8); secondly, by reason of charity; hence he says, whom I love: “My beloved” (1 Cor. 10: 14); thirdly, according to desire; hence he says, and long for: “God is my witness, how I yearn for you all” (supra 1:8). And I say long for, because I long for you or because you long for me. Fourthly, by joy; hence he says, my joy, and this because you are good: “A wise son makes a glad father” (Prov. 10:1); fifthly, by reason of future joy; hence he says, and crown; “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?” (1 Thess. 2:19).
Deinde cum dicit sic state, etc., ponit monitionem de perseverantia, dicens sic state, etc., id est sicut ego perseverate; vel sic: sicut statis. Matth. X, 22: qui perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit. Then when he says, stand firm thus in the Lord, he urges them to persevere, saying, stand firm, i.e., persevere, as I do; or continue as you are: “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt. 10:22).
Deinde cum dicit Euchodiam rogo, etc., singulares monitiones ponit. Et primo de concordia, secundo de sollicitudine adiutorii, ibi etiam rogo et te. Hae duae mulieres sanctae ministrabant sanctis in civitate Philippensi; et forte erat aliqua discordia inter eas, ideo eas ad concordiam revocat. II Cor. ult. XIII, 11: idem sapite. Then when he says, I entreat Euodia, he gives the individual exhortations: first, in regard to concord; secondly, in regard to solicitude in helping (4:3). These two women, Euodia and Syntyche, ministered to the saints in Philippi, and perhaps there was some strife between them. Therefore, he urges them to be at peace: “ Agree with one another” (2 Cor. 13:11).
Deinde cum dicit etiam rogo et te, etc., quemdam rogat ut adiuvaret quasdam personas. Et dicit compar, quia socius erat praedicationis eius. Prov. XVIII, 19: frater qui iuvatur a fratre, quasi civitas fortis. Adiuva illas, et cetera. Et ad hoc rogo omnes, quorum nomina, et cetera. Quod ponit ne si alios non nominaret, turbarentur; quasi dicat: non est magnum si non scribo omnium nomina, quia sunt scripta in meliori loco. Matth. V, 12: gaudete et exultate, et cetera.. Firma ergo notitia de praedestinatis dicitur liber vitae. Then when he says, I ask you also, true yokefellow, he asks a certain person to help certain other persons. He says, yokefellow, because he was a fellow preacher: “A brother helped is like a strong city” (Prov. 18:19). Help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers. And I ask this of all whose names are in the book of life. He says this in order not to offend the others whom he did not name. As if to say: It makes no difference if I do not write everyone’s name, because they are written in a better place: “Rejoice and be glad” (Mt. 5:12).
Liber vitae secundum Glossam est praedestinatio sanctorum, et hoc est verum secundum rem, sed differt ratione. Sciendum est autem, quod olim erat consuetudo, quod qui ordinabantur ad aliquod officium, vel dignitatem, scribebantur in matricula, sicut milites et senatores, qui palatio conscripti erant. Omnes autem sancti praedestinati eliguntur a Deo ad magnum, scilicet ad vitam aeternam. Et haec ordinatio est praedestinatio. Conscriptio huius ordinationis dicitur liber vitae: haec conscriptio est in memoria divina, quia inquantum ordinat, praedestinat. Inquantum vero immobiliter scit, dicitur esse praescriptio According to a Gloss the book of life is the same as the predestination of the saints. They are the same reality but the ideas are different. It should be noted that in olden times it was a custom to write in a register the names of those appointed to some duty or dignity, as soldiers and senators, who were enrolled in the palace. Now all the predestined saints are chosen by God for something great, namely, eternal life; and this appointment is called predestination. The record of this appointment is called the book of life: and this record is in the divine memory, because inasmuch as He appoints, He predestines; inasmuch as He knows it unchangeably, it is called foreknowledge. Therefore, this foreknowledge about the predestined is called the book of life.
Sed numquid aliqui inde delentur? Sciendum est, quod aliqui sunt scripti simpliciter, aliqui secundum quid. Sunt enim aliqui praedestinati a Deo, ut habituri simpliciter vitam aeternam, et isti sunt scripti indelebiliter. Aliqui ut habeant vitam aeternam non in se, sed in sua causa, inquantum ordinantur ad iustitiam praesentem, et tales dicuntur deleri de libro vitae, quando excedunt a praesenti iustitia. But is anyone ever erased from this book? I answer that some are enrolled absolutely, and others in a qualified sense. For some are absolutely predestined by God to obtain eternal life, and they are enrolled indelibly. Others are predestined to have eternal life not in itself, but in its cause, inasmuch as they are ordained to justice for the present; and such persons are said to be erased from the book of life when they fall away from justice in this life.
Deinde cum dicit gaudete in domino, etc., hortatur eos ad proficiendum in melius, et primo ordinat eorum animum ad proficiendum in melius; secundo actum eorum, ibi de caetero, et cetera. Animum autem ordinat tripliciter, et primo quantum ad spirituale gaudium; secundo quantum ad spiritualem quietem, ibi nihil solliciti, etc.; tertio quantum ad pacem, ibi et pax, et cetera. Circa primum primo describit quale debeat esse nostrum gaudium; secundo ostendit gaudii causam, ibi dominus prope, et cetera. Then when he says, Rejoice in the Lord, he urges them to make more progress: first, he prepares their mind to make more progress; secondly, he arranges their activity (4:8). In regard to the first he prepares their mind in regard to three things: first, in regard to spiritual joy; secondly, in regard to spiritual rest (4:6); thirdly, in regard to peace (4:7). In regard to the first: first, he describes what our joy should be; secondly, he discloses the cause of joy (4:5b).
