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William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 2:12-18

This passage concludes with two vivid pictures, which are typical of Paul's way of thinking. (i) He longs for the Christian progress of the Philippians so that at the end of the day he may have the joy of knowing that he has not run or laboured in vain. The word he uses for to labour is kopian ( Greek #2872 ). There are two possible pictures in it. (a) It may paint a picture of the most exacting toil. Kopian ( Greek #2872 ) means to labour to the point of utter exhaustion. (b) It may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:3

Let nothing be done through strife ,.... About words merely; otherwise they were to strive for the faith of the Gospel, the purity of Gospel ordinances, worship and discipline; but the apostle would not have them strive merely to carry a point determined on, without having any regard to reason and truth, or yielding to the infirmities of the weak; which is the case and conduct of contentious persons; than which nothing can be more contrary to the Spirit of the Gospel, or the peace of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:4

Look, not every man on his own things ,.... Not but that a man should take care of his worldly affairs, and look well unto them, and provide things honest in the sight of all men, for himself and his family, otherwise he would be worse than an infidel; but he is not to seek his own private advantage, and prefer it to a public good; accordingly the Syriac version reads it, "neither let anyone be careful of himself, but also everyone of his neighbour"; and the Arabic version thus, "and let... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:5

Let this mind be in you ,.... The Arabic version renders it, "let that humility be perceived in you". The apostle proposes Christ as the great pattern and exemplar of humility; and instances in his assumption of human nature, and in his subjection to all that meanness, and death itself, even the death of the cross in it; and which he mentions with this view, to engage the saints to lowliness of mind, in imitation of him; to show forth the same temper and disposition of mind in their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:6

Who being in the form of God ,.... The Father; being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. This form is to be understood, not of any shape or figure of him; for as such is not to be seen, it is not to be supposed of him; or any accidental form, for there are no accidents in God, whatever is in God, is God; he is nothing but nature and essence, he is the το ον , the Jehovah, I am what I am; and so is his Son, which is, and was, and is to come, the fountain of all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:7

But made himself of no reputation ,.... Or "nevertheless emptied himself"; not of that fulness of grace which was laid up in him from everlasting, for with this he appeared when he was made flesh, and dwelt among men; nor of the perfections of his divine nature, which were not in the least diminished by his assumption of human nature, for all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily; though he took that which he had not before, he lost nothing of what he had; the glory of his divine... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man ,.... Not that he had only the show and appearance of a man, but he was really a man; for "as" here, denotes not merely the likeness of a thing, but the thing itself, as in Matthew 14:5 , ως here, answers to the Hebrew כ , which is sometimes by the Jews F11 Vid. Kimchi in Josh. iii. 4. said to be כף הדמיון , and signifies likeness, and sometimes כף האמתות , and designs truth and reality; which is the sense in which the particle is to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:9

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him ,.... The apostle proceeds to observe the exaltation of Christ, for the encouragement of meek and humble souls; that whereas Christ, who so exceedingly demeaned himself, was afterwards highly exalted by God, so all such who, in imitation of him, behave to one another in lowliness of mind, shall be exalted in God's due time; for whoso humbleth himself, shall be exalted. The first step of Christ's exaltation was his resurrection from the dead, when he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:10

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ,.... Which is to be understood, not of the outward act of bowing the knee upon hearing the name, and the syllables of the mere name Jesus pronounced; for in the bare name there can be nothing which can command such a peculiar respect; it was a name common with the Jews: Joshua is so called in Hebrews 4:8 ; and the name of Elymas the sorcerer was Barjesus: that is, the son of Jesus, Acts 13:6 ; Now, how monstrously ridiculous and stupid... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:11

And that every tongue should confess ,.... Whether of angels or men, or of men of whatsoever nation. Confession is either true and hearty, as when the mouth and heart agree in confessing, and which is made only by true believers; or verbal only, or in mere outward form, and by force, as in hypocrites, wicked men, and devils themselves; who all either have confessed, or will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord : the holy angels confess him to be Lord, and their Lord truly, and are... read more

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