Philippians 2:26

For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. FOR - reason for thinking it "necessary to send" Epaphroditus: [Epeidee epipothon en] 'Inasmuch as he was longing (a continuing state) after you all.' FULL OF HEAVINESS, [ adeemonoon (G85)] - distracted with heavy grief. BECAUSE THAT YE HAD HEARD THAT HE HAD BEEN SICK - rather [ eestheneesen (G770)], 'that he was sick.' He felt how saddened you would be in hearing it; he now is hastening to relieve your minds of the anxiety....

26._He longed after you_. It is a sign of a true pastor, that while he was at a great distance, and was willingly detained by a pious engagement, he was nevertheless affected with concern for his flock, and a longing after them; and on learning that his sheep were distressed on his account, (154) he was concerned as to their grief. On the other hand, the anxiety of the Philippians for their pastor is here discovered....

19-30 It is best with us, when our duty becomes natural to us. Naturally, that is, sincerely, and not in pretence only; with a willing heart and upright views. We are apt to prefer our own credit, ease, and safety, before truth, holiness, and duty; but Timothy did not so. Paul desired liberty, not that he might take pleasure, but that he might do good. Epaphroditus was willing to go to the Philippians, that he might be comforted with those who had sorrowed for him when he was sick. It seems, his illness was caused by the work of God. The apostle urges them to love him the more on that account. It is doubly pleasant to have our mercies restored by God, after great danger of their removal; and this should make them more valued. What is given in answer to prayer, should be received with great thankfulness and joy....

Verse 26. _YE HAD HEARD THAT HE HAD BEEN SICK._] "In this passage," says Dr. Paley, "no intimation is given that the recovery of Epaphroditus was _miraculous_, it is plainly spoken of as a _natural event_. This instance, together with that in the Second Epistle to Timothy, _Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick_, affords a proof that the power of performing cures, and, by parity of reason, of working other miracles, was a power which only visited the apostles occasionally, and did not at all depend upon their own will. Paul undoubtedly would have healed Epaphroditus if he could; nor would he have left Trophimus at Miletum sick, had the power of working cures awaited his disposal. Had this epistle been a forgery, forgery on this occasion would not have spared a _miracle_; much less would it have introduced St. Paul professing the utmost anxiety for the safety of his friend, yet acknowled...

FOR HE LONGED AFTER YOU ALL - He was desirous to see you all, and to relieve your anxiety in regard to his safety....

EXPOSITION PHILIPPIANS 2:1 IF THERE BE THEREFORE, ANY CONSOLATION IN CHRIST. Mark the fervor of the apostle. Ὅρα πῶς λιπαρῶς πῶς σφοδρῶς πῶς μετὰ συμπαωείας πολλῆς (Chrysostom). He appeals to the Christian experience of the Philippians; if these experiences are real, as they are; facts verified in the believer's consciousness; not talk, not mere forms of speech,—then fulfill ye my joy. _Consolation_;_ _perhaps "exhortation" is the more suitable rendering in this place: if the presence of Christ, if communion with Christ, hath power to stir the heart, to stimulate the emotions, to constrain the will. If any comfort of love; comfort springing out of love. Love is the subjective result of the presence of Christ as an objective reality, and with love comes comfort. If any fellowship of the Spirit

FOR HE LONGED AFTER YOU,.... This verse and Philippians 2:28 contain the reasons of the apostle's sending him; and the first is, because he had a very vehement and longing desire after all of them; to see them, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions add, and as it is read in the Alexandrian and Claromontane copies, and in others: it was not the city of Philippi he longed to see, which might be his native place, nor his natural relations and family, but the church there; and not the officers of it only, the bishops and deacons, but all the members of it, rich and poor, high and low, strong and weak believers: AND WAS FULL OF HEAVINESS: almost pressed down, quite disheartened and dispirited, ready to sink and die away, not so much with his own disorder and illness, as with sorrow on account of the church at Philippi: because that ye had heard that he had

PHILIPPIANS 2:26 u`ma/j {C} While the external evidence for and against the insertion of ivdei/n after u`ma/j is very evenly balanced, a majority of the Committee was of the opinion that scribes were more likely to add the infinitive, in accordance with the expression evpipoqei/n ivdei/n in Romans 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Timothy 1:4, than to delete it....

II. CHRIST, THE BELIEVER'S PATTERN CHAPTER 2 _ 1. Oneness of mind through self effacement (Philippians 2:1)_ 2. The humiliation and exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:5) 3. Work out your own salvation (Philippians 2:12) 4. As lights in the world (Philippians 2:14) 5. The example of Paul (Philippians 2:17) 6. The example of Timotheus (Philippians 2:19) 7. The exampl

PHP_2:19-30. TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS. Paul proposes to send Timothy in advance of his own expected visit, that he may obtain encouraging news about them. There is no one else to send, the others being too selfish to undertake the errand. Paul has already sent back the Philippian messenger Epaphroditus, who was distressed at hearing how concerned his friends at Philippi were at his illness. It had been a serious illness, nearly ending in death. But God had mercifully restored him, that this additional sorrow might not come on Paul and his friends....