For the rest, my brethren, rejoice in [the] Lord to write the same things to you, to me [is] not irksome, and for you safe.
本节注释
The Setting
Philippians 3:1 stands at a hinge in the letter: Paul has just spoken of his joy over Epaphroditus and the saints' fellowship, and now he lifts their hearts from every tributary of joy back to the Source — the Lord Himself — before turning sharply against the false teachers who would steal that joy.
"Rejoice in the Lord" — the Keynote of the Epistle
Joy is the great refrain of Philippians, and 3:1 makes its truest object plain: not circumstances, not even the saints, but the Lord.
W. W. FeredayThe Apostle now exhorts the saints to rejoice in the Lord… He has already spoken of different kinds of joy: (1) In making request for the saints, (2) That Christ was abundantly preached, (3) In seeing the saints walking together in unity, (4) In being poured out as a drink offering. Here he leaves the streams, as it were, and traces all up to the source, directing their hearts to the Lord Himself… We undoubtedly find joy in the fellowship of the saints, and in the service of Christ; but it is unsafe for our hearts to rest there. The saints may cause pain and disappointment, and the service may discourage; where then the joy? But if the heart is set upon the Lord, whatever the days or circumstances, all is well.
F. B. HoleGod may, and indeed often does, give us to experience His mercy and make our hearts glad, yet on the other hand often He has to pass us through the valley of weeping. But even if circumstances are permitted to move against us, and sickness end fatally, the Lord Himself remains the same. Our rejoicing really lies in Him.
The Connection with Chapter 2 — Joy Before Service
The verse is not a fresh start but a corrective. Having shown the lowly mind of Christ in chapter 2, Paul now warns against running into activity without first finding gladness in the Lord.
William KellyThe too frequent plunging into service before learning the Lord's mind, as shown in Phil. 2, is what the Spirit warns against here, for it is sure to lead to the activity of the flesh and not of the Spirit. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." This cuts at the root of the whole matter. It is not, Run into service in order to get joy, but, "rejoice in the Lord." And unless there is joy in Him, service is most dangerous.
"The Same Things" — Why Paul Repeats Himself
Paul has spoken of rejoicing again and again throughout the letter; he is unembarrassed about returning to it, because the saints' safety lies in the truth being driven home.
William Kelly"To write the same things to you to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe." He had already at the beginning said much about "rejoicing"; he does so again at the end. But the apostle did not mind repeating his words to impress them the more upon them.
F. B. HoleNo servant of God need be afraid of repeating himself, for we take in things but slowly. Repetition is a safe process in the things of God.
The Word Itself — Spiritual Joy, Not Boasting
A note on language: the "rejoice" of verse 1 is not the same word as the "rejoice" (glory, boast) of verse 3. The first is pure spiritual gladness; the second is the believer's boast in Christ as set against fleshly religion.
MagazinesThe word translated "rejoice" in these verses is not the same. In v. 1 it is the same word as is rendered "rejoice" in Phil. 4:4, and means spiritual joy. In 3:3 it signifies to glory, or to make our boast in… Turning again for a moment to Phil. 3:1 and 4:4, the lesson there is that in the Lord alone is our true spiritual joy to be found, and not only so, but also that it may always be found there, for the exhortation is, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
This is also why the proposal to translate the verb as "Farewell" must be rejected:
William KellyWhat would be the sense of "Farewell in the Lord alway"? Yet this is long after Philippians 3:1, where "farewell" would be therefore unnatural… Spiritual perception is another thing, and indispensable for the right rendering of scripture.
A Safeguard Against What Follows
The "safe" in verse 1 anticipates verse 2. A heart truly rejoicing in the Lord is fortified against the "dogs," the "evil workers," and the "concision" — the religious flesh Paul will expose next.
William KellyIt is astonishing how far the flesh may go in its religious energy, entirely opposed to the mind of God.
Summary
- The Source. Joy is to be traced past saints, service, and circumstance up to the Lord Himself — He alone never disappoints or changes.
- Before service. "Rejoice in the Lord" must come before activity for Him; service without joy in Christ becomes the energy of the flesh.
- Repetition is safety. Paul gladly repeats himself because the believer learns slowly; reinforcement of vital truth is a safeguard.
- Spiritual joy. The "rejoice" of 3:1 means inward gladness in the Lord, distinct from the boasting of 3:3 which sets Christ against fleshly religion.
- A guard against false teachers. A heart fixed on the Lord is the believer's protection against the "dogs" and "concision" Paul exposes in the verses that follow.