NOTICE.

THE late Rev. J. F. TODD was Vicar of Liskeard, Cornwall, for twenty-four years. He intended to publish this work himself, but was prevented by illness from revising it for the press. He died in July, 1863. In compliance with the desire of many, who are anxious to have a memento of one whom they highly venerated and sincerely loved as a Pastor and Friend, this Commentary is now issued.

Had the life of the Author been prolonged, this work, no doubt, would have been improved, and in some parts perhaps have been re-arranged. It is printed from the Author's Manuscript without any alterations, except such as were necessary for the correction of clerical errors.

May the Great Head of the Church vouchsafe His blessing.

OCCOLD RECTORY,
April 1864.

H. T.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

EXPOSITION OF THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER OF THE ACTS OF THE

The charge of Bibliolatry, p. 2. The probable results of Rationalism,

p. 5. The original Establishment of Christianity, p. 6. The prominence

given to St Paul, p. 9. His conversion, p. 10. The beloved Disciple, p. 11.

The character of the age, p. 16. Roman Tyranny and Profligacy, p. 17.

Superstition, p. 18. Apotheosis of the Emperors, p. 20. Failure of Philo-

sophy, ib. The distinguishing virtues of the Stoics, p. 21. Philanthropy,

p. 23. The testimony of the Jews, p. 25. Zeal for the Mosaic ritual and

the temple at Jerusalem, p. 28. Preparation for the teaching of the Gospel,

p. 32. Two classes of Jewish minds, p. 33. Josephus contrasted with Philo

of Alexandria, p. 34. Philo and Paul contrasted, p. 37. Interpretation of

the Old Testament, p. 41. Allegory, when admissible, p. 42. Contrast

between the Apostle and Alexandrian resumed, p. 45. Physical interpreta-

tions, ib. Ethical, p. 47. Reserve and Pious Fraud, p. 50. The Therapeutæ

and Asceticism, p. 52. Gross Perversions of the Truth, p. 53. Neglect of

the Prophets by Philo, p. 54. The special Experience of St Paul, and his

peculiar excellencies, p. 55.

§ 3. The Sixteenth Chapter of the Acts. The English Version, with critical

(1) Events immediately preceding the call to Philippi (1-8), p. 75. (2)

That call and its immediate result; the conversion of Lydia, the baptism of

herself and of her household (9-15), p. 79. (3) The testimony of the damsel

possessed with a spirit of divination, and its consequences (16—24), p. 89.

(4) The occurrences in the prison at Philippi (25—34), p. 94. (5) The

liberation of Paul and Silas (35—40), p. 105.

68

75

CHAPTER II.

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS, WITH CRITICAL

NOTES

PAGE

108

CHAPTER III.

EXPOSITION OF THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS.

[1.] Address and apostolic salutation to an organised Church (i. 1, 2),

p. 129. [2.] The Apostle's thankfulness on account of the manifest work of

divine grace amongst the Philippians; his joyful assurance that this would

be triumphantly completed, and his yearning love for them all (3—8), p. 143.

[3.] Prayer for their increase in grace and discriminating love (9-11),

p. 150. [4.] The Apostle relates the result of his own trial, the more gene-

ral announcement of the Gospel from various motives, his joy in this, and

his expectation of personal deliverance (12—20), p. 154. [5.] His readiness

to glorify Christ, either by life or death, but his desire rather to depart, and

to be with Christ. The blessedness of the dead. But personal gain is

willingly sacrificed for the sake of benefiting others, and thus exalting the

Saviour the more (21-26), p. 160. [6.] United effort in His service, and

perseverance and fortitude under persecution (which is to be accounted a

privilege as well as faith), are required of the brethren. The Apostle's

example should encourage them (27-30), p. 176. [7.] Earnest exhortation

to unity, lowliness of mind and disinterested love, by the remembrance of

our privileges (ii. 1—4), p. 180. [8.] And by the example of Christ, whose

preexistence, Divinity, self-denying humiliation for our sakes, and present

exaltation are therefore distinctly stated (5-11), p. 185. [9.] Consistency of

conduct and religious earnestness would render them lights to an evil world,

and be a source of abiding joy to the Apostle, and are imperatively required

(12—16), p. 206. [10.] He is ready to be offered up for them, and joyful

sympathy knits them all together in Christ (17, 18), p. 213. [11.] None of

his companions but Timothy, whom he highly commends, is ready to deny

himself to visit Philippi (19—24), p. 215. [12.] Epaphroditus, their zealous

messenger, had been sick, and anxious about them on account of their sorrow

on hearing this, but he was mercifully restored, and would speedily return

(25—30), p. 216. [13.] An exhortation to Christian joy, with a warning

against Judaizing teachers, and a description of the true people of God, that

nothing may hinder their joy. Familiar truths must be often repeated with

fresh earnestness (iii. 1—3), p. 219. [14.] The Apostle's illustrative expe-

rience. He had renounced all the outward privileges of a righteous Jew to

win Christ and His righteousness, in a deep sense of the surpassing excellence

of such knowledge (4—11), p. 225. [15.] There must be a constant progress