Philippians 2:30

the work of Christ One most ancient MS. (C) omits "of Christ";and some other evidence is for "of the Lord" instead. R.V. retains the reading of A.V., mentioning in the margin the reading "of the Lord." Alford and Lightfoot advocate the omission. For the phrase "the work," used without further definition, cp. Acts 15:38.

he was nigh unto death Lit., "he drew near, up to death," a peculiar but unmistakable expression.

not regardinghis life R.V., hazarding his life. The two renderings represent each a different reading, the difference lying in the presence or absence of a single letter in the Greek (parabo(u)leusamenos). On the whole that represented by R.V. has the better support. In the more ancient Latin Version this Greek word is almost transliterated: parabolatus de animâ suâ;words which might almost be rendered, "having played the desperado with his life." The verb (found here only) is formed on a common Greek verb of which one meaning is "to wager in a game of chance," and so to run a risk. Bp Light-foot renders here, "having gambled with his life." From the same root comes the ecclesiastical word (Greek and Latin) parabolanus, a member of a "minor order" devoted to nursing the infected, and similar hazardous duties. The order originated in Constantine's time. Unhappily it soon degenerated into a notoriously turbulent sort of club.

"His life":lit., "his soul." For the very frequent use of the Greek word psychêin the sense of bodily life cp. e.g. Matthew 2:20.

to supply your lack&c. More lit., "that he might fill up your deficiency in the ministration designed for me." "Your" is slightly emphatic. Obviously, the Apostle means no reproof to the Philippians, whose "ministration" of supplies he so warmly appreciates below (Philippians 4:10-19). He means that they, as a community, were of course unable to aid him by a personal visit, without which however their "ministration" would have "lacked" a necessary condition of success. That condition Epaphroditus had supplied; he had undertaken the journey, and doubtless had thrown himself at Rome into the Apostle's interests and efforts. And somehow, whether by accidents on the journey, or by risks run at Rome, or by both, he had incurred dangerous illness. See for a close parallel to the language here 1 Corinthians 16:17; and cp. the important phraseology of Colossians 1:24, and notes there.