Philippians 2:27

ὁ θεὸς ἠλέησεν αὐτόν. For Epaphroditus, as for St Paul, death would be κέρδος (Philippians 1:21, and cp. 1 Corinthians 3:23) from one supreme point of view. Yet death in itself is not the Christian’s choice; see John 21:18 (ὅπου οὐ θέλεις), and 2 Corinthians 5:4 (οὐ θέλομεν ἐκδύσασθαι). And it closes the joys of cross-bearing service. As Chrysostom says, discussing the problem of “mercy” here, τὸ κερδᾶναι ψυχὰς οὐκ ἔνι λοιπὸν�. To Epaphroditus death would have been withdrawal from his beloved work for Philippi; and this pang was spared him.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐμέ. Characteristically, he loves to emphasize the value of his friends to him. Cp. e.g. Romans 16:4.

λύπην ἐπὶ λύπην. Bereavement would have been added to great and much-including trial of captivity.—Observe the perfect naturalness and candour of his thought and feeling. He has “the peace of God,” and “strength for all things” (Philippians 4:7; Philippians 4:13). But this means no torpor, and no hardening. He is released from embitterment and from murmurs, but by the same process every sensibility is deepened. So it was with his Lord; John 11:33; John 11:35; John 11:38.

Observe that the χάρισμα ἰαμάτων, exercised by St Paul at Melita (Acts 28:8), was evidently not at his absolute disposal. He could not command his friend’s recovery; it was mere mercy.

σχῶ. “Get,” not merely “have.” “That I might not incur an accumulation of griefs.”