SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:7
¶ como me es justo sentir esto de todos vosotros, por cuanto os tengo en el corazn; y en mis prisiones, y en la defensa y confirmacin del Evangelio, sois todos vosotros compaeros de mi gracia.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Philippians 1:7
Verse 7. It is meet for me to think this] esti dikaion? It is just that I should think so, because I have you in my heart- you live in my warmest love and most affectionate remembrance. Inasmuch as both in my bonds] Because you have set your hearts upon me in my bonds, sending Epaphroditus to minister to me in my necessities, Phil. ii. 25, and contributing of your own substance to me, Phil. iv. 14, sending once and again to me while I was in bonds for the defense of the faith, Phil. iv. 15, 16; those things which being a sweet savour, a sacrifice well pleasing and acceptable to God, Phil. iv. 18, confirm my hope concerning you; especially when I find you yet standing firm under the like afflictions, having the same conflict which ye saw in me, when I was among you, Acts xvi. 12, &c., and now hear to be in me, Phil. i. 30. Whitby.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all , etc.] Some connect these words with ( Philippians 1:3-5); as if the apostle's sense was, that it became him to be thus affected to them, and mindful of them in his prayers, to make request for them with joy, and give thanks for their fellowship in the Gospel, and continuance in it; but they seem rather to refer to his confidence of the good work begun in them, being performed until the day of Christ, and which was but just and right in him to entertain and assert; and may be understood either of a judgment of faith, or a judgment of charity: in a judgment of faith the apostle might be confident, and so may every other man, that all that believe in Christ truly, and have a good work begun in them, that shall be finished; for nothing is more certain, nor is there anything that a man can be more confident of, than this, that he that believes in Christ shall be saved; and this the apostle was fully persuaded of with respect to everyone in this church, that was a believer in Christ; and in a judgment of charity, it was meet and proper, just and right, to think, judge, hope, and believe so of everyone of them, since there was nothing in their profession, conduct, and conversation, showing the contrary: because I have you in my heart ; or you have me in your heart; and either reading carries in it a reason why it was fit and right that he should so think and judge concerning them; because they were, as the Syriac version renders it, put or laid upon his heart; whenever he was at the throne of grace, his heart was enlarged on their account, his affections were wonderfully drawn out towards them, and they were ever in his mind, both in [his] bonds, and in the defence of the Gospel; whether in the prison, or in the pulpit, or whatever he was about in the cause or affairs of religion, they were in his heart and thoughts; from whence he concluded they must belong to God, the good work must be in them, and would be performed; it is a token for good when the Lord lays the case of any upon the hearts of his ministers, or any of his people; and also, because they had him in their hearts, they were affectionate to him, ever thoughtful and mindful of him; and had lately given a specimen of their love to him, as a servant of Christ, and prisoner of the Lord; and as they, so he might know, that they had passed from death to life, because they loved the brethren, and him in particular for his works' sake, who had been an useful instrument in the hand of God among them: and another reason follows, inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace ; or partakers with me of grace; meaning either that they were partakers of the same electing, redeeming, adopting, justifying, pardoning, and regenerating grace, as he was; had obtained the same like precious faith in Christ, and knowledge of him, as he had, though not to the same degree; and therefore might well be assured of the performance of the good work in them, having no more to doubt of their salvation than of his own: or rather by grace, or as the Vulgate Latin version reads it, joy, he designs his sufferings for Christ, and the sake of his Gospel; which he so calls, because it was given him by God, as a token of his favour, and a mark of honour and respect, to suffer for Christ, as well as believe in him; and therefore rejoiced that he was counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. Now these Philippians were partakers with him of this, both in his bonds, by sympathizing with him, praying for him, sending relief unto him, and by suffering such like things themselves; and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel, whether by suffering, preaching, or writing; they stood by him, encouraged and assisted him, when others forsook him, and laid difficulties and discouragements in his way; on account of all which it was but meet and proper he should entertain such sentiments of them as before expressed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The highest honour of the most eminent ministers is, to be servants of Christ. And those who are not really saints on earth, never will be saints in heaven. Out of Christ, the best saints are sinners, an unable to stand before God. There is no peace without grace. Inwar peace springs from a sense of Divine favour. And there is no grace an peace but from God our Father, the fountain and origin of all blessings. At Philippi the apostle was evil entreated, and saw littl fruit of his labour; yet he remembers Philippi with joy. We must than our God for the graces and comforts, gifts and usefulness of others, a we receive the benefit, and God receives the glory. The work of grac will never be perfected till the day of Jesus Christ, the day of his appearance. But we may always be confident God will perform his goo work, in every soul wherein he has really begun it by regeneration though we must not trust in outward appearances, nor in any thing but new creation to holiness. People are dear to their ministers, when the receive benefit by their ministry. Fellow-sufferers in the cause of God should be dear one to another.
Greek Textus Receptus
καθως 2531 εστιν 2076 5748 δικαιον 1342 εμοι 1698 τουτο 5124 φρονειν 5426 5721 υπερ 5228 παντων 3956 υμων 5216 δια 1223 το 3588 εχειν 2192 5721 με 3165 εν 1722 τη 3588 καρδια 2588 υμας 5209 εν 1722 τε 5037 τοις 3588 δεσμοις 1199 μου 3450 και 2532 τη 3588 απολογια 627 και 2532 βεβαιωσει 951 του 3588 ευαγγελιου 2098 συγκοινωνους 4791 μου 3450 της 3588 χαριτος 5485 παντας 3956 υμας 5209 οντας 5607 5752
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. Even as (kaqwv). The reason for being confident (ver. 6).Defense (apologia). See on 1 Pet. iii. 15.
Confirmation (bebaiwsei). Only here and Heb. vi. 16. The kindred verb bebaiow to confirm, occurs frequently, as Rom. xv. 8; 1 Corinthians i. 8, etc.
Partakers of my grace (sugkoinwnouv mou thv caritov). Better, as Rev., partakers with me of grace. Lit., the grace, either the divine endowment which enabled them both to suffer bonds, and to defend and establish the Gospel, or the loving favor of God, which confers suffering and activity alike as a boon. The two may be combined. Compare ver. 29.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:7 {Because I have you in my heart} (dia to ecein me en tei kardiai humas). Or "because you hold me in your heart." Literally, "because of the holding me (or you) in the heart as to you (or me)." One accusative is the object of the infinitive ecein, the other is the accusative of general reference. There is no way to decide which is the idea meant except to say that love begets love. The pastor who, like Paul, holds his people in his heart will find them holding him in their hearts. {In the defence} (en ti apologiai). Old word (our word apology, but not our idea of apologizing), in the original sense in #Ac 22:1; 25:16. So also in verse #16 below. {Confirmation} (bebaiwsei). Old word from bebaiow (bebaios, bainw), to make stable. In N.T. only here and #Heb 6:16 about oath. {Partakers with me of grace} (sugkoin"nous mou ts caritos). Literally, "my co-sharers in grace" (objective genitive). "Grace prompted them to alleviate his imprisonment, to cooperate with him in defending and propagating the gospel, and to suffer for its sake" (Vincent, _Int. Crit. Comm_.).
