Philippians 1:24 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Ver. 24:. Is more needful for you] Mr Bolton dying, and desiring to be dissolved, being told that it was indeed better for him to he with Christ, but the Church of God could not miss him, nor the benefit of his ministry, he thus replied with David, 2 Samuel 15:25,26 "If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation. But if otherwise, lo, here I am, let him do what seemeth good in his eyes." No man is born, much less born again, for himself, but for the benefit of many, as Bucer's physicians said to him, Non sibi se, sed multorum utilitati esse natum, that he was not born for himself, but for the good of God's Church; the welfare whereof he had zealously promoted. Dr John Reynolds being persuaded by his friends to give over his incessant pains in the Lord's work for his health's sake, finely answered out of Juvenal,

" Et proffer vitam vivendi perdere finem:

Nor yet, for love of life, lose that dare I

That is the main, care of community."

Philippians 1:24

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.