Necessarium est enim cuilibet volenti proficere, quod habeat spirituale gaudium. Prov. XVII, 22: animus gaudens aetatem floridam facit, et cetera. Conditiones autem quatuor veri gaudii tangit apostolus, et primo quod debet esse rectum, quod est quando est de proprio bono hominis, quod non est quid creatum, sed Deus, Ps. LXXII, 28: mihi adhaerere Deo bonum est, et cetera. Tunc autem rectum est quando in domino. Ideo dicit in domino. Neh. VIII, v. 10: gaudium domini est fortitudo vestra. Item continuum; unde dicit semper. I Thess. ult.: semper gaudete. Quod fit quando non interrumpitur peccato: tunc enim est continuum. Aliquando vero interrumpitur per tristitiam temporalem, quod significat imperfectionem gaudii. Cum enim quis perfecte gaudet, non interrumpitur eius gaudium, quia parum curat de re parum durante. Et ideo dicit semper. Item multiplicatum debet esse; si enim gaudes de Deo, imminet tibi gaudere de eius incarnatione. Lc. II, 10: evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quia natus est, et cetera. Item ut gaudeas de actione. Prov. XXI, 15: gaudium est iusto facere iudicium, et cetera. Imminet etiam tibi gaudium de contemplatione. Sap. c. VIII, 16: non habet amaritudinem conversatio illius. Item si gaudes de bono proprio, imminet tibi gaudere similiter de bono aliorum. Item si de praesenti, imminet etiam de futuro; et ideo dicit iterum, et cetera. Item debet esse moderatum, ne scilicet effluat per voluptates, sicut facit gaudium mundi. Et ideo dicit modestia vestra, etc.; quasi dicat: ita sit moderatum gaudium vestrum, quod non vertatur in dissolutionem. Iudith ult.: populus erat iucundus secundum faciem sanctorum, et cetera. Prov. XII, v. 11: qui suavis est, vivit in moderationibus. Et dicit nota sit omnibus hominibus; quasi dicat: vita vestra sic moderata sit in exterioribus, ut nullius offendat aspectum: impediret enim conversationem vestram. Anyone who desires to make progress must have spiritual joy: “A cheerful heart is a good medicine” (Prov. 17:22). The Apostle touches on four characteristics of true joy; first, it must be right, this happens when it concerns the proper good of man, which is not something created, but God: “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge” (Ps. 73:28). Therefore, it is right, when there is joy in the Lord; hence he says, in the Lord: “‘Me joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10). Secondly, it is continuous; hence he says, always, “Rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16). This happens when it is not interrupted by sin, for then it is continuous. But sometimes it is interrupted by temporal sadness, which signifies the imperfection of joy. For when a person rejoices perfectly, his joy is not interrupted, because he cares little about things that do not last; that is why he says always. Thirdly, it should be multiple, for if you rejoice in God, you will rejoice in His incarnation: I bring you good news of a great joy, which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior” (Lk. 2: 10); and in your own activity: “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous” (Prov. 21:15); and in your contemplation: “Companionship with her has no bitterness” (Wis. 8:16). Again, if you rejoice in your good, you will be prepared to rejoice in the good of others; if you rejoice in the present, you are prepared to rejoice in the future; hence he says, again I will say, rejoice. Fourthly, it should be moderate and not flooded with pleasures, as happens in worldly joy; hence he says, let all men know your forbearance. As if to say: Your joy should be so moderated that it will not degenerate into dissoluteness: “The people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary” (Judith 16:20). He says, let all men know, as if to say: Your life should be so moderate in externals, that it offends the gaze of no one; for that would hinder your manner of life.
Deinde cum dicit dominus enim prope est, tangitur causa gaudii. Homo enim gaudet de propinquitate amici. Dominus quidem prope est praesentia maiestatis. Act. XVII, v. 27: non longe est ab unoquoque. Item est prope propter propinquitatem carnis. Eph. c. II, 13: qui eratis longe, facti estis prope. Item est prope per inhabitantem gratiam. Iac. IV, 8: appropinquate Deo, et appropinquabit vobis. Item per exauditionis clementiam. Ps. CXLIV, 18: prope est dominus invocantibus eum. Is. XIV, 1: prope est, ut veniat tempus eius, et dies eius non elongabuntur, et cetera. Then when he says, the Lord is at hand, he touches on the cause of joy. For a man rejoices when his friend is near. But the Lord is near with the presence of His majesty: “He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27); He is also near in His flesh: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). Again He is near through indwelling grace: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (Jas. 4:8); and by His clemency in hearing: “The Lord is near to all who call upon him” (Ps. 145:18); and by His reward: “Its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged” (Is. 13:22).
Deinde cum dicit nihil solliciti, etc., ostendit quod mens nostra debet esse quieta; et primo ostendit superfluam sollicitudinem; secundo ostendit quid loco eius in mente succedat, ibi sed in omni oratione, et cetera. Then when he says, have no anxiety, he shows that our minds should be at rest: first, that anxiety is uncalled for; secondly, what should take its place in our mind (4:6b).
Et satis convenienter subdit nihil solliciti, etc., ad hoc quod dixerat: dominus prope est; quasi dicat: ipse omnia tribuet, unde non necesse est quod sitis solliciti. Matth. VI, 25: ne solliciti sitis animae vestrae quid manducetis, neque corpori vestro, quid induamini, et cetera. It was fitting to add have no anxiety [solicitude] after saying that the Lord is at hand. As if to say: He will grant everything; hence there is no need to be anxious: “Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall. put on” (Mt. 6:25).
