Philippians 2:29

προσδέχεσθε … αὐτὸν. “Receive him”; words which perhaps suggest that to some among them, affected by their small internal divisions, Epaphroditus would be not quite acceptable. But we may explain the Greek rather, “Accept him,” as my gift to you; in which sense no appeal would be implied. Cp. Hebrews 11:35, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν�.

μετὰ πάσης χαρᾶς. His own “sorrow” hinders not in the least his sympathy with their joy.

ἐντίμους ἔχετε. “Hold in high value.” The adjective is used of the centurion’s “valuable” slave (Luke 7:2), and of the “costly” Stone (1 Peter 2:4; 1 Peter 2:6).—Epaphroditus was perhaps a little under-valued at Philippi, in proportion to St Paul’s estimate of him.