John Calvin Commentary Philippians 2:15

"that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world," — Philippians 2:15 (ASV)

The sons of God, unreprovable. It should be rendered — unreprovable, because you are the sons of God. For God’s adoption of us should be a motive for a blameless life, so that we may in some degree resemble our Father. Now, although there has never been such perfection in the world as to have nothing worthy of reproof, those are, nevertheless, said to be unreprovable who aim at this with the whole bent of their mind, as has been observed elsewhere.

In the midst of a wicked generation. Believers, it is true, live on earth, intermingled with the wicked; they breathe the same air, they enjoy the same soil. At that time they were even more intermingled, since there could scarcely be found a single pious family that was not surrounded on all sides by unbelievers. Paul therefore all the more stirs up the Philippians to guard carefully against all corruptions.

The meaning therefore is this: “You are, it is true, enclosed in the midst of the wicked; but, meanwhile, bear in mind that you are, by God’s adoption, separated from them. Let there be, therefore, in your way of life, conspicuous marks by which you may be distinguished. Furthermore, this consideration should stir you up all the more to aim at a pious and holy life, so that we may not also be a part of the crooked generation, entangled by their vices and contagion.”

As for his calling them a wicked and crooked generation, this corresponds with the context of the passage. For he teaches us that we must take heed all the more carefully on this account—because many occasions of offense are stirred up by unbelievers, which disturb their right course. The whole life of unbelievers is, as it were, a labyrinth of various windings that lead us away from the right way.

These are, however, epithets that perpetually apply to unbelievers of all nations and in all ages. For if the heart of man is wicked and unsearchable (Jeremiah 17:9), what will be the fruits springing from such a root? Thus we are taught in these words that in the life of man there is nothing pure, nothing right, until he has been renewed by the Spirit of God.

Among whom shine you. The termination of the Greek word is doubtful, for it might be taken as the indicative—you shine; but the imperative suits better with the exhortation. He would have believers be like lamps, which shine amidst the darkness of the world, as if he had said, “Believers, it is true, are children of the night, and there is in the world nothing but darkness; but God has enlightened you for this purpose: that the purity of your life may shine forth amidst that darkness, so that his grace may appear more illustrious.” Thus, also, it is said by the Prophet,

“The LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:2).

He adds immediately afterwards, “The Gentiles shall walk in your light, and kings in the brightness of your countenance.” Though Isaiah speaks there more of doctrine, while Paul speaks here of an exemplary life, yet, even in relation to doctrine, Christ in another passage specially designates the Apostles the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).