Sed contra, quia dicitur Rom. XII, 8: qui praeest in sollicitudine. Respondeo. Dicendum est, quod sollicitudo quandoque importat diligentiam quaerendi quod deest, et hoc est commendabile, et opponitur negligentiae; quandoque anxietatem animi cum defectu spei et timore de obtinendo id, circa quod sollicitatur, et hanc prohibet dominus Matth. VI, et hic apostolus, quia non debet desperare quin dominus det necessaria. Sed loco sollicitudinis debemus habere recursum ad Deum. I Petr. ult.: omnem sollicitudinem proiicientes in eum, quoniam ipsi est cura de vobis. Et hoc fit orando. Et ideo dicit sed in omni, et cetera. But this seems to be contrary to what is stated in Romans (12:8): “He that rules, [do so] with solicitude.” I answer that anxiety or solicitude sometimes suggests diligence in seeking what is lacking; and this is commendable and opposed to negligence. Sometimes it suggests anxiety of spirit with a lack of hope and with the fear of not obtaining that about which one is anxious. Such anxiety the Lord forbids in Matthew (6:25), because no one should despair, as though the Lord will not grant what is necessary. But in place of anxiety we should have recourse to God: “Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you” (1 Pet. 5:7). And this is done by praying; hence he says, but in everything let your requests be made known to God.
Et convenienter postquam dixit dominus prope est, subdit de petitione. Novo enim domino venienti porriguntur petitiones. Et ponit quatuor quae necessaria sunt in qualibet oratione. Oratio enim importat ascensum intellectus in Deum. Et ideo dicit in omni oratione. Eccli. XXXV, 21: oratio humiliantis se nubes penetrabit, et cetera. Item debet esse cum fiducia impetrandi, et hoc ex Dei misericordia. Dan. IX, 18: neque enim in iustificationibus nostris prosternimus preces ante faciem tuam, sed in miserationibus tuis multis, et cetera. Et ideo dicit obsecratione, quae est contestatio per Dei gratiam et eius sanctitatem, et ideo se humiliantis est. Prov. c. XVIII, 23: cum obsecratione loquitur pauper. Et hoc fit cum dicimus: per passionem et crucem tuam, et cetera. Quia vero ingratus de beneficiis acceptis, indignus est ut alia accipiat, ideo subdit cum gratiarum actione. I Thess. ult.: in omnibus gratias agite. Et tunc proponit petitionem. Et ideo dicit petitiones vestrae. Matth. VII, 7: petite, et accipietis. Et haec quatuor si bene consideremus, habent omnes orationes Ecclesiae. Primo enim invocatur Deus; secundo commemoratur divinum beneficium; tertio petitur beneficium; quarto ponitur obsecratio: per dominum nostrum, et cetera. It is fitting, after be says the Lord is at hand, to speak of petition, for it is customary to make petitions of a new lord on his arrival. He mentions four things required in every prayer. First, that prayer implies the ascent of the mind to God; therefore he says, by prayer: “The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord; he will not desist until the Most High visits him” (Si. 35:17). Secondly, it should be accompanied by confidence of obtaining, and this from God’s mercy: “We do not present our supplications before thee on the ground of our righteousness, but on the grounds of thy great mercy” (Dan. 9:18); therefore, he says, and supplication, which is an appeal to God’s grace and holiness; hence it is the prayer of a person humbling himself: “The poor use entreaties” (Prov. 18:23). We do this when we say: “Through your passion and cross...” Thirdly, because a person who is ungrateful for past benefits does not deserve to receive new ones, he adds, with thanksgiving: “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:18). Fourthly, prayer is a petition; so he says, let your requests be made known to God: “Ask, and it will be given you” (Matt. 7:7). If we reflect, we will notice that all the prayers of the Church contain these four marks: first of all, God is invoked; secondly, the divine benefits are thankfully acknowledged; thirdly, a benefit is requested; and finally, the supplication is made: “Through our Lord....”
Sed notandum quod dicit petitiones vestrae innotescant apud Deum. Numquid dominus nescit hoc? Ideo hoc tripliciter exponitur in Glossa. Primo innotescant, id est, approbentur ante Deum, et appareant quasi dignae et sanctae. Ps. CXL, 2: dirigatur, domine, oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo, et cetera. Vel innotescant nobis ipsis, quod semper sint apud Deum; quasi dicat: non oretis propter favorem populi. Matth. VI, 6: tu autem cum oraveris, intra in cubiculum tuum, et clauso ostio, ora patrem tuum in abscondito, et cetera. Vel innotescant his qui sunt apud Deum, id est, Angelis, per quorum ministerium deferuntur Deo, non quasi ignoranti, sed quia intercedunt pro nobis. Apoc. VIII, 4: ascendit fumus incensorum de orationibus sanctorum de manu Angeli coram Deo, et cetera. But it should be noted that be says, let your requests be made known to God. Does not the Lord know them? This is explained in three ways in a Gloss: first, let them be made known, i.e., approved in God’s presence and counted worthy and holy: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee” (Ps. 141:2). Or let them be made known to ourselves, that is, let us recognize that they always reach God. As if to say: “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt. 6:6). Or, let them be made known to those who are with God, i.e., the angels, through whose ministry they are brought to God, not because He does not know them, but because they intercede for us: “The smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God” (Rev. 8:4).
