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COLLECTIONS
Commentaries, Word
Studies, Devotionals, Sermons, Illustrations
Old and New Testament. |
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NEVERTHELESS, YOU HAVE DONE WELL TO SHARE WITH ME IN MY AFFLICTION: plen kalos epoiesate (2PAAI)
sugkoinonesantes (AAPMPN) mou te thlipsei: (1 Ki 8:18;
2 Chr 6:8;
Mt 25:21;
3Jn 1:5-8) (Macarthur
on Php 4:14-19) (18;
1:7;
Ro 15:27;
1 Co 9:10,11;
Gal 6:6;
1 Ti 6:18;
Heb 10:34;
13:16)
Nevertheless (4133)
(plen) is a marker of contrast, implying the validity of
something irrespective of other considerations. Paul uses plen
here to restrict his previous statement. In view of Paul's complete
reliance upon Christ in him, continually strengthening him in every
circumstance, the Philippians might have wondered if they should have
even bothered to send him the gift. After all why would one who is
self-content (in Christ) need anything? Paul wants the Philippians to
know that their gift ("nevertheless") was still very much appreciated.
Their gift demonstrated that they had a proper spirit as givers.
Paul's joy in his strength in
Christ would not obscure his joy in their loving ministry or take away
from his sincere gratitude to them for their sacrifice.
Vincent concurs writhing...
Lest, in declaring his
independence of human aid, he should seem to disparage the
Philippians’ gift.
Share with me (4790)
(sugkoinoneo from sún = with + koinoneo = to
partake, share) means to participate in something with someone.
Vine has an interesting
comment on sugkoinoneo writing that by using this verb
the apostle does not mean simply
that it was a joint contribution on their part, but that they joined
with him, making his affliction their own. (Vine,
W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
)
Vine references as support
for his interpretation the passage in Galatians where Paul commands
believers to...
Bear
(present
imperative) one
another's burdens (extra heavy loads, which here represent
difficulties or problems people have trouble dealing with), and thus
fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal 6:2)
Affliction (2347)(thlipsis
from thlibo = to crush, press together, squash, hem in,
compress, squeeze in turn derived from thláo = to break) (Click
in depth study of
thlipsis)
Thlipsis originally
expressed sheer, physical pressure on a man. Medically thlipsis
was used of the pulse (pressure). It conveys the idea of being
squeezed or placed under pressure or crushed beneath a weight. When,
according to the ancient law of England, those who willfully refused
to plead guilty, had heavy weights placed on their breasts, and were
pressed and crushed to death, this was literally thlipsis.
John MacArthur writes that...
"Thlipsis (tribulations) has
the underlying meaning of being under pressure and was used of
squeezing olives in a press in order to extract the oil and of
squeezing grapes to extract the juice...In Scripture the word
thlipsis is perhaps most often used of outward difficulties, but
it is also used of emotional stress." (MacArthur,
J: Romans 1-8. Moody)
Thlipsis pictures one being "crushed" by intense pressure,
difficult circumstances, suffering or trouble pressing upon them from
without. Thus persecution, affliction, distress, opposition or
tribulation, all press hard on one's soul. Thlipsis does not
refer to mild discomfort but to great difficulty. In Scripture the
thlipsis is most often used of outward difficulties, but it is
also used of emotional stress and sorrows which "weighs down" a man’s
spirit like the sorrows and burden his heart. Thlipsis then
includes the disappointments which can "crush the life" out of the one
who is afflicted.
The
English word "tribulation" is derived from the Latin word
tribulum (literally a thing with teeth that tears), which was a
heavy piece of timber with spikes in it, used for threshing the corn
or grain. The tribulum was drawn over the grain and it
separated the wheat from the chaff. As believers experience the
"tribulum" of tribulations, and depend on God’s grace, the trials
purify us and rid us of the chaff.
Constable has an interesting
note here...
“We know that God loves a cheerful
giver, but I believe we also need to stress that God loves a cheerful
receiver. Cheerful receivers make giving and receiving a joy. It is
especially important that the called workers of the church learn to be
gracious, cheerful receivers. This is not necessarily an easy task.
