“thinking that they are thereby bringing pressure upon my bonds;451 but the others out of love;” (this again about his own brethren;) “knowing that I am set452 for the defence of the gospel.” For what? Nevertheless, in any way; whether in pretence or in sincerity, Christ is being announced.”453 So that vainly and to no purpose is this saying taken in reference to heresies. For those who then were preaching were not preaching corrupt doctrine; but sound and right belief. For if they were preaching corrupt doctrine, and were teaching other things contrary to Paul, what they desired was certain not to succeed to them. Now what did they desire? That the faith having grown, and the disciples of Paul having become numerous, it should rouse Nero to greater hostility. And if they were preaching different doctrines, they would not have made the disciples of Paul numerous; and by not doing so,454 they would not have exasperated the tyrant. He does not therefore say this—that they were bringing in corrupt doctrines—but that the motive from which they were preaching, this was corrupt. For it is one thing to state the pretext455 of their preaching itself was not sound. For the preaching does not become sound when the doctrine is laden with deception; and the pretext does not become sound when the preaching indeed is sound, but they who preach do not preach for the sake of God, but either with a view of enmity, or with a view to the favour of others. 10. He therefore does not say this—that they were bringing in heresies; but that it was not from a right motive, nor through piety456 that they were preaching what they did preach. For it was not they might increase the gospel that they were doing this; but that they might wage war against him, and throw him into greater danger—on this account he accuses them. And see how with exactitude he laid it.457 “Thinking,” he says, “that they were putting pressure upon my bonds.”458 He did not say, putting, but “thinking they were putting upon,” 451 Philip. v. 17. 452 Κεῖμαι. Perhaps lit. “I am lying”—here in prison. 453 Philip. i. 16–18. 454 μὴ ποιοῦντες δš. Referring to ἐποίησαν, just used. But the Greeks (as Aristophanes) sometimes use ποιῶ in these cases, whatever word precedes; as in English. They generally repeat the same word, e.g., “μανθ€νεις; Οὐ μανθ‡νω,” Aristoph. Here, then, taken in either way, it comes to the same. Μὴ, because hypothetical, “if they did not make.” 455 Πρόφασιν. But it was not their pretext, but their real motive: v. 17. Any one conversant with Greek authors cannot fail to notice that, with some mental process of their own, they at times use expressions naturally suggesting the very contrary to what they must mean. 456 Εὐλ€βειαν, Lit. carefulness in handling anything holy—reverence. 457 Αὐτὀ, i.e., the change: žγκλημα, involved in ἐγκαλει. 458 Philip. i. 17. 211 Concerning Lowliness of Mind.