Read continuously §2 → Fragments on Philippians · §1 · Severianus of Gabala
Paul wrote to clergy to instill humility
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Severianus begins his commentary by explaining the audience and purpose of Paul's Letter to the Philippians.
In this letter Paul writes to clergy, not laity. For this reason he did not need to mention many wrongdoings. His aim through the letter was for humility to be set right in them. By the exhortation itself he shows the exactness of their other life. For rarely does someone both sin and become proud. Pride touches those who live most nobly and who, for this very reason, are usually lifted up.
Everywhere and through all things Paul shows that his sufferings and his defenses are not without profit. From your faith I make proof of your steadfastness.
Greek Phil: Prolog
̓Εν ταύτῃ τῇ ἐπιστολῇ κληρικοῖς γράφει οὐ λαϊκοῖς· δι' οπερ οὐδὲ πλειόνων ἐδεήθη
ἠδικῶν, σπουδὴ δὲ αὐτῷ διὰ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς τὸ τῆς ταπεινοφροσύνης κατορθωθῆναι
ἐν αὐτοῖς. δι' αὐτῆς δὲ τῆς παραινέσεως δείκνυσιν αὐτῶν τὸ ἀκριβὲς τοῦ αλλου βίου.
σπανίως γάρ τις καὶ ἁμαρτάνει καὶ φυσιοῦται· τὸ γὰρ τῆς φυσιώσεως απτεται τῶν
κάλλιστα βιούντων καὶ ὑπ' αὐτοῦ τούτου ὡς τὰ πολλὰ ἐπαιρομένων. Phil 1,7
Πανταχοῦ καὶ διὰ πάντων δείκνυται οὐκ ἀνόνητά μου τὰ παθήματα οὐδὲ αἱ
ἀπολογίαι. ἀπὸ τῆς ὑμετέρας πίστεως ἀπόδειξιν ποιοῦμαι τὴν ὑμετέραν ενστασιν.
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About this text A theological reflection on humility and faith, offering insight into early Christian leadership and spiritual growth.
Severianus of Gabala (fl. c. 400) wrote these comments on selected verses of Paul's Letter to the Philippians. The fragments survive in chain commentaries that gathered excerpts from various interpreters.
Severianus addresses the question of Paul's audience and purpose. He argues that Paul wrote Philippians to clergy, not laity, and that his main aim was to instill humility in them, since pride especially afflicts those who live well. He explains Paul's appeals to the Philippians' faith and steadfastness as proof that his sufferings and defense of the gospel are not fruitless.
A reader will meet Paul, Timothy, the patriarch Abraham, and Euodia and Syntyche, the two people Paul urges to agree in Philippians 4:2. Severianus quotes Paul's words and argues against alternative readings. He interprets Paul's counting his former gains as loss and rubbish through an extended agricultural image: Abraham's faith is like the seed producing the root of the law, the stalk of the prophets, and the ear of grain that is Christ, . He also clarifies that Paul's forgetting what lies behind does not mean his past labors were evil, and he notes a tradition identifying Euodia as the jailer's wife and Syntyche as the man, likely the jailer himself. Readers should know that Bible books are cited by their traditional English names.
This work has passed our source check. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Greek on any section to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.
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