Philippians 4:18

“But. have all things, and abound:. am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, an odor of. sweet smell,. sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God”

“But. have”: “I have received in full” (Matthew 6:2) (Vincent p. 460). “ The technical sense is, ‘This is my receipt' (Hendriksen p. 208). Yet there is not any reason to think that Paul actually gave them an accounting or an actual receipt of his expenses, especially in view of the fact that the same type of "accounting" language is to be taken figuratively in the previous verse.

“And abound”: “And more than enough” (Alf). “And more than. require” (Con). This reinforces the figurative use of the accounting terminology in this section, because if such terms are to be taken literally, then Paul is here saying, “You have overpaid me”. Lenski observes, “Paul is only adopting this business term and uses it together with two other verbs, not in the sense of assuring the Philippians of. receipt in full, but to let them know how rich he feels” (p. 895). Paul is saying that their recent gift has enabled him to be in that condition of "abounding" once more (Philippians 4:12). “I am filled”: “My wants are fully satisfied” (TCNT). “Like. vessel to the very brim, the perfect tense indicating that he continues to be full” (Lenski p. 896). Such. statement should at least cause people to investigate the Christian religion. How many people can really say with any amount of honestly, “I am filled”?

“Having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you”: He had brought their gift with him, he had been their messenger (Philippians 2:25). Carefully note how. simple material offering was received with gratitude by. Christian. We tend to take so many things for granted in this life, as if we deserve every good thing that comes our way. “An odor of. sweet smell,. sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God”: “It is like fragrant incense, just such. sacrifice as God welcomes and approves” (Gspd). Christians still have sacrifices to offer (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15). Again, carefully note that I, an imperfect human being, can do something that pleases the very heart of God. Paul assures the Philippians that what they gave and the manner in which they offered it was of the first rank, of the highest quality. “The apostle credits the givers with the proper spirit. He acknowledges that their deed was not merely an act of sympathy shown to. friend in need, but. genuine offering presented to God to promote his cause, and thus to Paul as God's representative!” (Hendriksen p. 209).