Philippians 4:14-18

14. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only. 16. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18. I have recieved full payment, and more. I am well supplied having recieved from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to God.

Before we dig into verse 14. Lets remind ourself what Paul has been talking about which is contentment. He has been doing so for about the last three verses. Now he is focusing back on the partnership that he has with the Philippians. Look back at verse 14. He says to share, but what does that mean. I think it points back to the partnership he has with the Philippians. So what does this partnership look like? Lets go back to 1st chapter verse 5. Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6. I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7. It is right for me to feel this way about you all because I hold you in my heart for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. So this partnership is to advance the gospel. Look at verse 15. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only. What else does this partnership look like. Well lets look at Chapter 2 verse 1-2 it says, “ So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, and affection and sympathy. 2. Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. So there partnership was to share is in the spirit. WE all know that if We are going to advance to gospel in this church, in town, in this state, country, world. We care going to have to partner with one another in this spirit. No partnership can work without the help of both sides. Paul shows us this throughout the book. Finally the last thing they are partners in their mutual participation in the sufferings of Christ. We see this in verse 14. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. We also see it in Chapter 3:10 which says, “ That I may know him and the power of his resurrection any may share his sufferings, becoming like him in this death.

What does it look like in our own context to share in the advance of the gospel, the sharing in the spirit and the sharing in the sufferings?

Looking back again at verse 14 it says to share in my trouble. What did the Philippian church do for Paul. Well we know they sent Epaphroditus to support Paul. Remember Epaphroditus almost died. (2:30) We know that Paul’s troubles were external and internal. Externally he was in chains as a prisoner of Rome. Inwardly he had to have had some serious distress with all that was going on.

Finally piecing this verse together. I don’t think the money is what made Paul thankful even though it helped, but the condition of the heart of the Phillippian people. One commentary said It was excellent! It was beautiful! Such praise would eliminate any hurt feelings caused by Paul’s assertion that he was content without any support. His contentment without the Philippians’ support did not diminish his appreciation for their support.

It was excellent! It was beautiful! Such praise would assuage any hurt feelings caused by Paul’s assertion that he was content without any support. His contentment without the Philippians’ support did not diminish his commendation for their support.

Moving on. Verse 15. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only. 16. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.

Paul says And you Phillippian yourselves know. This statement was probably really comforting to the people. Not only did Paul remember their gift, but his restating of their support would have been encouraging to them. Something also cool to notes is that he is calling them Philippians. Paul never does this in a positive way all throughout scripture. It other places its in rebuke. This is found in and just as a side note. thought that was cool.

Now at this time it had been about 10 years ago since the first time he preached to the Philippian people. The text seems to be indicating that they have been helping Paul for awhile.

when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only. Scripture tells us Paul was a tent maker, and he did not trouble anyone for anything. says, “ and when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.” It was not Paul’s goal to make any money from preaching God’s Word even though he said pay your pastors. He wanted to offer the gospel free of charge because that is what God had called him to do. Yet Paul reminds the Philippians of the support he received after his departure from Macedonia, he is referring to the support from the Philippians for his ministry in Corinth.

Paul reminds the Philippians of the support he received after his departure from Macedonia, he is referring to the support from the Philippians for his ministry in Corinth.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Philippians VIII. Thanks for Gifts from Partners (4:10–20)

not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only.

No church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only. The Philippines were it. No one else helped them.

Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Since the church in Thessalonica did not partner with him in the matter of giving and receiving after his departure from Macedonia, that church is not mentioned. Now, however, he calls attention to the support of the Philippians while he was in the Macedonian city of Thessalonica in order to stress the immediacy and frequency of their support. Even immediately after he left Philippi, the Philippians sent him aid when he was in Thessalonica. And they sent him aid more than once.

Since the church in Thessalonica did not partner with him in the matter of giving and receiving after his departure from Macedonia, that church is not mentioned. Now, however, he calls attention to the support of the Philippians while he was in the Macedonian city of Thessalonica in order to stress the immediacy and frequency of their support. Even immediately after he left Philippi, the Philippians sent him aid when he was in Thessalonica.238 And they sent him aid more than once.

verse 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. Paul is stressing that he is not seeking the gift from them. I think about how opposite this is from today’s TV preachers. Who want your money for personal gain. Paul was not like this. He was like it says in scripture seeking the fruit that increases to your credit. What does this mean? I believe he is meaning that this gift is a spiritual/ heavenly investment. John Macarthur say’s The Philippians were storing up for themselves treasure in heaven. The gifts they gave Paul were accruing eternal dividends to their spiritual account. A few examples from scripture is which says. One gives freely, yet grows all richer; another withholds what he should give and only suffers want. and The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. From that verse we need to understand that we don’t give for personal gain hear on earth, but we give to help others, and to help the advance of the gospel. Our giving doesn’t mean we get anything return here on earth, but ultimately God see that we are cheerful givers.

verse 18

I have recieved full payment, and more. I am well supplied having recieved from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to God.