Deinde cum dicit et pax, etc., ordinat animum quantum ad pacem per illa supradicta dispositum. Et hanc per modum orantis optat. Pax, secundum Augustinum, est tranquillitas ordinis, perturbatio enim ordinis est destructio pacis. Haec ordinis tranquillitas tripliciter consideratur. Primo prout est in principio ordinis, scilicet in Deo. Rom. XIII, v. 2: quae a Deo sunt, ordinata sunt, et cetera. Ab isto profundo, in quo est pax, derivatur primo et perfectius in beatos, in quibus nulla est perturbatio, et nec culpae, nec poenae, et consequenter derivatur ad sanctos viros. Et quanto est magis sanctus, tanto minus patitur perturbationem mentis. Ps. CXVIII, 165: pax multa diligentibus legem tuam, et non est illis scandalum, sed perfecta est in beatis. Is. ult.: ecce ego declinabo super eam quasi fluvium pacis, et cetera. Quia vero cor nostrum ab omni perturbatione non potest esse alienum nisi per Deum, oportet quod per ipsum fiat. Unde dicit Dei. Et hoc secundum quod consideratur in ipso principio, exuperat omnem sensum creatum, quia, ut dicitur I Tim. ult.: lucem habitat inaccessibilem. Iob XXXVI, 26: ecce Deus magnus vincens scientiam nostram, et cetera. Et secundum quod est in patria, superat omnem sensum Angelorum; sed secundum quod est in sanctis in via, exuperat omnem sensum humanum non habentium gratiam. Apoc. II, v. 17: vincenti dabo manna absconditum, et dabo illi calculum, et cetera. Then when he says, and the peace of God... will keep your hearts, he asks that peace descend on the soul now instructed by the things said above. He asks this as though he were entreating. Peace, according to Augustine, is the tranquility of order: for the disturbance of order is the destruction of peace. This tranquility of order is considered from three aspects: first, insofar as it exists in the principle of order, namely, in God: “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed” (Rom. 13:1). From that profound source in which peace exists it flows first into the beatified, in whom there is no disturbance either of guilt or of punishment; then it flows into saintly men: the holier he is, the less his mind is disturbed: “Great peace have those who love thy law (Ps. 119:165). But it is more perfect in the beatified: “Behold, I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream” (Is. 66:12). Now because God alone can deliver the heart from all disturbance, it is necessary that it come from Him; hence he says, of God: and this, inasmuch as peace considered in that source passes all created understanding, as it is stated in I Timothy (6:16): “Who alone dwells in unapproachable light”; “Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable” (Job 36:26). As it exists in heaven, it surpasses all the knowledge of the angels; but as it exists in the saints on earth, it surpasses all the knowledge of those who lack grace: “To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone” (Rev. 2:17).
Haec ergo pax custodiat corda vestra, id est affectus vestros, ut in nullo declinetis a bono. Prov. IV, 23: omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit. Item intelligentias vestras, scilicet ut in nullo devietis a vero. Et hoc in Christo Iesu. Per cuius scilicet charitatem conservatur affectus a malo, et per cuius fidem intellectus perseverat in vero. And the peace, therefore, will keep your hearts, i.e., your affections, so that you will never depart from the good in anything: “Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23); and your minds, so that they not deviate from the truth in anything. And this, in Christ Jesus, by whose love your affections are kept from evil and by whose faith your mind continues in the truth.
Deinde cum dicit de caetero, etc., ordinat actum, et primo inducit eos ad bene agendum, ubi ponit actionis obiectum, scilicet bonum quod agitur, secundo motivum actus, tertio actum, quarto fructum actus. Then when he says, finally brethren, he puts order into their activity by urging them to do good; first, he mentions the object of action, namely, the good which is done; secondly, the mover to action; thirdly, the act itself; fourthly, the fruit of the act.
Haec quatuor sunt hic. Obiectum autem boni actus, vel est obiectum cognitionis, vel affectionis. Quantum ad intellectum est verum, quantum ad affectum est bonum. Et ideo dicit de caetero, id est ex quo sic estis firmati, cogitate quae sunt vera per fidem. Zach. VIII, v. 19: pacem et veritatem diligite, et cetera. Quantum autem ad affectum, sciendum est, quod quaedam sunt de necessitate virtutis, quaedam superaddita. De necessitate virtutis sunt tria. Primo ut integer sit in se; et quantum ad hoc dicit quaecumque pudica, id est casta. Iac. III, 17: quae desursum est sapientia, primum quidem pudica est, et cetera. Item quod sit directus ad proximum; unde dicit quaecumque iusta, et cetera. Matth. V, 6: beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt iustitiam, et cetera. Item ordinatus ad Deum; unde dicit sancta. Lc. I, 75: serviamus illi in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris, et cetera. Obiecta autem necessitati superaddita sunt duo, primo quod sit inductivum ad amicitiam; secundo quod sit conservativum bonae famae. Quantum ad primum dicit quaecumque amabilia, id est, quae inducunt ad mutuam amicitiam. Eccle. VII, 39: non te pigeat visitare infirmum. Ex his enim in dilectione firmaberis. Prov. XVIII, 24: vir amicabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater. Quantum ad secundum dicit quaecumque bonae famae. Multa enim possent fieri cum bona conscientia, quae tamen propter famam sunt dimittenda. Eccli. XLI, 15: curam habe de bono nomine. Hoc enim magis permanebit, quam mille thesauri magni et pretiosi. These four things are mentioned here. For the object of a good act is either the object of the intellect or of the affections: the object of the intellect is the true; the object of the affections is the good. Hence he says, finally brethren, i.e., since you are so minded, think of whatever is true through faith: “Love truth and peace” (Zech. 8:19). In regard to an object of the affections, certain characteristics must be present of necessity in a good act, and others are over and above. Of necessity are three things: first, that it be good in itself; hence he says, whatever is honorable [chaste]: “But the wisdom from above is first pure” (Jas. 3:17); secondly, that it be directed to one’s neighbor; hence he says, whatever is just: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [justice], for they shall be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6); thirdly, ordained to God; hence he says, whatever is pure [holy]: “That we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life” (Lk. 1:74). The characteristics over and above what is necessary are twofold: first, that it lead to friendship; secondly, that it preserve one’s good reputation. As to the first he says, whatever is lovely, i.e., leading to mutual friendship: “Do not shrink from visiting a sick man, because for such deeds you will be loved” (Si. 7:35); “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). As to the second he says, whatever is gracious [of good fame]. For many things can be done with a good conscience, but must be omitted for the sake of one’s reputation: “Have regard for your name, since it will remain for you longer than a thousand great stores of gold” (Si. 41:12).
