Philippians 2

15. blameless and harmless--without either the repute of mischief, or the inclination to do it [ALFORD].
sons--rather as Greek, "the children of God" ( Romans 8:14-16 ). Imitation of our heavenly Father is the instinctive guide to our duty as His children, more than any external law ( Matthew 5:44 Matthew 5:45 Matthew 5:48 ).
without rebuke--"without (giving handle for) reproach." The whole verse tacitly refers by contrast to Deuteronomy 32:5 , "Their spot . . . not . . . of His children . . . a perverse and crooked generation" (compare 1 Peter 2:12 ).
ye shine--literally, "appear" [TRENCH]. "Show yourselves" (compare Matthew 5:14-16 , Ephesians 5:8-13 ).
as lights in the world--The Greek expresses "as luminaries in the world," as the sun and moon, "the lights," or "great lights," in the material world or in the firmament. The Septuagint uses the very same Greek word in the passage, Genesis 1:14 Genesis 1:16 ; compare Note,,

16. Holding forth--to them, and so applying it (the common meaning of the Greek; perhaps here including also the other meaning, "holding fast"). The image of light-bearers or luminaries is carried on from Philippians 2:15 . As the heavenly luminaries' light is closely connected with the life of animals, so ye hold forth the light of Christ's "word" (received from me) which is the "life" of the Gentiles ( John 1:4 , 1 John 1:1 1 John 1:5-7 ). Christ is "the Light of the world" ( John 8:12 ); believers are only "light-bearers" reflecting His light.
that I may rejoice in--literally, "with a view to (your being) a subject of rejoicing to me against the day of Christ" ( Philippians 4:1 , 2 Corinthians 1:14 , 1 Thessalonians 2:19 ).
that I have not run in vain--that it was not in vain that I labored for your spiritual good.

17. Yea, and if--rather as Greek, "Yea, if even"; implying that he regarded the contingency as not unlikely: He had assumed the possibility of his being found alive at Christ's coming (for in every age Christ designed Christians to stand in preparedness for His coming as at hand): he here puts a supposition which he regards as more likely, namely, his own death before Christ's coming.
I be offered--rather as Greek, "I am poured out." "I am made a libation." Present, not future, as the danger is threatening him now. As in sacrifices libations of wine were "poured upon" the offerings, so he represents his Philippian converts, offered through faith (or else their faith itself), as the sacrifice, and his blood as the libation "poured upon" it (compare Romans 15:16 , 2 Timothy 4:6 ).
service--Greek, "priest's ministration"; carrying out the image of a sacrifice.
I joy--for myself ( Philippians 1:21 Philippians 1:23 ). His expectation of release from prison is much fainter, than in the Epistles to Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, written somewhat earlier from Rome. The appointment of Tigellinus to be Prætorian Prefect was probably the cause of this
rejoice with you all--ALFORD translates, "I congratulate you all," namely on the honor occurring to you by my blood being poured out on the sacrifice of your faith. If they rejoiced already (as English Version represents), what need of his urging them, "Do ye also joy."

18. "Do ye also rejoice" at this honor to you, "and congratulate me" on my blessed "gain" ( Philippians 1:21 ).

19. Philippians 2:22 , "ye know the proof of him . . . that . . . he hath served with me," implies that Timothy had been long with Paul at Philippi; Accordingly, in the history ( Acts 16:1-4 , Acts 17:10 Acts 17:14 ), we find them setting out together from Derbe in Lycaonia, and together again at Berea in Macedonia, near the conclusion of Paul's missionary journey: an undesigned coincidence between the Epistle and history, a mark of genuineness [PALEY]. From Philippians 2:19-30 , it appears Epaphroditus was to set out at once to allay the anxiety of the Philippians on his account, and at the same time bearing the Epistle; Timothy was to follow after the apostle's liberation was decided, when they could arrange their plans more definitely as to where Timothy should, on his return with tidings from Philippi, meet Paul, who was designing by a wider circuit, and slower progress, to reach that city. Paul's reason for sending Timothy so soon after having heard of the Philippians from Epaphroditus was that they were now suffering persecutions ( Philippians 1:28-30 ); and besides, Epaphroditus' delay through sickness on his journey to Rome from Philippi, made the tidings he brought to be of less recent date than Paul desired. Paul himself also hoped to visit them shortly.
But I trust--Yet my death is by no means certain; yea, "I hope (Greek) in the Lord (that is, by the Lord's help)"
unto you--literally, "for you," that is, to your satisfaction, not merely motion, to you.
I also--that not only you "may be of good courage" (so Greek) on hearing of me ( Philippians 2:23 ), but "I also, when I know your state."

