Philippians 1:5

On what does ἐπί depend? Surely it follows χαρᾶς of preceding clause (so Chr [38], Th. Mps [39]) rather than εὐχαριστῶ of Philippians 1:3. It is, at least, awkward to take ἐπί twice with the same verb. μ. χαρᾶς has an emphatic position. Now he gives the reason for his joy. τῇ κοινωνίᾳ. At the first glance κ. seems to refer to their mutual fellowship and harmony as Christians. A closer examination reveals that this whole passage is concerned with Paul's personal relation to them. And so κ. anticipates συγκοινωνούς (Philippians 1:7), and will mean their common participation with Paul in spreading the Gospel. This really includes the idea of united action on the one hand, and the concrete expression of their helpfulness, their gift to the Apostle, on the other. Hort (Christian Ecclesia, p. 44) points out that there is something concrete in the κοινωνία of Acts 2:42. The same is true of Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Hebrews 13:16. This concrete notion in κ. (almost equiv. to “contribution”) is supported by the use of εἰς, which is employed technically in contexts like this to denote the destination of money-payments, collections, etc. So 1 Corinthians 16:1, τῆς λογίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους; Acts 24:17, ἐλεημοσύνας ποιήσων εἰς τὸ ἔθνος μου. Important exx. from Papyri in Dsm [40], BS [41], pp. 113 114, NBS [42], p. 23. Cf. on the whole idea the most apt comment of Chr [43] ad loc. : ὅταν γὰρ ἐκεῖνος μὲν κηρύττῃ, σὺ δὲ θεραπεύῃς τὸν κηρύττοντα, κοινωνεῖς αὐτῷ τῶν στεφάνων. ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἔξωθεν ἀγῶσιν οὐ τοῦ ἀγωνιζομένου μόνον ἐστὶν ὁ στέφανος ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ παιδοτρίβου καὶ τοῦ θεραπεύοντος καὶ πάντων ἀπλῶς τῶν ἀσκούντων τὸν ἀθλητήν. τὸ εὐαγγ. It is unnecessary to narrow this down to the preaching of the Gospel. Used comprehensively. ἀπὸ πρώτης. Cf. the account of their generosity in chap. Philippians 4:10 ff. ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν. The same phrase in Romans 8:22. Cf. Papyr. of Faijûm μέχρ [ι] τ [οῦ] νῦν in Dsm [44], NBS [45], p. 81.

[38] Chrysostom.

[39] Mps. Theodore of Mopsuestia.

[40] Deissmann (BS. = Bibelstudien, NBS. = Neue Bibelstudien).

[41] Bibelstudien

[42] Neue Bibelstudien

[43] Chrysostom.

[44] Deissmann (BS. = Bibelstudien, NBS. = Neue Bibelstudien).

[45] Neue Bibelstudien