Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin
John Calvin from the kids; 392 but it is our part to reckon in charity all to be lambs who, in a spirit of obedience, submit themselves to Christ as their Shepherd 393 , who betake themselves to his fold, and remain there constantly. It is our part to set so high a value upon the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which he confers peculiarly on his elect, that they shall be to us the seals, as it were, of an election which is hid from us.
Philippians 4:4-9
Philippians 4:4-9
4. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 4. Gaudete in Domino semper, iterum dico, gaudete. 5. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 5. Moderatio vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus. Dominus prope est. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
6. De nulla re sitis solliciti: sed in omnibus, oratione et precatione, cum gratiarum actione, petitiones vestrae innotescant apud Deum.
7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
7. Et pax Dei, quae exsuperat omnem intelligentiam, custodiet corda vestra et cogitationes vestras in Christo Iesu.
8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things
8. Quod reliquum est, fratres, quaecunque sunt vera, quaecunque gravia, qaecunque iusta, quaecunque pura, quaecunque amabilia, quaecunque honesta: si qua virtus, et qua laus, haec cogitate.
9. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
9. Quae et didicistis, et suscepistis, et audistis, et vidistis in me: haec facite, et Deus pacis erit vobiscum.
4. Rejoice in the Lord It is an exhortation suited to the times; for, as the condition of the pious was exceedingly troublous, and dangers threatened them on every side, it was possible that they might give way, overcome by grief or impatience. 394 Hence he enjoins it upon them, that, amidst circumstances of hostility and disturbance, they should nevertheless rejoice in the Lord, 395 as
392"Les agneux des boucs;" — "The lambs from the goats." 393"Christ vray Pastuer;" — "Christ the true Shepherd." 394"Il se pouuoit faire que les Philippiens, estans vaincus de tristesse ou impatience, venissent a perdre courage;" — "It might be, that the Philippians, being overcome by grief or impatience, might come to lose heart."
395"Non obstant les troubles et les fascheries qu'ils voyoyent deuant leurs yeux;" — "Notwithstanding the troubles and annoyances that they saw before their eyes."
CHAPTER 4
assuredly these spiritual consolations, by means of which the Lord refreshes and gladdens us, ought then most of all to show their efficacy when the whole world tempts us to despair. Let us, however, in connection with the circumstances of the times, consider what efficacy there must have been in this word uttered by the mouth of Paul, who might have had special occasion of sorrow. 396 For if they are appalled by persecutions, or imprisonments, or exile, or death, here is the Apostle setting himself forward, who, amidst imprisonments, in the very heat of persecution, and in fine, amidst apprehensions of death, is not merely himself joyful, but even stirs up others to joy. The sum, then, is this --- that come what may, believers, having the Lord standing on their side 397 , have amply sufficient ground of joy.
The repetition of the exhortation serves to give greater force to it: Let this be your strength and stability, to rejoice in the Lord, and that, too, not for a moment merely, but so that your joy in him may be perpetuated. 398 For unquestionably it differs from the joy of the world in this respect --- that we know from experience that the joy of the world is deceptive, frail, and fading, and Christ even pronouces it to be accursed (Luke 6:25). Hence, that only is a settled joy in God which is such as is never taken away from us.
5 Your moderation This may be explained in two ways. We may understand him as bidding them rather give up their right, than that any one should have occasion to complain of their sharpness or severity. ``Let all that have to deal with you have experience of your equity and humanity.'' In this way to know,* will mean to experience. Or we may understand him as exhorting them to endure all things with equanimity. 399 This latter meaning I rather prefer; for is a term that is made use of by the Greeks themselves to denote moderation of spirit --- when we are not easily moved by injuries, when we are not easily annoyed by adversity, but retain equanimity of temper. In accordance with this, Cicero makes use of the following expression, --- ``My mind is tranquil, which takes everything in good part.'' 400 Such equanimity --- which is as it were the mother of patience --- he requires here on the part of the Philippians, and, indeed, such as will manifest itself to all, according as occasion will require, by producing its proper effects. The term modesty* does not seem appropriate here, because Paul is not in this passage cautioning them against haughty insolence, but directs them to conduct themselves peaceably in everything, and exercise control over themselves, even in the endurance of injuries or inconveniences.
