Philippians 2:28

Php 2:28-30. I sent him therefore the more carefully — Or, speedily, as σπουδαιοτερως here signifies; that seeing him again — In a state of health, ye may rejoice — May be comforted after your trouble; and that I may be the less sorrowful — When I know you are rejoicing. Receive him therefore — With affection and gratitude, being assured that his long absence was owing, not to want of love to you, but to bad health; and hold persons of such a character, whatever their station of life may be, in great estimation. Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death — It appears from the last clause of this verse, that by the work of Christ here, the apostle partly meant his personal attendance on the apostle in his bonds, and the various services he performed for him, with his sundry journeys by land and sea on his account: but it is probable that he included also his labours in preaching the gospel in Rome, and in the neighbouring cities and villages, with his carrying the apostle’s messages and instructions to the disciples, his watching over them, visiting such of them as were sick, and other similar offices.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Php 2:28. Σπουδαιοτέρως, the more earnestly, anxiously [carefully]) sooner than Timothy, Php 2:19.—χαρῆτε, ye may rejoice) Godly men may receive joy from all things.—ἀλυπότερος ὦ, I may be the less sorrowful) when I know, that you rejoice.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Php_2:28. The more urgently, therefore (in consequence of this sickness which he had had and recovered from, of which ye received tidings, Php_2:26-27), I have brought about his return, which otherwise I would still have delayed.

πάλιν] belongs to χαρῆτε, as Paul usually places it before the verb, or, at least, makes it follow immediately after. See Gersdorf, Beitr. p. 491 f., and van Hengel. And the context affords no ground for departing from the usual mode, and for joining it with ἰδόντες αὐτόν (Beza, Grotius, and others, also Baumgarten-Crusius and de Wette).

κἀγὼ ἀλυπότ. ὦ] Ἐὰν γὰρ ὑμεῖς χαρῆτε, καὶ ἐγὼ χαίρω, Oecumenius. He is not ἄλυπος, for he is in captivity and surrounded by adversaries; but the joy which he is aware is already prepared for his beloved Philippians by the return of Epaphroditus, lessens his λύπη. This tender interweaving of his own alleviation with the rejoicing of his readers is lost, if we refer ἀλύποτ. to the removal of the vexation of seeing the recovered one so full of longing and so uneasy (Hofmann), which, regarded as λύπη, would be sentimental. According to Weiss, Paul intends to say: still more ἄλυπος, than I have already become in consequence of Epaphroditus recovery. An unsuitable idea, because the comparative necessarily presupposes a certain degree of the λύπη still remaining. In the consciousness of this Paul has written ἀλυπότ.; if it had been otherwise, he would perhaps have used, as in Php_2:19, κἀγὼ εὐψυχῶ or κἀγὼ χαίρω.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Phi 2:28 . σπουδ . The more regular form is the inferior reading σπουδαιότερον , which is due to some copyist. But that in - ως is also found in classical Greek. See W-Sch [11] . , p. 98. It is quite possible that we have here, as frequently in later popular Greek, a comparative with superlative force (see Blass, Gramm. , p. 33). “I sent him with all haste” (including the notion of anxiety and concern which belongs to σπουδαῖος ). ἔπεμ . Epistolary aorist. ἀλυπότ . Their joy means the lifting of a burden from his heart. He sympathised with Epaphroditus’ yearning for home. He sympathised with the Philippians’ anxiety for their brother. Chr [12] . aptly quotes Paul’s own words in 2Co 11:29 , τίς ἀσθενεῖ καὶ οὐκ ἀσθενῶ ; τίς σκανδαλίζεται καὶ οὐκ ἐγὼ πυροῦμαι .

[11] Sch. Schmiedel’s Ed. of Winer.

