Among minor notes of kinship in these Epistles observe the view of faith as the "gift of God" (Phil. i. 29; Eph. ii. 8); the mention of the Divine "good pleasure", or gracious sovereign purpose (Phil. ii. 13; Eph. i. 4); the phrase "preach Christ" (Phil. i. 16, 18; Col. i. 28); the Apostle's "joy" in his trials (Phil. i. 18; Eph. iii. 13; Col. i. 24); the Divine "inworking" in the saints (Phil. ii. 13; Col. i. 29; cp. Eph. ii. 10); and the following words or phrases peculiar to these among the Pauline Epistles-Tаnewvoppoσúvn (Phil. ii. 3; Eph. iv. 2; Col. iii. 12), σπλáyɣva oikтipμŵv (or nearly so) (Phil. ii. 1; Col. iii. 12; cp. Philem. 7, 12, 20); doμǹ evwdías (Phil. iv. 18; Eph. v. 2); éπɩXopnyía (Phil. i. 19; Eph. iv. 16; cp. Col. ii. 19).

CHAPTER V.

THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP TO THE PHILIPPIANS.

THIS Epistle, the only other extant letter addressed to the Church of Philippi, has been already mentioned (p. 21). For the text, fully edited with notes, see Lightfoot's Apostolic Fathers, Part II. vol. ii., sect. 2, pp. 898, &c. We give a translation of the Epistle slightly abridged. It is interesting to observe the wealth of N. T. quotations, and the frequent tacit allusions to the topics of St Paul's Epistle. All clear Scripture quotations are italicized, as well as phrases apparently suggested by Scripture.

POLYCARP and his elders to the Church of God sojourning at Philippi; grace and peace be multiplied from God Almighty and Jesus Christ our Saviour.

i. I rejoiced greatly with you in the Lord, in your joy on welcoming those Copies1 of the True Love, chained with those holy fetters which are the diadems of the elect; and that your long-renowned faith persists, and bears fruit to Christ, who for

1 Ignatius and his companion Confessors.

our sins died and rose, in whom, not having seen Him, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, a joy into which many long to enter, knowing that by grace ye have been saved, not of works, but by the will of God in Christ.

ii. So gird up your loins, forsake the prevalent specious errors, believe on Him who raised our Lord from the dead and gave Him glory, to whom (Christ) all things in heaven and earth are subjected, to whom every living thing does service, who comes to judge the quick and dead, whose blood God will require of the unbelieving. He who raised Him will raise us also, if we walk in His ways, abstaining from all injustice, avarice, and evil-speaking, not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing; remembering how the Lord said, Judge not, that ye be not judged; blessed are the poor, and the persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

iii. I write thus concerning righteousness, not of my own motion but because you have invited me. Neither I nor any like me can approach the wisdom of the blessed and glorious Paul, who when among you, face to face with the men of that day, taught accurately and with certainty the word concerning the truth, who also when absent wrote to you letters1, which if you study diligently you shall be able to be built up in the faith given you; which faith is the mother of us all, followed by hope, and by hope's forerunner, love to God, to Christ, and to our neighbour. For if any one is given to these, he hath fulfilled the precept of righteousness. He who hath love is far from all sin.

iv. Now the beginning of all evils is the love of money. We brought nothing into the world, and can carry nothing out. Let us put on the armour of righteousness and teach one another to walk in the precept. Teach your wives too to walk in the faith, love, and purity given them, faithful to their husbands in all truth, amiable to all around them in true modesty, training their children in the fear of God. Let your widows be sober in

1 See p. 21.

the faith, instant in intercession, holding aloof from evil-speaking, from avarice, and from all wrong. They are God's altar, and He inspects the victim to see if it has any blemish.

