rue that the Christian who genuinely believes that "every
Scripture is God-inspired" (2 Tim. iii. 16), and who realizes that the
"Divine _Library_" is nevertheless, and from a higher point of view,
One _Book_ all through, will be always on the guard against a mistaken
favouritism in his Scripture studies. He will strive to make himself
in some sense familiar with the whole Book, _as_ a whole, and to
recognize in all its parts the true Author's hand and purpose. Yet it
is inevitable that in this supreme Book, as in other books, though all
parts are "co-operant to an end," all parts are not equally important
for the deepest needs of the reader. The reader therefore will have to
be more familiar with some parts than with others. Acquaintance with
the whole will indeed deepen insight into the part. But it will not
supersede our study, loving and special, of the part which, in a degree
and manner peculiar to itself, "is able to make us wise unto salvation,
through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

The present simple Studies in the Philippian Epistle will accordingly
be pursued with the desire to remember as we go the whole scriptural
revelation of God and salvation. But we shall also approach the
Epistle as a peculiarly precious Scripture in itself, containing in its
few short pages a rare fulness of messages and teachings, meeting the
inmost wants of the heart and the life.

Amongst the Epistles of St Paul Philippians shines out with singular
light and beauty. In such a comparison we scarcely need consider the
great Epistles to Rome and Corinth; their large scale and wide variety
of topics set them apart. Nor need we consider Hebrews, with its
difficult problem of authorship. Looking at the other Epistles, each
with its own divine and also deeply human characteristics, we find
Philippians more peaceful than Galatians, more personal and
affectionate than Ephesians, less anxiously controversial than
Colossians, more deliberate and symmetrical than Thessalonians, and of
course larger in its applications than the personal messages to
Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Meanwhile it is as comprehensive almost
as it is brief. It presents more than one important passage of
doctrine, some of these passages being revelations of the first order.
It is full of pregnant precepts for Christian character and conduct,
whether seen in the individual or in the community. It discloses in a
way of the utmost interest and significance t