[12] Chrysostom.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 28. The more carefully] σπουδαιοτερως. With the more haste or despatch; because, having suffered so much on account of his apprehended death, they could not be too soon comforted by seeing him alive and restored.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

28 I have sent him the more carefully. The presence of Epaphroditus was no small consolation to him; yet to such a degree did he prefer the welfare of the Philippians to his own advantage, that he says that he rejoices on occasion of his departure, because it grieved him that, on his account, he was taken away from the flock that was intrusted to him, and was reluctant to avail himself of his services, though otherwise agreeable to him, when it was at the expense of loss to them. Hence he says, that he will feel more happiness in the joy of the Philippians.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(28) I sent him therefore the more carefully.—That is, I was the more earnest and anxious to send him. In any case the Apostle would have been desirous to express his thanks and send news by Epaphroditus. But the circumstances of his illness increased that desire to greater earnestness.

I may be the less sorrowful.—There is a peculiar pathos in this expression, as contrasted with the completeness of joy described above in Php_2:17-18. Epaphroditus’ recovery and safe return would take away the “sorrow upon sorrow;” but the old sorrow of captivity, enforced inactivity, and anxiety for the condition of the gospel, would remain. The expression of perfect joy belongs to the “spirit which was willing” indeed; the hint of an unspoken sorrow marks the weakness of the flesh.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

28. I sent] In an English letter it would run, I have sent, or I am sending.

carefully] Better, with R.V. diligently; taking pains to arrange.

less sorrowful] A beautiful touch of character. Among his sorrows, he intimates, was his being the unwilling cause of separating Epaphroditus from the Philippians, and bringing him into risks at Rome. To think of him as safely returned to Philippi would be a solace, though it would be a new separation for himself.—Under the shadow of that last thought, perhaps, he says not “happier” but “less sorrowful.”

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Receive him therefore,.... Not only into their houses, where such as bring the doctrine of Christ should be admitted, and not others; but into their bosoms, into their hearts and affections, as he had reason to believe they would, and into their fellowship and communion, and to the exercise of his office among them, as their minister: and that

in the Lord; or "for the Lord", as the Arabic version renders it; for his sake, because he was one that was put into the ministry by him, was called unto it, and qualified for it, and sent forth to minister in it by him; or in the name of the Lord, as an ambassador of his, as representing him, and as if he himself was present; for he that receives a minister of Christ, receives Christ himself; see Luk 10:16,

with all gladness; with sincere affection, undissembled joy, perfect pleasure, and with all demonstrations of respect unto him, and delight in him at his return to them,

And hold such in reputation: account such as he precious and valuable; highly esteem of them for their works' sake; reckon them worthy of double honour, and give it to them.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Ver. 28. That when ye see him] And receive him as risen from the dead. God knows how to commend his mercies to us, by threatening us with the loss of them; for Bona a tergo formosissima. We know best the worth of mercies by the lack of them.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I send him therefore the more carefully - With more diligence, or speed; I was the more ready to send him.

That I may be the less sorrowful - That is, on account of my solicitude for you; that I may know that your minds are at ease, and that you rejoice in his being among you.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And I may be without sorrow; without the great concern and trouble that I am now in for you. (Witham)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

I sent him therefore the more carefully; after his recovery, without delay, denying myself the comfort of his seciety, I have despatched him away to you.

That, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice; to the end that he whom you looked upon as dead might seasonably appear among you in person, and cheer you up in your troubles for him and me.

And that I may be the less sorrowful; and that I, who, by reason of your kindness to me, have occasioned his absence from you, might upon his safe return to you have somewhat to alleviate my grief, 2Co 6:10.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

28. More carefully—More speedily. Whatever would cause them joy, would diminish his own trouble, so deep was his sympathy with them.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful; rather, I send him (epistolary aorist, as Ver. 25), I send him with the letter. Perhaps "again" is better taken with the following clause; "that when ye see him, ye may again rejoice." Note St. Paul"s ready sympathy with the Philippians: their restored joy will involve a diminution of his sorrow. Mark also the implied admission that sorrows must still remain, though spiritual joy brightens and relieves them. "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing". (2Co_6:10)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That I may be the less sorrowful - When I know you are rejoicing.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Here, first, St. Paul assigns the reason why he was so careful to send back Epaphroditus to the Philippians, namely, to assuage his own grief, and to increase their joy, that when ye see him, ye might rejoice, and I be the less sorrowful.