V. God is not mocked; let us walk worthy of His precept and glory. Let the deacons (diaconi, ministers) be blameless before Him, as ministers of God and Christ, avoiding likewise evil-speaking, and avarice, and unkindness, before Him who was minister of all. If we please Him in this world we shall receive the world to come; if we walk (lit., live as citizens) worthy of Him, we shall reign with Him, if we believe. Let the juniors too walk in holy strictness. Every lust warreth against the spirit; fornicators and such like shall not inherit the kingdom. So let them watch and abstain; let them submit to the elders and deacons. And let the virgins walk in holiness.

vi. The presbyters should be compassionate, watchful over the erring, the weak, the widows, orphans, and poor, providing always for that which is good before God and men, renouncing wrath, partiality, avarice, and rash judgment. If we ask remission, we must remit. We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and give account each of himself. Let us do Him bond-service, as He bade us, and His Apostles, and the Prophets who shewed before of His coming. Be zealous for good; avoid offences, and false brethren, who deceive the careless.

vii. For whosoever confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is antichrist. Whosoever confesses not the mystery of the Cross is of the devil. Whosoever perverts the Lord's oracles to his lusts, and says that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, is Satan's firstborn. So let us forsake the current vain doctrines, and turn to the once-delivered Gospel, watching unto prayer, persevering in fastings, praying the allseeing God not to lead us into temptation; as the Lord said, The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

viii. Let us hold fast to our hope and to the earnest of our righteousness, which earnest is Christ Jesus, who bore our sins in His own body to the tree; who did no sin, neither was guile

found in His mouth; who bore all that we might live in Him. If we suffer for Him, let us

Let us imitate His patience.
glorify Him. He left us this example.

ix. All of you obey the word of righteousness, and practise true endurance, which you have seen exemplified before you not only in blessed Ignatius, Zosimus, and Rufus, but in others of your own body, and in Paul himself and the other Apostles. You know that they all did not run in vain. They have gone, in the path of faith and righteousness, to their promised (lit., owed) place, beside the Lord with whom they suffered.

x. Stand fast then, according to His example, steadfast and unmoveable in the faith, kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; sharing together in truth, in the Lord's gentleness (moderation, Phil. iv. 5) preferring one another. When able to do good, defer it not, for almsgiving rescueth from death (Tobit iv. 11, xii. 9). All being subject to one another, have your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that by your good works you may obtain praise, and the Lord be not blasphemed. Teach all men true sobriety.

xi. I am exceedingly grieved for Valens, once made an elder among you, that he so ignores the position given him. Do you avoid avarice; be pure, be true. He who cannot steer himself aright in such duties, how can he preach them? If he avoids avarice he will be defiled by idolatry, and judged as one of the Gentiles. Know we not that the saints shall judge the world? as Paul teaches. I never heard of such sins in you, among whom the blessed Paul toiled, who were his "(living) epistles"1 in the first (days of the Gospel). About you he glories in the churches which knew the Lord before we knew Him. I am deeply grieved for Valens, and for his wife; God grant them repentance. Count them not as enemies, but restore them as diseased and wandering members, that your whole body may be in safety.

xii. You know the holy Scriptures perfectly; a knowledge

1 So Lightfoot explains the difficult sentence.

not granted to me. Only, (I know that) it is there said, Be angry and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Now the God and Father of our Lord, and He, the eternal HighPriest, (our) God1, Jesus Christ, build you up in all holiness, and give you part and lot among His saints, and to us with you, and to all everywhere who shall believe on our Lord and God Jesus Christ, and on His Father who raised Him from the dead. Pray for all the saints, and for kings and rulers, and for them that persecute you, and for the enemies of the Cross, that your fruit may be manifest in all things, that ye may be perfect in Him.

xiii. Both you and Ignatius have asked me that, if a messenger is leaving us for Syria, he may carry your letter with ours. This I will do, in person or by delegate. The letter of Ignatius to us, and all others in our hands, we have sent you, as you desired, attached to this letter. They will greatly benefit you spiritually. Report to us anything you hear of Ignatius' companions.

xiv. My letter-bearer is Crescens, whom again I commend to you, as a blameless Christian. His sister too I commend to you, in prospect. Farewell in the Lord Jesus Christ, in grace, with all who are yours. Amen.

CHAPTER VI.

ARGUMENT OF ST PAUL'S EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS.

CH. I. 1-2. PAUL and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ, greet the Christians of Philippi and their Church-officers, invoking blessing on them from the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3--11. Paul assures them that his whole thought of them is full of thanksgiving, his every prayer for them full of joy, in view of their warm, steadfast cooperation from the first in his evangelical labours.

1 So Lightfoot; in preference to the reading, "the Son of God," which he thinks to be later.