We are astonished and horrified by what is happening in the world now, and many speak of the end of the world. Sometimes we accuse God, saying that...
We are astonished and horrified by what is happening in the world now, and many speak of the end of the world. Sometimes we accuse God, saying that He is not good if He sends such calamities upon the earth; at other times we begin to believe in a punishing and cruel God and lose faith in His love.
Consider these words: “the curse devours the earth,” “the vine languishes.” God created this earth, created the sky, created the animals, created the vine, created humanity... Neither the earth nor the sky, neither the birds nor the fish nor the beasts nor the vine have sinned.
Humanity sinned: in its pride it turned away from God. But God entrusted all His creation specifically to humanity. The Lord charged human beings with naming every creature, and in the Bible a name is the essence, the very heart. And so animals began to eat one another, and at times the earth cannot bear our sins.
God punished humanity only once: He sent the flood upon the earth. And He promised that this would never happen again. Yet now, whenever a cruel and terrible flood occurs, we blame God for it. But God truly has not sent another flood upon the earth. The earth itself cannot bear our sins. The more we sin, the more often earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions occur in the world. Such is the responsibility of Christians: believers truly are responsible for this world.
4
4:1 So stand - As ye have done hitherto.
4:2 I beseech - He repeats this twice, as if speaking to each face to face, and that with the utmost tenderness.
4:3 And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow - St. Paul had many fellowlabourers, but not many yokefellows. In this number was Barnabas first, and then Silas, whom he probably addresses here; for Silas had been his yokefellow at the very place, Act 16:19.Help those women who laboured together with me - Literally, who wrestled. The Greek word doth not imply preaching, or anything of that kind; but danger and toil endured for the sake of the gospel, which was also endured at the same time, probably at Philippi, by Clement and my other fellowlabourers - This is a different word from the former, and does properly imply fellowpreachers. Whose names, although not set down here, are in the book of life - As are those of all believers. An allusion to the wrestlers in the Olympic games, whose names were all enrolled in a book. Reader, is thy name there? Then walk circumspectly, lest the Lord blot thee out of his book!
4:5 Let your gentleness - Yieldingness, sweetness of temper, the result of joy in the Lord. Be known - By your whole behaviour. To all men - Good and bad, gentle and froward. Those of the roughest tempers are good natured to some, from natural sympathy and various motives; a Christian, to all. The Lord - The judge, the rewarder, the avenger. Is at hand - Standeth atthe door.
4:6 Be anxiously careful for nothing - If men are not gentle towards you, yet neither on this, nor any other account, be careful, but pray. Carefulness and prayer cannot stand together.In every thing - Great and small. Let your requests be made known - They who by a preposterous shame or distrustful modesty, cover,stifle, or keep in their desires, as if they were either too small or too great, must be racked with care; from which they are entirely delivered, who pour them out with a free and filial confidence. To God - It is not always proper to disclose them to men. By supplication - Which is the enlarging upon and pressing our petition. With thanksgiving - The surest mark of a soul free from care, and of prayer joined with true resignation. This is always followed by peace. Peace and thanksgiving are both coupled together, Col 3:15.
4:7 And the peace of God - That calm, heavenly repose, that tranquility of spirit, which God only can give. Which surpasseth all understanding - Which none can comprehend, save he that receiveth it. Shall keep - Shall guard, as a garrison does a city. Your hearts - Your affections. Your minds - Your understandings, and all the various workings of them; through the Spirit and power of Christ Jesus, in the knowledge and love of God. Without a guard set on these likewise, the purity and vigour of our affections cannot long be preserved.
4:8 Finally - To sum up all. Whatsoever things are true - Here are eight particulars placed in two fourfold rows; theformer containing their duty; the latter, the commendation of it. The first word in the former row answers the first in the latter; the second word, the second and so on. True - In speech.Honest - In action. Just - With regard to others. Pure - With regard to yourselves. Lovely - And what more lovely than truth?Of good report - As is honesty, even where it is not practised.If there be any virtue - And all virtues are contained in justice.If there be any praise - In those things which relate rather to ourselves than to our neighbour. Think on these things - That ye may both practise them yourselves, and recommend them to others.
4:9 The things which ye have learned - As catechumens.And received - By continual instructions. And heard and seen - In my life and conversation. These do, and the God of peaceshall be with you - Not only the peace of God, but God himself, the fountain of peace.
4:10 I rejoiced greatly - St. Paul was no Stoic: he had strong passions, but all devoted to God. That your care of me hath flourished again - As a tree blossoms after the winter.Ye wanted opportunity - Either ye had not plenty yourselves, or you wanted a proper messenger.
4:11 I have learned - From God. He only can teach this.In everything, therewith to be content - Joyfully and thankfully patient. Nothing less is Christian content. We may observe a beautiful gradation in the expressions, I have learned; I know; I am instructed; I can.
4:12 I know how to be abased - Having scarce what is needful for my body. And to abound - Having wherewith to relieve others also. Presently after, the order of the words is inverted, to intimate his frequent transition from scarcity to plenty, and from plenty to scarcity. I am instructed - Literally, I am initiated in that mystery, unknown to all but Christians.Both to be full and to be hungry - For one day. Both to abound and to want - For a longer season.
4:13 I can do all things - Even fulfil all the will of God.
4:15 In the beginning of the gospel - When it was first preached at Philippi. In respect of giving - On your part.And receiving - On mine.
4:17 Not that I desire - For my own sake, the very gift which I receive of you.
4:18 An odour of a sweet smell - More pleasing to God than the sweetest perfumes to men.
4:19 All your need - As ye have mine. According to his riches in glory - In his abundant, eternal glory.