Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
John Calvin
anxieties, and griefs are sweetened.
To write the same thing to you. Here he begins to speak of the false Apostles, with whom, however, he does not fight hand to hand, as in the Epistle to the Galatians, but in a few words severely 337 exposes them, as far as was sufficient. For as they had simply made an attempt upon the Philippians, and had not made an inroad upon them, 338 it was not so necessary to enter into any regular disputation with the view of refuting errors, to which they had never lent an ear. Hence he simply admonishes them to be diligent and attentive in detecting impostors and guarding against them.
In the first place, however, he calls them dogs; the metaphor being grounded upon this --- that, for the sake of filling their belly, they assailed true doctrine with their impure barking. Accordingly, it is as though he had said, --- impure or profane persons; for I do not agree with those who think that they are so called on the ground of envying others, or biting them 339
In the second place, he calls them evil workers, meaning, that, under the pretext of building up the Church, they did nothing but ruin and destroy everything; for many are busily occupied 340 who would do better to remain idle. As the public crier 341 on being asked by Gracchus in mockery, on the ground of his sitting idle, what he was doing? had his answer ready, ``Nay, but what are you doing?'' for he was the ringleader of a ruinous sedition. Hence Paul would have a distinction made among workers, that believers may be on their guard against those that are evil.
In the third term employed, there is an elegant ({προσωνομασία}) play upon words. They boasted that they were the circumcision: he turns aside this boasting by calling them the concision 342 , inasmuch as they tore asunder the unity of the Church. In this we have an instance tending to shew that the Holy Spirit in his organs 343 has not in every case avoided wit and humor, yet so as at the same time to keep at a distance from such pleasantry as were unworthy of his majesty. There are innumerable examples in the Prophets, and especially in Isaiah, so that there is no profane author that abounds more in agreeable plays
337"Il les rembarre rudement et auec authorite;" — "He baffles them sternly and with authority."
338"Pource qu'ils auoyent seulement fait leurs efforts, et essaye de diuer-tir les Philippiens, et ne les auoyent gaignez et abbatus;" — "As they had merely employed their efforts, and had attempted to turn aside the Philippians, and had not prevailed over them and subdued them."
339"Pour autant qu'ils portoyent enuie auec autres, ou les mordoyent et detractoyent d'eux;" — "On the ground of their bearing envy to others, and biting and calumniating them."
340"Car il yen a plusieurs qui se tourmentent tant et plus, et se meslent de beaucoup de choses;" — "For there are many that torture themselves on this occasion and on that, and intermeddle with many things.
341"Comme anciennement a Rome ce crier public;" — "As anciently at Rome that public crier."
342"The Concision–that is, those who rend and divide the Church. Compare Romans 16:17, 18. They gloried in being the {περιτομὴ} (the circumcision,) which name and character St. Paul will not here allow them, but claims it for Christians in the next words, and calls them the {κατατομὴ} or concision, expressing his contempt of their pretences, and censure of their practices.'' --- Pierce. --- Ed.
343"En ses organes et instrumens c'est a dire ses seruiteurs par lesquels il a parle;" — "In his organs and instruments, that is to say, his servants, by whom he has spoken."