[8] "Observe the holy paradox of the thought here. The fulness of divine power in the saints is to result primarily not in 'doing some great thing' but in enduring and forbearing, with heavenly joy of heart. The paradox points to one deep characteristic of the Gospel, which prepares the Christian for service by the way of a true abnegation of himself as his own strength and his own aim." (Note on Col. i. 11 in _The Cambridge Bible_). [9] A. Vinet, _Hymn on the Crucifixion_, translated by C. W. Moule. "O thou who makest souls to shine With light from brighter worlds above, And droppest glistening dew divine On all who seek a Saviour's love, "Do Thou Thy benediction give On all who teach, on all who learn, That all Thy Church may holier live, And every lamp more brightly burn. * * * * * "If thus, good Lord, Thy grace be giv'n Our glory meets us ere we die; Before we upward pass to heav'n We taste our immortality." J. ARMSTRONG. TIMOTHEUS AND EPAPHRODITUS "Puisse la meme foi qui consola leur vie Nous ouvrir les sentiers que leurs pas ont presses, Et, dirigeant nos pieds vers la sainte patrie Ou leur bonheur s'accroit de leurs travaux passes, Nous rendre ces objets de tendresse et d'envie Qui ne sont pas perdus, mais nous ont devances." A. VINET CHAPTER VII TIMOTHEUS AND EPAPHRODITUS PHILIPPIANS ii. 19-30 Epaphroditus--The variety of Scripture--Contrasts in context--Henry Martyn's letter--"The human element"--"His letters I have read"--The two aspects of Scripture--Divine messages in human context--"Together with them" Ver. 19. +But I hope in the Lord Jesus+, with an expectation conditioned by my union with Him in all things, and with you in Him, +promptly to send to you Timotheus,[1] that I too+, I as well as you, who will of course be gladdened by his presence, +may be of good cheer, getting+, through him, +a knowledge+ (_gnous_) +of your circumstances+ (_ta peri humon_). I send him, and not Ver. 20. another, +for I have+--at hand, and free to move--+no one equal-souled+ with him,[2] +one who+ (_hootis_) +will genuinely take anxious care about your circumstances+; the "care" which is not a weary burthen, better cast upon the Lord (iv. 6), but a sacred charge, undertaken in and for Him, and absorbing all the Ver. 21. thought. +For all of them+ (_oi pantes_), all from whom I could in this case select, +are bent on+ (_xetousi_: cp. Col. iii. 1) +their own interests, not the interests of Jesus Christ+; they plead excuses which indicate a preference of their own ease, or reputation, or affections, to a matter manifestly and wholly HIS.