Philippians 4:15

4:10-19 It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is a harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want. The apostle had no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by him, let us do all things for him, and to his glory.

Php 4:15-19 . Ye know that in the beginning of the gospel — When it was first preached at Philippi; no church — No Christian society, as such; communicated with me — In the matter of giving me money, and of my receiving money from them; but ye only — I received money from no church but yours. Not because I desire a gift, &c. — I would not have you think that I commend your liberality merely out of respect to myself; but I desire fruit, &c. — I do it chiefly out of respect to you; that you may do that which may turn to your everlasting advantage. But l have all — So also the Vulgate reads the clause; but the original expression, απεχω παντα , according to Estius, may be translated, I have from you all things; that is, my wants are amply supplied by you; and I abound — I have more than sufficient for my present state; having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you — Besides money, the Philippians may have sent to the apostle clothes and other necessaries: an odour of a sweet smell — A service wherewith God is well pleased. See Hebrews 13:16 . “The same epithets were anciently given to all the kinds of sacrifices; not only in the peace and thank-offerings, but to the burnt-offerings and sin-offerings. See note on Ephesians 5:2 .

Here they are given to the present which the Philippians sent to the apostle; not because that present partook of the nature of any sacrifice or offering whatever, as is plain from this, that it was offered immediately to the apostle, and not to God; but merely to show how acceptable to God that work of charity was which the Philippians had performed to the suffering apostle of Christ.” — Macknight. But my God — Whose ambassador I am; shall supply all your need — As he has mine. He shall recompense you even in this life, as far as he knows will be for your good; according to his riches in glory — And he is well able to do it, being gloriously rich in blessings of all kinds.

{9} Now ye Philippians know also, that in the {n} beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. (9) He witnesses that he remembers also their former benefits, and again puts away sinister suspicion of greedy desire, in that that he received nothing from anyone else. (n) At the beginning, when I preached the Gospel among you.

Php 4:15 . Οἴδατε , ye know ) He shows that he was mindful even of former kindnesses: you know signifies remembrance in respect of the Philippians; knowledge , in respect of other churches.— Φιλιππήσιοι , Philippians ) The proper name indicates an antithesis to the churches of other towns.— ἐν ἀρχῇ , in the beginning ) of the Gospel preaching in your case. He had gone forth from them some time ago.— ὅτε , when ) Join this with the following words, no , etc.— οὐδεμία , no ) They might have said, We will do it, if others have done it: now their praise is greater on that account; that of the others, less.— ἐκκλησία , church ) Therefore the church of Philippi sent to Paul in common.— εἰς λόγον , as far as concerns ) This is a limitation.— δόσεως , of giving, of what has been given ) on your part.— λήψεως , of receiving, of what has been received ) on mine.— μόνοι , alone ) in a manner worthy of praise. He hereby shows his need.

15. Now—"Moreover." Arrange as Greek, "Ye also know (as well as I do myself)." in the beginning of the gospel—dating from the Philippian Christian era; at the first preaching of the Gospel at Philippi. when I departed from Macedonia—(Ac 17:14). The Philippians had followed Paul with their bounty when he left Macedonia and came to Corinth. 2Co 11:8, 9 thus accords with the passage here, the dates assigned to the donation in both Epistles agreeing; namely, "in the beginning of the Gospel" here, and there, at the time of his first visit to Corinth [Paley, Horæ Paulinæ]. However, the supply meant here is not that which he received at Corinth, but the supply sent to him when "in Thessalonica, once and again" (Php 4:16), [Alford]. as concerning giving and receiving—In the account between us, "the giving" was all on your part; "the receiving" all on mine. ye only—We are not to wait for others in a good work, saying, "I will do so, when others do it." We must go forward, though alone.

Verse 15. - Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia . He reminds them delicately of their former liberality to show his love for them; he was not unwilling to receive kindnesses from them. He had always refused to accept contributions from the Corinthians; but the bonds which bound him to the Macedonian Churches were closer and tenderer. In the be g inning of the gospel ; when he first preached in Macedonia, ten years ago. The words, "when I departed from Macedonia," may refer either to some gifts not mentioned elsewhere, sent to him when be left Beroea for Athens; or, if the aorist be taken in a pluperfect sense, to the supplies afterwards sent to him at Corinth ( 2 Corinthians 11:8, 9 ). No Church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only . Chrysostom understands this of giving worldly things and receiving spiritual things (comp. 1 Corinthians 9:11 ). But the context seems to restrict the meaning to temporal gifts: the Philippians gave, St. Paul received. Bengel says, "Poterant diccre, Faciemus, si alii fecerint: nunc eo major horum laus est: ceterorum, eo minor." Philippians 4:15

(15) Now ye Philippians know also. —Properly, But ye also yourselves know. The mention of the proper name is always emphatic (comp. 2Corinthians 6:11 ); here it evidently marks the dignity of their exclusive position of benefaction. In the beginning of the gospel.—At the beginning (that is) of the gospel to them and their sister churches in Macedonia. The time referred to is his leaving Macedonia for Athens and Corinth (Acts 17:14). At Corinth we know that he received offerings from Macedonia: “That which was lacking to me the brethren who came (when they came) from Macedonia supplied” (2Corinthians 11:9). His language to the Thessalonian Church (1Thessalonians 2:9; 2Thessalonians 3:8) precludes all idea that any part of this contribution was from Thessalonica; we learn here that it was from no other Church than Philippi. It is probably to this gift that reference is made; though it is of course possible that some contribution may have reached him at the time of his actual departure in haste after the persecution at Berœa. Communicated with me as concerning . . .—The metaphor here is drawn from commercial transaction.

Literally the passage runs, had dealings with me on account of giving and receiving; “opened (so to speak) an account with me,” not of debit and credit, but “of free giving and receiving.” There is possibly an allusion (as Chrysostom suggests) to the idea embodied in 1Corinthians 9:11, “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?” (Comp. Romans 15:27.) In the one respect he had all to give, and they to receive; in the other the relations were reversed. But if there be such allusion, it is kept in the background. The prominent idea is of the Philippians, and of them alone, as givers.

He amplifies the present favour the Christians at Philippi had vouchsafed to him, by a thankful recollection of their former liberality. In the beginning of the gospel; soon after he had preached and planted the good things of salvation amongst them, Philippians 2:22 Acts 16:12,13,40 . When I departed from Macedonia; comparing their first benevolence with other churches, when leaving of Macedonia, Acts 18:5 2 Corinthians 11:9 . No church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only; none of the rest of the churches had, for the spiritual things received of him in his ministration, distributed of their carnal or temporal, (though that was their duty beyond dispute, 1 Corinthians 9:7,11,13,14 Ga 6:6 1 Timothy 5:17,18 ), but they alone: which might at once commend their Christian liberality, and evince that he in preaching of the gospel was not mercenary, not having exacted a reward from others, but preached the gospel freely, 2 Corinthians 11:7 .