396"Qui plus que tous les autres pouuoit auoir matiere de se contrister;" — "Who might more than all others have had occasion to indulge sorrow.""
397"Ont le Seigneur pour eux;" — "Have the Lord for them." 398"Que vostre ioye se continue en iceluy iusques a la fin;" — "That your joy may maintain itself in him until the end."
399"En douceur et patience;" — "With sweetness and patience." 400"TranquilIus animus meus, qui aequi boni facit omnia." Calvin here gives the sense, but not the precise words, of Cicero, which are as follows: "Tranquillissimus autem animus meus, qui totm istuc aequi boni facit;" — "My mind, however, is most tranquil, which takes all that in good part." See Cic. Art.7,7. — Ed.
John Calvin
The Lord is at hand Here we have an anticipation, by which he obviates an objection that might be brought forward. For carnal sense rises in opposition to the foregoing statement. For as the rage of the wicked is the more inflamed in proportion to our mildness, 401 and the more they see us prepared for enduring, are the more emboldened to inflict injuries, we are with difficulty induced to possess our souls in patience. (Luke 21:19.) Hence those proverbs, --- ``We must howl when among wolves.'' ``Those who act like sheep will quickly be devoured by wolves.'' Hence we conclude, that the ferocity of the wicked must be repressed by corresponding violence, that they may not insult us with impunity. 402 To such considerations Paul here opposes confidence in Divine providence. He replies, I say, that the Lord is at hand, whose power can overcome their audacity, and whose goodness can conquer their malice. He promises that he will aid us, provided we obey his commandment. Now, who would not rather be protected by the hand of God alone, than have all the resources of the world at his command?
Here we have a most beautiful sentiment, from which we learn, in the first place, that ignorance of the providence of God is the cause of all impatience, and that this is the reason why we are so quickly, and on trivial accounts, thrown into confusion, 403 and often, too, become disheartened because we do not recognize the fact that the Lord cares for us. On the other hand, we learn that this is the only remedy for tranquillizing our minds --- when we repose unreservedly in his providential care, as knowing that we are not exposed either to the rashness of fortune, or to the caprice of the wicked, 404 but are under the regulation of God's fatherly care. In fine, the man that is in possession of this truth, that God is present with him, has what he may rest upon with security.
There are, however, two ways in which the Lord is said to be at hand --- either because his judgment is at hand, or because he is prepared to give help to his own people, in which sense it is made use of here; and also in Psalm 145:18, The Lord is near to all that call upon him. The meaning therefore is, --- ``Miserable were the condition of the pious, if the Lord were at a distance from them.'' But as he has received them under his protection and guardianship, and defends them by his hand, which is everywhere present, let them rest upon this consideration, that they may not be intimidated by the rage of the wicked. It is well known, and matter of common occurrence, that the term solicitudo (carefulness) is employed to denote that anxiety which proceeds from distrust of Divine power or help.
6 But in all things It is the singular number that is made use of by Paul, but is the neuter gender; the expression, therefore, is equivalent to omni negotio,
401"D'autant plus que nous-nous monstrons gracieux et debonnaires;" — "The more that we show ourselves agreeable and gentle."
402"Afin qu'ils ne s'esleuent point a l'encontre de nous a leur plaisir et sans resistance;" — "That they may not rise up against us at their pleasure, and without resistance."
403"Que nous sommes tout incontinent et pour vn rien troublez et esmeus;" — "That we are all at once and for nothing troubled and moved."
404"Ni au plaisir desborde des meschans;" — "Nor to the unbridled inclination of the wicked."