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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Philippians 1:18 - 1:18
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
18. τί γάρ; “Well, what of that?” Τί γάρ; is common in classical Greek in quick steps of more or less argumentative statement. Lightfoot cites Xen. Mem. II. vi. §§ 2, 3, where τί γάρ; (varied by τί δέ; τί οὖν;) repeatedly thus takes up the thread in dialogue.
πλὴν ὅτι. “Only that.” A beautiful modification of the thought, that all this “does not matter.” It does “matter,” in one happy respect; it helps to diffuse the Gospel.—On the reading, see critical note.
προφάσει. With those who preached ἐξ ἐριθείας, the “pretext” (perhaps even to themselves) would be zeal for truth; the truer reason was prejudice against a person.
ἀλλὰ καὶ χαρήσομαι. “Aye, and I shall rejoice.” “Shall” seems better here than “will,” an expectation rather than a resolve (so Ellicott, Alford, Lightfoot, but not R.V.), because he at once goes on to anticipate a bright future.
No long comment is needed on the noble spiritual lesson of this passage. His Lord’s interests are his own, and in that fact, amidst extremely vexatious circumstances, he finds by grace more than resignation, more than equanimity; there is positive and assured happiness. Self has yielded the inner throne to Christ, and the result is a Divine harmony between circumstances and the man, as both are seen equally subject to, and usable by, Him.