John Calvin Commentary Philippians 2:29

"Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy; and hold such in honor:" — Philippians 2:29 (ASV)

Receive him with all joy. He employs the word all to mean sincere and abundant. He also recommends him again to the Philippians. He is so intent on this, that all who prove themselves good and faithful pastors should be held in the highest estimation. For he does not speak merely of one, but exhorts that all such should be held in estimation, for they are precious pearls from God’s treasuries, and the rarer they are, the more worthy of esteem they are.

Nor can it be doubted that God often punishes our ingratitude and proud disdain by depriving us of good pastors, when He sees that the most eminent whom He gives are ordinarily despised. Therefore, let everyone who desires that the Church should be fortified against the stratagems and assaults of wolves take care, following Paul’s example, that the authority of good pastors is established; as, on the other hand, there is nothing the instruments of the devil are more intent on than undermining it by every means in their power.