Motivum ad operandum est duplex. Primo inclinatio interioris habitus; secundo exterior disciplina seu instructio. Quantum ad primum dicit si qua virtus, id est habitus virtutis est in vobis, scilicet inducat vos ad hoc. Eccli. XLIV, 6: divites in virtute pulchritudinis studium habentes, pacificantes in domibus suis. Quantum ad secundum dicit si qua laus, id est laudabilis disciplina, scilicet est in vobis, facite bona. Ps. CXVIII, 66: bonitatem et disciplinam et scientiam doce me, et cetera. Et exponit qualis sit ista disciplina, dicens haec cogitate, scilicet quae didicistis me docente. Matth. XI, 29: discite a me, quia mitis sum et humilis corde, etc., et I Thess. c. II, 13: cum accepissetis a nobis verbum auditus Dei, accepistis illud non ut verbum hominum, sed sicut est vere verbum Dei, et cetera. Et vidistis, per exempla. Sic enim patet motivum actus et obiectum, ‘Me mover to action is twofold: first, the impulse given by a habit existing within oneself; secondly, discipline or instruction learned from someone else. As to the first he says, if there is any excellence, i.e., any habit of virtue in you, let it incline you to this: “Rich men furnished with resources, living peaceably in their habitations” (Si. 44:6). As to the second he says, if there is [any discipline] anything worthy of praise, i.e., praiseworthy knowledge, in you, do good: “Teach me good judgment and knowledge” (Ps. 119:66). He explains what that knowledge is when he says, think about these things, namely, what you have learned from my teaching: “Learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29); “Men you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (1 Thess. 2:13); and what you have seen from my example. Thus the mover to action and its object are clear.
quia disciplina habetur per doctrinam. Et oportet quod primo capiatur; unde dicit haec cogitate. Item quod ei assentiatur; unde dicit et didicistis et accepistis. Item habetur per auditum et visum; unde dicit quae audistis et vidistis. Bonus actus est duplex, scilicet unus interior, qui ponitur ibi haec cogitate, I Tim. IV, 15: haec meditare; exterior ibi agite, Is. I, 16: quiescite agere perverse, discite benefacere, et cetera. But because a discipline is obtained through doctrine, one must first acquire it; hence he says, think about these things. Then he must assent to it; hence he says, what you have learned and received. Furthermore, it is acquired by hearing and sight; hence he says, what you have heard and seen. But there are two kinds of good act: one is internal, and he mentions it when he says, think about these things: [“Meditate on these things”] (1 Tim. 4:15); the other is external: do: “Learn to do good; cease to do evil” (Is. 1:16).
Fructus est Deus, ibi et Deus pacis, etc.; quasi dicat: si hoc feceritis, erit vobiscum Deus. II Cor. ult.: pacem habete, et Deus pacis et dilectionis erit vobiscum. The fruit is God, hence he says, the peace of God will be with you. As if to say: If you do all these things, God will be with you: “Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor. 13: 11).
4-2
10 ἐχάρην δὲ ἐν κυρίῳ μεγάλως ὅτι ἤδη ποτὲ ἀνεθάλετε τὸ ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ φρονεῖν, ἐφ' ᾧ καὶ ἐφρονεῖτε ἠκαιρεῖσθε δέ. 11 οὐχ ὅτι καθ' ὑστέρησιν λέγω, ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔμαθον ἐν οἷς εἰμι αὐτάρκης εἶναι. 12 οἶδα καὶ ταπεινοῦσθαι, οἶδα καὶ περισσεύειν: ἐν παντὶ καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν μεμύημαι καὶ χορτάζεσθαι καὶ πεινᾶν, καὶ περισσεύειν καὶ ὑστερεῖσθαι. 13 πάντα ἰσχύω ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με. 14 πλὴν καλῶς ἐποιήσατε συγκοινωνήσαντές μου τῇ θλίψει. 15 οἴδατε δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς, φιλιππήσιοι, ὅτι ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, ὅτε ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ μακεδονίας, οὐδεμία μοι ἐκκλησία ἐκοινώνησεν εἰς λόγον δόσεως καὶ λήμψεως εἰ μὴ ὑμεῖς μόνοι: 16 ὅτι καὶ ἐν θεσσαλονίκῃ καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ δὶς εἰς τὴν χρείαν μοι ἐπέμψατε. 17 οὐχ ὅτι ἐπιζητῶ τὸ δόμα, ἀλλὰ ἐπιζητῶ τὸν καρπὸν τὸν πλεονάζοντα εἰς λόγον ὑμῶν. 18 ἀπέχω δὲ πάντα καὶ περισσεύω: πεπλήρωμαι δεξάμενος παρὰ ἐπαφροδίτου τὰ παρ' ὑμῶν, ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας, θυσίαν δεκτήν, εὐάρεστον τῷ θεῷ. 19 ὁ δὲ θεός μου πληρώσει πᾶσαν χρείαν ὑμῶν κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος αὐτοῦ ἐν δόξῃ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. 20 τῷ δὲ θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ ἡμῶν ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων: ἀμήν. 21 ἀσπάσασθε πάντα ἅγιον ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ ἀδελφοί. 22 ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι, μάλιστα δὲ οἱ ἐκ τῆς καίσαρος οἰκίας. 23 ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν.
