See how he also teaches them to be unassuming. For since he had witnessed a great thing of them, that they may not feel as men are apt to do, he presently teaches them to refer both the past and the future to Christ. How? By saying, not, Being confident that as you began you will also finish, but what? He which began a good work in you will perfect it. He did not rob them of the achievement, (for he said, I rejoice for your fellowship, clearly as if making it their act,) nor did he call their good deeds solely their own, but primarily of God. For I am confident, says he, that He which began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. That is, God will. And it is not about yourselves, he implies, but about those descending from you that I feel thus. And indeed it is no small praise, that God should work in one. For if He is no respecter of persons, as indeed He is none, but is looking to our purpose when He aids us in good deeds, it is evident that we are agents in...
See how he teaches them to be modest. Having just given them a superb testimonial, in order that they should not feel down and out as human beings are so apt to feel, he immediately teaches them to refer both the past and the future—everything—to Christ, who will bring to completion what he has begun in them. He does not take away anything from their achievement, for he has said, “I rejoice because of your fellowship,” obviously pointing to their own very high level of accountability. But he does not imply that the achievement was theirs alone. Rather it was primarily God’s work in them. .
