AND I TRUST IN THE LORD THAT I MYSELF ALSO WILL BE COMING SHORTLY:
pepoitha
(1SRAI) de en kurio hoti kai autos tacheos eleusomai. (1SFMI)
: (Phil
2:19;
1:25,26;
Ro 15:28,29;
Phile 1:22;
2Jn 12;
3Jn 14)
I trust (3982)
(peitho) means to cause to come to a particular point of
view or course of action. The idea is to come to a settled persuasion concerning something or to be persuaded. It
means to be so convinced that one puts confidence in something or
someone.
Peitho is in the
perfect tense
which indicates that Paul had come to a "settled persuasion."
at some point in time and that this persuasion had a permanent effect
or impact on him. Peitho is a strong verb, carrying the
components of confidence, reliance, and hope.
Paul was willing to place himself
in the hands of God. Whatever the will of God, he would go with that.
If God releases him from prison he will go to Philippi to resolve the
church conflict. If God decided to keep him in prison, he would send
Timothy to Philippi. Paul operated on the principle "if the Lord
wills." Paul's security was independent of circumstances and rested
completely on God's will.
The significant phrase “in
the Lord” is used by Paul 9 times in Philippians (Phil
1:14;
2:19,
2:24,
2:29,
3:1,
4:1,
4:2,
4:4,
4:10)
Dwight Edwards comments
that...
Not only is Paul expecting to send
Timothy, but he is also confident that he will come quickly himself.
Again we see his trust or confidence is not in the Roman system of
justice, but in the Lord. Since the Lord wanted him free, no system or
government could keep him in bondage. (Philippians)
Regarding in the Lord
A T Robertson adds that
this is
not a perfunctory use of this
phrase. Paul’s whole life is centered in Christ (see note
Galatians 2:20).
Some commentaries feel that this phrase ("in the Lord") may be
rendered “if the Lord wills” as in (Acts 18:21; 1Cor 4:19;
Ja 4:15 see note
Hebrews 6:3)
Others feel that "in the Lord" may suggest the agency of
the confidence, for example, “the Lord has given me confidence that”.
Interpreting the phrase in this manner, it is clear that the ground of
Paul's confidence, hope and settled persuasion is in the sphere of the
Lord. The idea is that it is only in the Lord that the
apostle can look ahead with confidence, and with this confidence he
says I myself will be able to come to you soon.
In either case, it is clear that every mood of Paul’s life is
regulated by his submission to the will of His Lord. He was so "in
synch" and in covenant oneness with his Lord and Master that all of
his plans were conditioned by this intimate relationship.
Wiersbe
comments on this Pauline mindset manifest by servant's heart and a
"submissive mind is not the product of an hour’s sermon, or a week’s
seminar, or even a year’s service. The submissive mind grows in us
as... we yield to the Lord and seek to serve others." (Wiersbe,
W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)
APPLICATION: All the
acts, thoughts, and attitudes of Christians should spring from the
fact that they are "in the Lord" and are prompted by the
Spirit. Everything we do should be consistent with, and submitted to,
the Lord's will.
Is your attitude and approach to all of life and
ministry
dependent upon and directed by the phrase "in the Lord"?
Paul’s will and work are wholly
dominated by the Lord whom he serves and as He wrote the Corinthians
"I
do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with
you for some time, if the Lord permits" (1Cor 16:7)
This verse emphasizes that all of
Paul's hopes and plans are a result of his being in communion with his
Lord.
J Vernon McGee asks the question
you may be asking
Shouldn’t we have plans?
By all means we should make plans, but those plans always should be
amenable to the will of God. We should be willing to change them. We
should be willing to shuffle things around. When Paul went out, he did
not have a rigid schedule for his missionary journeys. He went as the
Lord led him. We see in the Book of Acts how the Lord just practically
detoured him on the second missionary journey. Paul was going down
into Asia; the Spirit of God sent him over to Europe. He didn’t know
he was going to Europe—he didn’t have a visa for Europe—but in that
day he didn’t need a visa. He went where the Holy Spirit led him." May
his tribe increase! (McGee,
J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
Wiersbe cautions that
There are two extremes we must
avoid in this important matter of seeking God’s will. One is to be so
frightened at making a mistake that we make no decisions at all. The
other is to make impulsive decisions and rush ahead, without taking
time to wait on the Lord. After we have done all we can to determine
the leading of the Lord, we must decide and act, and leave the rest to
the Lord. If we are in some way out of His will, He will so work that
we will finally have His guidance. The important thing is that we
sincerely want to do His will (John 7:17). After all, He guides us
“for His name’s sake” (Ps 23:3), and it is His reputation that is at
stake. (Wiersbe,
W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)
This truth finds a parallel in
Jesus' declaration:
I am the vine, you are the
branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, for
apart from Me you can do (absolutely) nothing. (Jn 15:5)
Coming (2064)
(erchomai) means to
come or go, to fall out.
Shortly (5030)
(tacheos from tachús = prompt, swift)
means quickly, speedily and is equivalent to soon, shortly, quickly,
hastily. Tacheos can refer to a very brief extent of
time with a focus on the speed of the action. In the present context tacheos refers to a future point of time that is
subsequent to another point of time, with focus on brevity of interval
rather than on speed of activity
Paul believed that he would receive
his freedom and would be able to return to Philippi fairly soon.
Earlier he wrote
And convinced of this, I know that
I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in
the faith (see note
Philippians 1:25)
He hopes that his appeal will be
successful, and that he will be set free so that he might visit the
Philippians once more.
John MacArthur adds that Paul
He did not minimize the value he
could be to the church at Philippi by ministering to them in person.
Whether or not he did, however, it is clear that he had the utmost
confidence in Timothy. (MacArthur,
J. Philippians. Chicago: Moody Press)