10 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me; you were indeed concerned for me, but you bad no opportunity. 11 Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. 12 I know bow to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. 13 I can do all things in him who strengthens me. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent me help once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift; but I seek the fruit which increases to your credit. IS I have received full payment, and more; I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Superius ostendit apostolus qualiter fideles se debeant habere in futurum, hic commendat eos de praeterito sibi impenso beneficio. Et primo ponit commendationem; secundo terminat epistolam in oratione et salutatione, ibi Deus autem, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit. Primo commendat eos de beneficio impenso; secundo beneficium diffusius exponit, ibi non quasi, et cetera. Item prima pars dividitur in tres particulas, quia primo ponit gaudium conceptum ex eorum beneficio; secundo commendat eorum beneficium, ibi quoniam tandem, etc.; tertio excusat tarditatem, ibi occupati, et cetera. Above, the Apostle showed how the faithful should conduct themselves in regard to the future; here he commends them for past benefits conferred by them. First, he gives the commendation; secondly, he ends the epistle with a prayer and a greeting (4:19). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he commends them for past favors; secondly, he explains the favor more fully (4: 11). The first is divided into three parts: first, be expresses the joy he experienced from their favor; secondly, he commends their favor (4:10); thirdly, he excuses their slowness (4: 10).
Dicit ergo: moneo ut gaudeatis, sed ego gavisus sum propter ea quae fecistis, non in rebus, sed in domino. Hab. III, 18: ego autem in domino gaudebo, et cetera. Gavisus sum, inquam, vehementer, quia propter filios meos. He says; therefore: I urged you to rejoice; but now I rejoice, because of what you have done and for the things themselves, but I do so in the Lord: I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Hab. 3:18). 1 rejoice, I say, greatly, because of my children.
Deinde ponitur materia gaudii, ibi quoniam tandem, et cetera. Bona opera sunt opera misericordiae, et dicuntur flores, quia sicut ex flore fructus provenit, ita ex eis fruitio vitae beatae percipitur. Eccli. XXIV, 23: flores mei fructus honoris et honestatis. Quando ergo opus bonum intermittitur, et postea resumitur, dicitur reflorere. Isti autem aliquando providerant apostolo, et iterum nunc providerunt; ideo dicit eos refloruisse. Et hoc exponit, cum subdit pro me sentire, id est mihi compati. Supra I, 7: sicut est mihi iustum hoc sentire pro omnibus vobis, et cetera. I Mach. X, 20: quae nostra sunt sentias nobiscum, ut conserves amicitias ad nos, et cetera. Sicut et olim sentiebatis, scilicet quando mihi providistis. Et hoc tandem aliquando, quia licet tarde, tamen aliquando fecistis. Rom. I, 10: si quomodo tandem aliquando prosperum iter habeam, et cetera. Then he states the reason for his joy when he says, that now at length you have revived your concern for me [your concern has flourished]. Good works are acts of mercy and they are called flowers, because just as the fruit is produced after the flower, so from acts of mercy the fruit of eternal life is received: “My blossoms became glorious and abundant fruit” (Si. 24:17). Therefore, when a good work is interrupted and then resumed, it is said to flower again. But they once provided for the Apostle, and now they provided again; therefore he says, you have revived your concern for me. [it has flourished again]. He explains this when he says, you were indeed concerned for me, i.e., sympathized with me: “It is right for me to feel thus about you all” (supra 1:7); “You are to be called the king’s friend and you are to take our side and keep friendship with us” (1 Mae. 10:20~); or you were indeed concerned for me, namely, when you provided for me. And you have done this now at length, i.e., although it is late, you have done something.
Deinde cum dicit occupati, etc., excusat tarditatem; quasi dicat: non imputo negligentiae vel culpae, sed necessitati, quia eratis occupati propter tribulationes quas passi estis. Eccli. XL, 1: occupatio magna creata est omnibus hominibus, et cetera. Then when he says, but you had no opportunity, he excuses their slowness. As if to say: I do not lay it to negligence but to necessity, because you were busy with the tribulations you suffered: “Much labor was created for every man (Si. 40:1).
Deinde cum dicit non quasi propter, etc., beneficium exponit, et primo causam gaudii; secundo beneficium quo floruerunt, ibi scitis autem et vos; tertio commemorat beneficium praesens, ibi habeo autem omnia. Item primo excludit causam gaudii aestimatam; secundo declarat propriam mentis constantiam, ibi ego enim didici, etc.; tertio approbat beneficentiam, ibi verumtamen bene fecistis. Then when he says, not that I complain of want, he begins to comment on the favor they did. First, why it is a reason for joy; secondly, he mentions a past favor; thirdly, he commends it (4:18). In regard to the first he does three things: first, be excludes a supposed reason for joy; secondly, he mentions his own constancy of mind (4:11b); thirdly, he approves their kindness (4:14).
Dicit ergo: non gaudeo propter penuriam a vobis propulsam, quae gravis erat. Is. XLVIII, 10: elegi te in camino paupertatis. Sed tamen non deprimit animum, nisi eorum qui in divitiis delectantur, aut qui gloriantur in substantia. Et hoc ideo, quia apostolus non tristatur de paupertate, cuius ratio est constantia mentis eius, quam primo ponit, secundo causam eius, ibi omnia possum, et cetera. Item primo ponit constantiam in speciali casu, secundo generaliter in omnibus, ibi ubique, et cetera. He says, therefore: I do not rejoice in the fact that you relieved my want, although it was serious: I have tried you in the furnace of affliction [poverty]” (Is. 48:10); yet it depresses only the spirit of those who are delighted with riches, or glory in their substance. Therefore, the Apostle is not saddened by poverty. The reason for this is his constancy of mind, which he mentions first; and secondly its cause. First, he mentions his constancy in a particular case; secondly, universally in all things (4:12).
