Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin
CHAPTER 1
which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
25. Cuius factus sum minister, secundum dispensationem Dei, quae mihi data est erga vos, ad implendum sermonem Dei: 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
26. Mysterium reconditum a saeculis et generationibus, quod nunc revelatum est sanctis eius.
27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
27. Quibus voluit Deus patefacere, quae sint divitiae gloriae mysterii huius in Gentibus, qui est Christus in vobis, spes gloriae:
28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
28. Quem nos praedicamus, admonentes omnem hominem, et docentes omnem hominem in omni sapientia, ut sistamus omnem hominem perfectum in Christo Iesu.
29. Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
29. In quam rem etiam laboro, decertans secundum potentiam eius, quae operatur in me potenter.
24. I now rejoice. He has previously claimed for himself authority on the ground of his calling. Now, however, he provides against the honor of his apostleship being detracted from by the bonds and persecutions, which he endured for the sake of the gospel. For Satan, also, perversely turns these things into occasions of rendering the servants of God the more contemptible. Farther, he encourages them by his example not to be intimidated by persecutions, and he sets forth to their view his zeal, that he may have greater weight. 500 Nay more, he gives proof of his affection towards them by no common pledge, when he declares that he willingly bears for their sake the afflictions which he endures. ``But whence,'' some one will ask, ``arises this joy?'' From his seeing the fruit that springs from it. ``The affliction that I endure on your account is pleasant to me, because I do not suffer it in vain.'' 501 In the same manner, in his First Epistle to the Thessalonians, he says, that he rejoiced in all necessities and afflictions, on the ground of what he had heard as to their faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:6, 7.) And fill up what is wanting. The particle and I understand as meaning for, for he assigns a reason why he is joyful in his sufferings, because he is in this thing a partner with Christ, and nothing happier can be desired than this partnership. 502 He also brings forward a consolation common to all the pious, that 500"Et monstre le grand zele qu'il auoit, afin qu'il y ait plus de poids et authorite en ce qu'il dit;" — "And shews the great zeal that he had, that there may be greater weight and authority in what he says."
501"M'est douce et gracieuse, pouree qu'elle n'est point inutile;" — "Is sweet and agreeable to me, because it is not unprofitable."
502"Ceste societe et conionction;" — "This fellowship and connection."