20. His reason for sending Timothy above all others: I have none so "like-minded," literally, "like-souled," with myself as is Timothy. Compare Deuteronomy 13:6 , "Thy friend which is as thine own soul" ( Psalms 55:14 ). Paul's second self.
naturally--Greek, "genuinely"; "with sincere solicitude." A case wherein the Spirit of God so changed man's nature, that to be natural was with him to be spiritual: the great point to be aimed at.

21. Translate as Greek, "They all" (namely, who are now with me, Philippians 1:14 Philippians 1:17 , Philippians 4:21 : such Demas, then with him, proved to be, Colossians 4:14 ; compare 2 Timothy 4:10 , 1:24 ).
seek their own--opposed to Paul's precept ( Philippians 2:4 , 1 Corinthians 10:24 1 Corinthians 10:33 , 13:5 ). This is spoken, by comparison with Timothy; for Philippians 1:16 Philippians 1:17 implies that some of those with Paul at Rome were genuine Christians, though not so self-sacrificing as Timothy. Few come to the help of the Lord's cause, where ease, fame, and gain have to be sacrificed. Most help only when Christ's gain is compatible with their own ( Judges 5:17 Judges 5:23 ).

22. Rare praise ( Nehemiah 7:2 ).
as a son with the father--Translate, "as a child (serveth) a father."
served with me--When we might expect the sentence to run thus. "As a child serveth a father, so he served me"; he changes it to "served with me" in modesty; as Christians are not servants TO one another," but servants of God WITH one another (compare Philippians 3:17 ).
in the gospel--Greek, "unto," or "for the Gospel."

23. so soon as I shall see--that is, so soon as I shall have known for certain.

24. also myself--as well as Timothy.

25. I supposed--"I thought it necessary."
to send--It was properly a sending Epaphroditus back ( Philippians 4:18 ). But as he had come intending to stay some time with Paul, the latter uses the word "send" (compare Philippians 2:30 ).
fellow soldier--in the "good fight" of faith ( Philippians 1:27 Philippians 1:30 , 2 Timothy 2:3 , 4:7 ).
your messenger--literally, "apostle." The "apostles" or "messengers of the churches" ( Romans 16:7 , 2 Corinthians 8:23 ), were distinct from the "apostles" specially commissioned by Christ, as the Twelve and Paul.
ministered to my wants--by conveying the contributions from Philippi. The Greek "leitourgon," literally, implies ministering in the ministerial office. Probably Epaphroditus was a presbyter or else a deacon.

26. For--reason for thinking it "necessary to send" "Epaphroditus. Translate as Greek, "Inasmuch as he was longing after you all."
full of heaviness--The Greek expresses the being worn out and overpowered with heavy grief.
because that ye had heard that he had been sick--rather, "that he was sick." He felt how exceedingly saddened you would be in hearing it; and he now is hastening to relieve your minds of the anxiety.

27. Epaphroditus' sickness proves that the apostles had not ordinarily the permanent gift of miracles, any more than of inspiration: both were vouchsafed to them only for each particular occasion, as the Spirit thought fit.
lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow--namely, the sorrow of losing him by death, in addition to the sorrow of my imprisonment. Here only occurs anything of a sorrowful tone in this Epistle, which generally is most joyous.

29. Receive him--There seems to be something behind respecting him. If extreme affection had been the sole ground of his "heaviness," no such exhortation would have been needed [ALFORD].
in reputation--"in honor."

30. for the work of Christ--namely, the bringing of a supply to me, the minister of Christ. He was probably in a delicate state of health in setting out from Philippi; but at all hazards he undertook this service of Christian love, which cost him a serious sickness.
not regarding his life--Most of the oldest manuscripts read, "hazarding," &c.
to supply your lack of service--Not that Paul would imply, they lacked the will: what they "lacked" was the "opportunity" by which to send their accustomed bounty ( Philippians 4:10 ). "That which ye would have done if you could (but which you could not through absence), he did for you; therefore receive him with all joy" [ALFORD].