Philippians 2:14 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Do all things Especially all good offices to each other, not only without contention, (Philippians 2:3,) but even without murmurings At your duty, or at one another; and disputings With each other, or altercations, which are real, though smaller, hinderances of love. It seems the apostle had in his eye not so much obedience in general, as those particular instances thereof, recommended Philippians 2:3-5. That ye may be blameless In yourselves; and harmless Toward others: the sons of God The God of love, acting up to your high character; without rebuke Αμωμητα, maintaining an unexceptionable character; in the midst of a crooked Guileful, serpentine; and perverse Froward or obstinate generation Such as the bulk of mankind always have been; crooked by a corrupt nature, and yet more perverse by custom and practice: among whom ye Who know the truth and walk according to it; shine as lights in the world Or, as luminaries, as the word φωστηρες signifies, being the name given to the sun and moon by the LXX., Genesis 1:16. Doddridge renders the clause, “Ye shine as elevated lights in the dark world about you;” thinking, with Mons. Saurin, that the expression is used in allusion “to the buildings which we call light-houses, the most illustrious of which was raised in the island of Pharos, where Ptolemy Philadelphus built that celebrated tower, on which a bright flame was always kept burning in the night, that mariners might perfectly see their way, and be in no danger of suffering shipwreck upon the rocks which they were to pass in their entrance into the haven of Alexandria.” Holding forth To all men, both in word and behaviour; the word of life The doctrine of eternal life made known to you in the gospel, by which you have been directed to steer safely for the blessed haven of glory and immortality, and whereby they may receive the same benefit. That I may rejoice. As if he had said, This I desire even on my own account, for it will greatly increase my rejoicing in the day of Christ The day of final judgment; that I have not run Or travelled from place to place in the exercise of my apostolic office, declaring the gospel of the grace of God; in vain, neither have laboured in vain In the work of the ministry, but that the great end of it has been answered, at least in part, to the glory of God, by your salvation and usefulness in the world.