The art of being a gracious, cheerful, thankful receiver may be even
more difficult than being a cheerful giver. If we learn to accept the
compliments and the special personal gifts which we receive in a
gracious, cheerful manner, we will help make giving and receiving a
joy for ourselves and for our people.” (Philippians Notes)
In sharing with him in his
affliction, they did something about his problem, putting their money
where their mouth was so to speak. |
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Philippians 4:15
You
yourselves
also know
(2SRAI) ,
Philippians, that at the
first
preaching of the
gospel,
after I
left
Macedonia,
no
church
shared
(3SAAI)
with me in the
matter of
giving and receiving but you
alone
(NASB:
Lockman) |
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Greek:
Oidate (2SRAI)
de
kai
humeis,
Philippesioi,
hoti
en
arche
tou
euaggeliou,
hote exelthon
apo
Makedonias,
oudemia
moi
ekklesia
ekoinonesen (3SAAI)
eis
logon
doseos
kai
lempseos
ei
me
humeis
monoi
Amplified: And you Philippians
yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry,
when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership
with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and
receiving except you only.
(Amplified
Bible - Lockman)
Lightfoot: But,
though I am thus indifferent to my own wants, I commend you for your
sympathy and aid in my affliction. I need not remind you, my
Philippian friends; you yourselves will remember that in the first
days of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, though I would not receive
contributions of money from any other church, I made an exception in
your case.
NLT: As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave
me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then traveled
on from Macedonia. No other church did this. (NLT
- Tyndale House)
Phillips: You
Philippians will remember that in the early days of the Gospel when I
left Macedonia, you were the only church who shared with me the
fellowship of giving and receiving. (Phillips:
Touchstone)
Wuest: But you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the
beginning of the good news, when I went out from Macedonia, not even
one assembly made itself a partner with me as regards an account of
giving and receiving except you only, (Erdmans)
Young's Literal:
and ye have known, even ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the
good news when I went forth from Macedonia, no assembly did
communicate with me in regard to giving and receiving except ye only; |
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AND YOU
YOURSELVES ALSO KNOW PHILIPPIANS THAT AT THE FIRST PREACHING OF THE
GOSPEL AFTER I DEPARTED FROM MACEDONIA NO CHURCH SHARED WITH ME IN THE
MATTER OF GIVING AND RECEIVING BUT YOU ALONE: Oidate (2SRAI) de kai
humeis, Philippesioi, hoti en arche tou euaggeliou, hote exelthon apo
Makedonias, oudemia moi ekklesia ekoinonesen (3SAAI) eis logon doseos
kai lempseos ei me humeis monoi: (Macarthur
Php4:14-19)
And you Philippians yourselves well
know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left
Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and
opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except
you only. (Amplified
Bible - Lockman)
You yourselves know - Paul
by recalling their former kindness confirms his appreciation of their
present help. In other words he is saying that this is no new thing
for you have always been generous.
They were the only church that had
shared financially with Paul in his pressing circumstances and they
had done so despite their own poverty.
With the statement "First
preaching of the gospel" Paul digresses to 10 years earlier at the
time of is initial encounter with his readers, when God used his
preaching of the Gospel to birth the "First Church of Philippi".
Preaching of the Gospel
(2098)
(euaggelion
from eú = good + aggéllo = proclaim, tell) (Click
in depth study)
originally referred to a reward for
good news and later became the good news itself. The word
euaggelion was in just as common use in the first century as our
words good news today. “Have you any good news for me today?” would
have been a common question. In this secular use euaggelion described
good news of any kind and prior to the writing of the
New Testament, had no definite religious connotation in the ancient
world until it was taken over by the "Cult of Caesar" which was the
state religion and in which the emperor was worshipped as a god. The
writers of the New Testament adapted the term as God's message of
salvation for lost sinners.
I departed from Macedonia
refers to Paul's first European circuit, when he went by way of Athens
to Corinth, where he was joined by Silvanus and Timothy, bringing a
contribution from Macedonia. (Acts 18:5; 2 Cor. 11:9).
Church (1577)
(ekklesia from ek = out + kaleo = call) literally
"called-out ones" and implies an "assembly". Ekklesia was used by the
Greeks for their assembly of citizens "called out" to transact the
business of the city or to discuss the affairs of State. Ekklesia in
the NT describes a living organism, composed of living members joined
together; through which Christ lives and works, carrying out His
Kingdom purposes on earth. The giving by the Philippian saints was a
reflection of Christ living His life out through this local, dynamic
body of believers. May their tribe increase in these last days. Amen.