Dicit ergo: paupertatem non timeo, quia didici, et cetera. Nihil demonstrat ita mentem sapientis perfecti, sicut quod sciat uti quolibet statu. Sicut enim est bonus dux qui in quolibet exercitu operatur secundum exigentiam eius, et coriarius qui ex quolibet corio facit optimos sotulares: sic ille perfectus est qui scit uti quolibet statu, ut si sit in magno, non elevetur, et si in minimo, non deiiciatur. Et ideo dicit didici, et cetera. Is. l, 5: dominus Deus aperuit mihi aurem, ego autem non contradico, retrorsum non abii, et cetera. Et hoc sufficit, si parum habeo; si multum, scio me contemperare. He says, therefore: I do not fear poverty, because I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. For nothing so well demonstrates the mind of a perfect wise man as knowing how to make use of every state in which he finds himself. For just as a good leader in any army is the one who acts as circumstances require, and a good tanner is one who makes the best leather from each hide; so he is perfect who knows how to make the best of his state: if he is in lofty state, he is not lifted up; if in the lowest state, he is not dejected. Therefore he says, I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: “The Lord God has opened my ear and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward” (Is. 50:5). If I have a little, it is enough; if I have much, I know how to be moderate.
Et ideo se exponit, dicens scio humiliari. Humilitas autem quandoque dicit virtutem quamdam, Lc. XIV, v. 12, et XVIII, 14: qui se humiliat, exaltabitur, quandoque deiectionem, Ps. CIV, 18: humiliaverunt in compedibus pedes eius. Et sic loquitur hic, dicens scio humiliari, id est, abiectionem sustinere moderate, sicut oportet. Et quia homines exaltantur per divitias et deprimuntur per paupertatem, ideo exaltationem vocat abundantiam. Et in utroque est periculum, quia ex abundantia erigitur animus contra Deum, ex paupertate deiicitur. Et ideo dicitur Prov. XXX, 8: paupertatem et divitias ne dederis mihi. Sed apostolus loquitur melius, quia virtute in utroque scit uti, et hoc ubique, id est in omni loco, negotiis, statibus, et conditionibus, institutus sum. II Cor. c. VI, 4: in omnibus exhibeamus nosmetipsos sicut Dei ministros, et cetera. He explains himself, saying: I know how to be abased. Now, abasement sometimes denotes a virtue: “He who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk. 18:14); and sometimes a low condition: “His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron” (Ps. 105:18). This is what he means when he says, I know how to be abased, i.e., how to endure a lowly condition with equanimity, as is becoming. And because men are exalted by riches and humbled by poverty, there is danger in each of these conditions: because abundance may raise the mind against God, and poverty withdraw it; hence it is stated in Proverbs (30:8): “Give me neither poverty nor riches.” But the Apostle knows how to employ virtue in both; therefore, in any and all circumstances, i.e., in all places, affairs, states and conditions I have learned the secret: “In all things let us conduct ourselves as God’s ministers” (2 Cor. 6:4).
Deinde cum dicit omnia possum, etc., ponit causam suae constantiae, dicens omnia possum, quasi dicat: non possem hos insultus sustinere, nisi manu Dei me confortante. Ez. III, 14: manus domini erat mecum. Is. XL, 31: qui sperant in domino, habebunt fortitudinem, assument pennas sicut aquilae, et cetera. Then when he says, I can do all things, he reveals the cause of his constancy saying, I can do all things in him who strengthens me. As if to say: I would not be able to endure want, unless the hand of God supported me: “The hand of the Lord was strong upon me” (Ez. 3:14); “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and riot be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Is. 40:31).
Sed numquid superfluit quod misimus, cum scias egere? Non, quia licet sciam penuriam pati, quod est virtus, tamen non debet mihi subventio subtrahi. Rom. XII, 13: necessitatibus sanctorum communicantes. Hebr. X, 34: nam et vinctis compassi estis. Et sic patet causa gaudii. But are the things we sent superfluous, since you know how to endure want? No, because although I know how to suffer need, you ought not withdraw your help: “Contribute to the needs of the saints” (Rom. 12:13); “You had compassion on the prisoners” (Heb. 10:34).
Secundo commemorat praeteritum beneficium, ibi scitis autem. A quibusdam enim nihil accipiebat, scilicet Corinthiis et Thessalonicensibus, et quia Corinthii erant avari, et cum turbatione ministrassent, et quia Thessalonicenses erant otio dediti, laborabat, dans eis exemplum laborandi. Isti vero erant boni in absentia et praesentia. Unde dicit II Cor. XI, 8: alias Ecclesias expoliavi, accipiens stipendium ad ministerium vestrum. In ratione dati spiritualis et accepti temporalis. I Cor. IX, 11: si nos vobis spiritualia seminavimus, non magnum est si nos carnalia vestra metamus? Quia et Thessalonicam, et cetera. Et hoc est argumentum, quod Papa potest ab una Ecclesia accipere in subsidium aliarum, non autem sine quacumque causa. Secondly, he recalls a past favor; and you Philippians yourselves know. For he had received nothing from certain ones, such as the Corinthians and Thessalonians, because the Corinthians were covetous and became annoyed when they ministered to him; and because the Thessalonians were given to idleness, he labored, giving them an example of work. Yet the Philippians were good, whether he was present or absent; hence he says in 2 Corinthians (11: 8): “I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.” No church entered into partnership with me in giving temporal things and receiving spiritual things except you only. “If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits?” (1 Cor. 9:11). For even in Thessalonica you sent me help once and again. This is the reason why the Pope can take from one church to help another; but not without cause.
