[5]Philippêsioi: the Greek form represents a LatinPhilippenses, by which the residents in theRoman "colony"would call themselves. SoCorinthiensismeans not a born Corinthian but a settler at Corinth.—Greek tends to represent a Latin syllable -ensby -ês: soKlêmês,Clemens.
[6] See Acts xvii. 1-15.
[7] On the Egnatian road. He made three stages of the distance; Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica.
[8]Ton karpon ton pleonazonta eis logon hymôn. I venture to render these words as above, as a monetary phrase, relating to principal and interest. It is true thatkarposis not found used in the sense of interest, for which the regular word istokos. But it would easily fit into the language of the money-market. And St Chrysostom's comment here seems to show that he, a Greek, understood it thus:horas hoti ekeinois ho karpos tiktetai(tokos).
[9] Forosmê euôdiassee Eph. v. 2. The phrase is common in the Septuagint to render the Hebrew "savour of rest," the fume of the altar pictorially represented as smelt by the Deity.
[10] This reference ofdoxaseems better than that which would connect it only with the eternal future, the glory of heaven, and make the sentence mean that He would hereafter requite them there. He would indeed do so. But the phraseplêroun pasan chreianhardly suggests that thought here.
[11] "Bishop Lightfoot . . . (Philippians, pp. 171-178) has shewn with great fulness of proof that 'the household of Caesar' was a term embracing a vast number of persons, not only in Rome but in the provinces, all of whom were either actual or former slaves of the Emperor, filling every possible description of office more or less domestic. The Bishop illustrates his statements from the . . . burial inscriptions of members of the 'Household' found . . . near Rome. . . . These inscriptions afford a curiously large number of coincidenceswith the list in Rom. xvi.. . . Amplias, Urbanus, Apelles, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Patrobas, Philologus. . . . Bishop Lightfoot infers from this whole evidence the great probability that the 'saints' greeted in Rom. xvi. were, on the whole, the same 'saints' who here send greetingfromRome. . . . Their associations and functions, not only in the age of Nero but in the precincts of his court, and probably (for many of them) within the chambers of his palace, give a noble view in passing of the power of grace to triumph over circumstances, and to transfigure life where it seems most impossible" (Note inThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges). See also the writer's commentary on the Ep. to the Romans (Expositor's Bible), pp. 423-425.
[12] Readmeta tou pneumatos huôn, notm. pantôn humôn.
ACTS xxviii. 16, 31
"Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. . . . preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ."
(THE SOLDIER loquitur.)
Father, the dawn is near! the shieldOf Luna sinks remote and paleO'er Tiber and the Martial field;The breeze awakes; the cressets fail:This livelong night from set of sunHere have we talk'd: thy task is done.
But yesterday I smil'd or frown'dTo watch thy audience, soon and late,With scroll and style embattl'd roundIn barbarous accents ply debate;While this would chide, and that would startSudden, as sword-struck in the heart.
I laugh'd aside, or, tir'd, withdrewFrom the strange sound in waking dreamsTo Umbrian hills—the home I knew—The cottage by Mevania's streams:'Twas hush'd at length: the guests were flown,And thou wast left and I alone.
Thou hast forgiven (I know thee now)The insults of this heathen tongue;The taunting questions why and how;The songs (oh madness!) that I sung:Thou hast forgiv'n the hateful strainOf dull defiance and disdain.
Thy gaze, thy silence, they compell'dMy own responsive: aw'd I stoodBefore thee; soften'd, search'd, and quell'd;The evil captive to the good:Half conscious, half entranc'd, I heard(While the stars mov'd) thy conquering word.
These ears were dull to Grecian speech,This heart more dull to aught but sin;Yet the great Spirit bade thee reach,Wake, change, exalt, the soul within:I've heard; I know; thy Lord, ev'n He,JESUS, hath look'd from heaven on me.
Thou saw'st me shake, and (spite of pride)Weep on thy hand: so stern thy truth:I own'd the terrors that abideDread sequel to a rebel's youth:But soon I pour'd a happier showerTo learn thy Saviour's dying power.
Ah, speechless, rapt, I bent, to knowEach wonder of that fateful dayWhen midst thy zeal's terrific glowHe met thee on the Syrian way:I saw, I felt, the scene: my soulDrank the new bliss, the new control.
Father, the dawn is risen! the hourIs near, too near, when from this handThy chain must fall—from yonder towerAnother guard must take my stand:The City stirs: I go, to meetThe foe, the world, in camp and street;
A Christian—yes, for ever nowA Christian: so our Leader keepMy faltering heart: to Him I bow,His, whether now I wake or sleep:In peace, in battle, His:—the dayBreaks in the east: oh, once more pray!
1869.