Next, the apostle exhorts them to receive him with all joy and gladness, and to give him, and all such as he was, due honour, and deserved respect; and doubtless, the Philippians received him with inexpressible joy, as the minister of Christ risen from the dead, recovered from the grave; received to life and service, when all hopes of enjoying him were cut off.

O the folly and frailty of human nature! We prize our mercies more by the want, than by the worth of them.

Lastly, he assigns a special reason why he would have them receive him with such demonstrations of joy, namely, because it was in their and his service that he was brought to the very brink of the grave; For the work of Christ, he was nigh unto death: the work here meant is properly his journey to Rome, which was long and tedious; his watchings and pains-taking with and for the apostle there were very spending, he endeavoured to supply the absence and want of the whole church to St. Paul; his zeal for God, and his affection to St. Paul, carried him out beyond himself, beyond his strength, to the apparent prejudice both of his health and life.

Learn hence, 1. That to relieve the members, but especially the Ministers of Christ, in their necessities and wants, is the work of Christ. For the work of Christ he was nigh unto death. Ministers are not only engaged in the work of Christ when they preach, &c. but when they visit their flock, inquire into the wants of the poor, and administer to the necessities of the distressed; this is the work of Christ.

Learn, 2. That sickness may overtake, yea, death itself may meet, the faithful servants and ministers of Christ, when they are engaged in his own work: it was in the work of the Lord that Epaphroditus met with sickness; and had he met with death itself, he had been happy; for, Blessed are they that die in the work of the Lord; they shall rest from their labours, and their works shall follow them.

William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

28. I sent him therefore the more diligently. Because his brethren at home were so anxious about him. Their joy in seeing him will be a joy to Paul also, so that he will be the less sorrowful over his absence.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

I can be free from anxiety

"I will be less anxious" or "I will not worry as much as I have been"

Welcome Epaphroditus

"Gladly receive Epaphroditus"

in the Lord with all joy

"as a fellow believer in the Lord with all joy" or "with the great joy we have because the Lord Jesus loves us"

he came near death

Paul here speaks of death as if it were a place that one could go to. (See: Metaphor)

fill up what you could not do in service to me

Paul speaks of his needs as if they were a container that Epaphroditus filled with good things for Paul. (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

joy

lord

honor

Christ

servant

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

28. ἔπεμψα. Anglicé, “I have sent,” “I am sending.”

ἀλυπότερος. Again with perfect candour of heart he does not say “glad,” but “less sorrowful.” The separation from Epaphroditus would be a human sorrow, which would temper the happiness with which he would restore him to the Philippians; and he does not disguise it.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

28.] πάλιν most naturally, considering St. Paul’s habit of prefixing it to verbs, belongs to χαρῆτε: and there is here no reason to depart from his usage and attach it to ἰδόντες, as Beza, Grot., De W., all., have done. The κἀγὼ ἀλυπότερος ὦ is one of the Apostle’s delicate touches of affection. If they rejoiced in seeing Epaphroditus, his own trouble would be thereby lessened.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

28. σπουδαιοτέρως: ‘with the greater despatch.’ (Comp. Luk 7:4; Tit 3:13.) More hastily than I would have done otherwise. For the comparative without statement of the standard of comparison, see on μᾶλλον (1:12).

The older commentators render ‘studiosius,’ ‘sollicitius.’ So A.V., ‘carefully’; R.V., ‘diligently’; Lightf., ‘with increased eagerness’; Ellic., ‘more diligently.’ Our rendering as Thay. Lex., Ead., Lips., Hack., Weiss, Weizs., Mey., v. Sod.

ἔπεμψα: ‘I send.’ Epistolary aorist.

ἵνα ἰδόντες αὐτὸν πάλιν χαρῆτε: ‘that when ye see him ye may rejoice again.’ Construe πάλιν with χαρῆτε, not with ἰδόντες (as R.V.). Paul’s habit is to place πάλιν before the verb which it qualifies. The Philippians’ joy had been clouded by Epaphroditus’ sickness. They would rejoice again when he should arrive.

ἀλυπότερος: ‘the less sorrowful.’ The sorrow of captivity still remains. The word only here.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.