Fragments on Philippians · §2 · Severianus of Gabala

Paul's proofs from the Philippians' faith and steadfastness

Severianus is explaining how Paul uses the Philippians' faith and steadfastness to show that his sufferings and defense of the gospel are not fruitless.

For whether I make my defense when I am accused for the sake of those who believe—and you are among them—or whether I want to confirm the gospel to some, I do so from your steadfastness. Or whether I want to show that I do not endure chains without profit, I do so from your faith. (Philippians 1:7)

“And being found in form as a human” (Philippians 2:8). The word “as” does not express likeness but intensity; it means “truly.” It is like the phrase “truly good is God to Israel,” and “truly I have loved your law, Lord,” meaning “I have loved it very much.”

“Holding fast the word of life” (Philippians 2:16) means “paying attention to the word of life.” And to Timothy he also writes, “Pay attention to yourself” (1 Timothy 4:16), meaning “attend to yourself.”

If he counts it as loss for the sake of Christ, it was not evil; for it was gains. And he said “I have counted.” For it was not loss, but in comparison with the surpassing greatness of better things he counts it as loss.

Rubbish is a part of the stalk, and the stalk and the ear of grain once came from the seed.

Greek

ἐάν τε γὰρ ἀπολογοῦμαι ἐγκαλούμενος διὰ τοὺς πιστεύοντας ων καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐστε, ἐάν τε βεβαιοῦν βούλομαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν τισιν, ἀπὸ τῆς ὑμετέρας ἐνστάσεως· ἐάν τε

δεικνύναι οτι οὐκ ἀνονήτως ὑπομένω δεσμούς, ἀπὸ τῆς ὑμετέρας πίστεως. Phil 2,7 Καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ανθρωπος. τὸ ὡς οὐχ ὁμοιώσεώς ἐστιν ἀλλ' ἐπιτάσεως, οιόν ἐστι τὸ ὡς ἀγαθὸς ὁ θεὸς τῷ ̓Ισραήλ, καὶ ὡς ἠγάπησα τὸν νόμον σου, κύριε, ἀντὶ τοῦ πάνυ ἠγάπησα. Phil 2,16 ̓Αντὶ τοῦ προσέχοντες τῷ λόγῳ τῆς ζωῆς. καὶ τῷ Τιμοθέῳ δὲ γράφει· επεχε σεαυτῷ, ἀντὶ τοῦ πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ. Phil 3,8a Εἰ διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ζημίαν ἡγεῖται, οὐκ ην κακά· ην γὰρ κέρδη. καὶ ηγημαι ειπεν· οὐ γὰρ ην ζημία, ἀλλὰ κατὰ παράθεσιν τῆς ὑπερβολῆς τῶν κρειττόνων ἡγεῖται ζημίαν. 314 Phil 3,8b Τὸ σκύβαλον μέρος ἐστι καλάμης, ἡ δὲ καλάμη καὶ ὁ στάχυς ποτὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ σπόρου.

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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.

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Translated from PG 65 (Greek)

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