Shared (2841)
(koinoneo from koinos = common, shared by all) means to
share one's possessions with the implication of some kind of joint
participation and mutual interest. This Greek word was used in a
marriage contract where the husband and wife agree to a
joint-participation in the necessaries of life. The key idea in the
word is that of a partnership, a possessing things in common, a
belonging in common to. The saints at Philippi were in a glorious
spiritual partnership with the great apostle Paul in spreading the
Gospel of Jesus Christ! Believers have the same opportunity today as
they pray for and give generously to missionaries taking the gospel to
the thousands of hidden people groups. Are you sharing in the eternal
endeavor? Don't pass up the once in a lifetime opportunity!
Paul used the noun form in the
first chapter writing...
in view of your participation
(koinonia) in the gospel from the first day until now. (see note
Philippians 1:5)
Koinonia
in that verse signifies joint participation and co-operation in the
gospel, through financial support and prayer support. The Philippians
were fellow laborers or co-laborers with Paul to take the whole Word
to the whole world. Immediately upon becoming Christians and
continually thereafter, the Philippians had dedicated themselves to
living and proclaiming the truth about Jesus Christ, and specifically
to helping Paul in his ministry. (cf Lydia
Acts 16:15).
Giving (1394)
(dosis from dídomi = to give) refers to a gift.
Today's English Version
renders it...
you were the only ones who shared
my profits and losses.
Receiving (3028)
(lepsis from lambáno = to receive) refers to a receipt
or to the act of receiving.
Giving and receiving
together picture a ledger with a credit and debit page. The
implication is that Paul evidently was a careful steward of his
resources and kept an account of his receipts and expenditures.
Matter (3056)
(logos) was sometimes used as a business term and in the NT is
translated as “accounts” (Mt 18:23; 25:19) or “accounting” (cf Luke
16:2). This is Paul's meaning in the present context.
The Philippians kept a ledger in
which they recorded the good things received from Paul on the credit
page, and the debt they owed Paul on the debit side. He acknowledged
the receipt of their gift in the words, "I have all," using a business
term meaning, "I have received in full" (4:18).
The word "abound" in 4:17, is taken
from the money market. It was used of the accumulation of interest.
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FOR EVEN IN
THESSALONICA YOU SENT A GIFT MORE THAN ONCE FOR MY NEEDS: hoti kai en Thessalonike
kai hapax kai dis eis ten
chreian moi epempsate. (2PAAI): (Macarthur
on Php 4:14-19)
Even in Thessalonica - see
Acts 17:1-15
The Greek literally reads
"because also in Thessalonica, both once and again to my need you
sent". Note that the NASB adds the word "gift" for continuity, but it
is not present in the original Greek text.
Needs (5532)
(chreia from chréos = debt) refers to that which is
lacking and particularly needed.
Dwight Pentecost notes
that...
The strange thing in this passage
is that the apostle is not commending the Philippians because they met
his need; he is commending them because they have satisfied a need of
their own of which they seem to have been entirely ignorant. Since the
apostle had nothing, we would suppose that he would thank them because
of what their gift did for him. But he barely mentions that. His
thanksgiving goes to God because through the gift they have satisfied
a need which they have. The apostle points out that this is not the
first time the Philippians contributed to his needs. They did so on at
least two previous occasions. (Pentecost,
J. D. The Joy of Living: A Study of Philippians. Kregel Publications) |
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Philippians 4:17 Not
that I
seek
(1SPAI)
the
gift itself, but I
seek
(1SPAI)
for the
profit which
increases
(PAPMSA)
to your
account
(NASB:
Lockman) |
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Greek:
ouch
hoti
epizeto (1SPAI)
to
doma,
alla
epizeto (1SPAI)
ton
karpon
ton
pleonazonta (PAPMSA)
eis
logon
humon
Amplified:
Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am
eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of
blessing that is accumulating to your account].
(Amplified
Bible - Lockman)
Lightfoot: Again I say, I do not desire the gift, but I do desire that
the fruits of your benevolence should redound to your account.