Sciendum est autem, quod cum quis dat aliquid alicui, duo sunt consideranda, scilicet substantia muneris et meritum dantis. Qui gaudet de temporalibus, gaudet de substantia muneris, nec quaerit nisi dantem, et hic est mercenarius; qui autem quaerit dantis meritum, quaerit fructum virtutis et iustitiae, et talis est pastor. Fructum, inquam, qui abundat in ratione vestra. Ratio dicitur dupliciter. Vel secundum quod est virtus animae, et sic omnis virtus est rationis. Rom. XII, 1: rationabile obsequium vestrum. Quandoque est ratiocinatio et computatio. Matth. XVIII, 23: qui voluit rationem ponere cum servis suis. Ideo dicit abundantiam in ratione, quia plus dabant, quam tenerentur; quia quidam tantum in praesentia, sed isti etiam mittebant Romam. Habeo autem quae misistis. Repletus sum acceptis, scilicet his, quae misistis in odorem, et cetera. Lev. III, 5 et IV, 31: offerte holocaustum in odorem suavitatis domino. Est enim odor Deo suavis devotio offerentium, et inter omnes hostias multum valent eleemosynae. Hebr. XIII, 16: beneficentiae autem et communionis nolite oblivisci, talibus enim hostiis promeretur Deus. Not that I seek the gift. Here it should be noted that when a person gives something to someone else, two things should be considered: the substance of the gift and the merit of the donor. One who takes joy in temporal things rejoices in the substance of the gift and looks only for donors; this is a hireling. But one who looks at the merit of the donor looks for the fruit of virtue and justice; such a one is a shepherd. But I seek the fruit which increases to your credit. He says, increases, because they gave more than they were required: for some gave while he was among them, but others even gave while he was in Rome. I am filled, having received the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. “A pleasing odor to the Lord” (Lev. 4:31). For the devotion of the offerer is a sweet odor to God; and of all offerings an alms is very beneficial: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Heb. 13:16).
Deinde cum dicit Deus autem, etc., finit epistolam in oratione, et primo ponit orationem, Deus autem meus. Unus Deus est omnium per creationem et potentiam, sed meus, quia singulariter ei servio. Rom. I, 9: testis enim est mihi Deus cui servio. Impleat, etc., quia implestis meum. Et hoc potest dominus, quia abundat secundum divitias. Rom. X, 12: idem dominus omnium, dives in omnes qui invocant illum, et cetera. Et hoc verum in gloria, scilicet sua, quia ibi implebitur totum desiderium. Ps. XVI, 15: satiabor cum apparuerit gloria tua. Ps. CII, v. 5: qui replet in bonis desiderium tuum. Et hoc est in Christo, id est per Christum. II Petr. I, 4: per quem maxima nobis et pretiosa donavit. Et de omnibus his sit Deo, Trinitati, et patri nostro gloria. I Tim. I, 17: soli Deo honor et gloria in saecula saeculorum. Saeculum est spatium seu duratio generationis aut memoriae hominum. Then when he says, [may] my God will supply every need of yours, he brings the epistle to a close with a prayer: [may] my God. There is one God of all men by creation and power; but He is mine, because I serve Him in a special way: “For God is my witness whom I serve” (Rom. 1:9). May He supply all your needs, because you have supplied mine. The Lord can do this because He abounds in riches: “The same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him” (Rom. 10: 12); hence he says, according to his riches. And this, in glory, because in glory all his desires will be satisfied: “As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness” (Ps. 17:15). [“I shall be satisfied when your glory shall appear”] (Ps. 102:5). And this, in Christ Jesus, i.e., through Christ: “By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises” (2 Pet. 1:4). For all these things, to our God, to the Trinity, and to our Father be glory: “To the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever” (1 Tim. 1:17).
Posita primo oratione, et secundo gratiarum actione, tertio ponit salutationem, dicens salutate omnem sanctum, id est fideles in Christo, quia per Christum sanctificati. Hebr. XIII, 12: ut sanctificaret per suum sanguinem populum, extra portam passus est. Maxime, et cetera. Et per hoc intelligitur quod multos de familia Caesaris convertit. Supra c. I, 13: ut vincula mea manifesta in Christo fierent in omni praetorio, et caeteris hominibus, et cetera. Then he gives the greeting when he says, greet every saint in Christ Jesus, i.e., those who believe in Christ, because they were sanctified by Christ: “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood” (Heb. 13:12); especially those of Caesar’s household. This shows that he converted many from Caesar’s household: “It has become known throughout the whole court and to all the rest” (supra 1:13).
Quamvis autem Matth. XI, 8 dicatur: qui mollibus vestiuntur in domibus regum sunt, tamen ad promovendum bonos, et impediendum malos, videtur licitum sanctis in curiis regum commorari, sed non propter delicias et concupiscentiam voluptatum. Et dicit qui de Caesaris domo sunt, ut eos animet ad gaudium et ad fidem. But although it is stated in Matthew (11:8) that those in soft garments are in the houses of kings, nevertheless to help the good and to hinder the wicked, it seems to be lawful for holy men to dwell in the courts of kings, but not for the sake of voluptuous pleasures and desires. Therefore, he says, those of Caesar’s household, in order to arouse their joy and faith.
Deinde ponit suam salutationem de manu sua, dicens gratia domini, et cetera. Then he writes a greeting in his own hand: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.