NLT: I don't say this because I want a gift from you. What I
want is for you to receive a well-earned reward because of your
kindness. (NLT
- Tyndale House)
Phillips: It
isn't the value of the gift that I am keen on, it is the reward that
will come to you because of these gifts that you have made (Phillips:
Touchstone)
Wuest: Not that it is my character to be ever seeking the gift, but I
am seeking the fruit which is accumulating to your account. (Erdmans)
Young's Literal:
not that I seek after the gift, but I seek after the fruit that is
overflowing to your account; |
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NOT THAT I
SEEK THE GIFT ITSELF : ouch hoti epizeto (1SPAI) to doma : (11;
Mal 1:10;
Acts 20:33,34;
1 Co 9:12-15;
2 Co 11:16;
1 Th 2:5;
1 Ti 3:3;
1 Ti 6:10;
Titus 1:7;
1 Pe5:2;
2 Pe 2:3,15;
Jude 1:11)
(Macarthur
on Php 4:14-19)
Seek (1934)
(epizeteo from epí = intensifies meaning + zeteo
= to seek) means to search for or even to demand. Paul was
neither inquiring about a gift nor demanding it.
By declaring "not (absolute
negation) that I seek the gift" Paul is apparently still
defending himself against the slanderous assertion that he is using
the gospel as a means of making a living. Note that "seek" is in the
present tense
indicating one's habitual action. As Wuest renders it Paul is saying
that it
"Not that it is my character to be
ever seeking the gift"
Gift (1390)
(doma from didomi = to give) is a present or gift and
the word lends greater emphasis to the character of the gift. In this
case it is preceded by the definite article in Greek ("to" = the)
indicating that this is a specific gift he is referring to.
Wil Pounds writes...
“Not that I seek the gift
itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account” (v.
17). James Boice writes, “Money that is given to help another
Christian is called fruit. Our gifts to others are encouraged by God,
noticed by God, and much-desired by Him.” There is a great stewardship
principle. The imagery says Thielman, is that of a bank account that
receives compounded interest. Paul says, it is “continuously
increasing profit for your account.” It pays spiritual dividends in
eternity. Paul has in mindd the day we stand before the Lord Jesus
Christ and give an account of how we have used His gifts to us. The
gifts the Philippians have sent to Paul is for their spiritual
advantage. “Their generosity was a concrete demonstration that God was
completing the good work that he had started in them when they
believed the gospel (1:6),” notes Thielman." (Abide In Christ Ministry)
BUT I SEEK
FOR THE PROFIT INCREASES TO
YOUR ACCOUNT: alla epizeto (1SPAI) ton karpon ton pleonazonta (PAPMSA) eis logon humon: (Phil
1:11;
Micah 7:1;
Jn 15:8,16;
Ro 15:28;
2 Cor 9:9-13;
Titus 3:14) (Pr 19:17;
Mt 10:40-42;
25:34-40;
Lu 14:12-14;
Heb 6:10)
Seek (1934)
(epizeteo from epí = intensifies meaning + zeteo
= to seek) means to search for and to strive after or long for.
Paul was striving for and longing for the fruit to be increasing for
the Philippians based on their giving.
Profit (2590)
(karpos) is fruit, in this case speaking of the dividends the
Philippians would receive from their grace giving to Paul. Paul is
referring to the eternal dividend accruing in their spiritual account
in the bank of Heaven. This fruit was the reward God would recompense
to them for their generous support of Paul as their "church
missionary". (cf Pr 11:24, 25; 19:17; Lu 6:38; 2Co 9:6).
Increases
(4121)
(pleonazo from pleion = more) means to cause to
increase or superabound. It suggests an abundance or an increase in
number. Pleonazo was a term taken from the money market and was
used of the accumulation of interest, in this case the interest in the
"spiritual account" of the Philippians as a result of their generous
giving.
Account (3056)
(logos) in this context is used much as we would use the term
"bank-account."
The
Philippians were in effect storing up for themselves treasure in
heaven. (See notes on giving
Matthew 6:2-4;
Matthew 6:19-21)
F B Meyer notes that
Give and Receive...is a constant
law of God's world. "Give, and it shall be given unto you: good
measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall be given
into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured
to you again." Lend your boat for a whole afternoon to Christ that it
may be His floating pulpit, and He will return it to you laden with
fish. Place your upper room at His disposal for a single meal, and He
will fill it and the whole house with the Holy Spirit of Pentecost.
Place in His hands your barley loaves and fish, and He will not only
satisfy your hunger, but add twelve baskets full of fragments. The
Philippians sent three or four presents to a suffering and much
needing servant of God | | |