G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 320.

I have recieved full payment, and more. The gift was enough and more. I think of it like this. Not only did you give me something to eat today, but he had a fridge full worth of stuff . The phillippian church took care of Paul. We know Epaphroditus took the gifts to Paul. This is found in Chapter 2:25-30.

Which

Paul brings some Old Testament meaning here in the rest of this verse. He says a fragrant offering, a sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to God. It pictures God as literally taking pleasure in the smell of the sacrifices offered by his people. says, “And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart I will never again curse the ground because of man for the intention of mans heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.

Soothing aroma”: in the sacrificial law, this is a regular term for the smell produced by burning the sacrifices (cf. ; ; , etc). “Soothing” sacrifices have a restful , soothing, pacifying effect on God. That God’s anger at sin is appeased by sacrifice is the clear implication of this. This pleasing aroma is mentioned again in which says, “ and burn the whole ram on the alter. It is a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. What scripture tells us is its not the sacrifice that makes the offering pleasing, but it is the heart. tells us what happens with hardened heart it says, “ And I will lay your cities waste and will make your sanctuaries desolate and I will not smell your pleasing aromas.” Going back to verse 18 we see that the sacrifice that they gave Paul was pleasing to God. The way he described the sacrificed gift was in fact the great compliment he could give them. So the real question is how do we do this?

says, “ and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” I love this verse because explains what the who the worthy sacrifice is. It is Christ. Christ willingly offered himself as a sacrifice to the Father, and this was fully pleasing to him.The apostle’s point is plain. Christ’s handing himself over to death for his people was the supreme demonstration of his love for them. Because he is both the ground and model of their love, costly, sacrificial love is to be the distinguishing mark of their lives.To serve others in this way is not only to please God; it is also to imitate both God and Christ. Significantly, Paul writes of the Philippians’ sacrificial love for him in terms of Christ’s sacrifice, ‘a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice which is pleasing to God’

It pictures God as literally taking pleasure in the smell of the sacrifices offered by his people

Christ willingly offered himself as a sacrifice to the Father, and this was fully pleasing to him.The apostle’s point is plain. Christ’s handing himself over to death for his people was the supreme demonstration of his love for them. Because he is both the ground and model of their love, costly, sacrificial love is to be the distinguishing mark of their lives.359 To serve others in this way is not only to please God; it is also to imitate both God and Christ.

One more example. says, “ you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Peter tells us we can only offer sacrifices through Jesus Christ. Without Christ our sacrifices are worthless.

I want to spend the rest of our time in .

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews through Revelation F. Love (13:1–6)

Love (13:1–6)

Christians are to be concerned for the needs of others. Those Christ has died for cannot live for themselves. Christianity is faith in action and that means love at work. So the writer draws attention to something of what it means to live in love.

The apostle’s point is plain. Christ’s handing himself over to death for his people was the supreme demonstration of his love for them. Because he is both the ground and model of their love, costly, sacrificial love is to be the distinguishing mark of their lives.359 To serve others in this way is not only to please God; it is also to imitate both God and Christ.

Love (13:1–6)

Christians are to be concerned for the needs of others. Those Christ has died for cannot live for themselves. Christianity is faith in action and that means love at work. So the writer draws attention to something of what it means to live in love.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews through Revelation G. Christian Leadership (13:7–8)

Christian Leadership (13:7–8)

The concluding section of the epistle contains a number of small, disconnected units. From love the writer passes to a few thoughts about Christian leaders. This is important, for there is not much in the NT about the way Christians should treat their leaders. There is, however, more about how leaders themselves should behave.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews through Revelation H. Christian Sacrifice (13:9–16)

Christian Sacrifice (13:9–16)

The writer has put strong emphasis on the centrality of Christ’s sacrifice and keeps this steadily in view as he approaches the end of his letter. He has some erroneous teaching in mind, but we cannot define it with precision. He and his readers both knew what it was, so there was no need for him to be specific. Whatever it was, the unchangeability of Christ should inspire them to refuse its curious diversities and novel teaching.

Once more the writer draws attention to Christ’s sacrifice, using the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement as the basis. Some may have thought the Christian way an impoverished one, lacking the sacrifices that were central to religion in the ancient world. But Christians do have sacrifices, none the less real for being spiritual and not material.

What can we take away from today? are we living our life in a way that is pleasing to God?

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Ephesians C. Specific Exhortations about the Old Life and the New, 4:25–5:2

Christ willingly offered himself as a sacrifice to the Father, and this was fully pleasing to him.

The apostle’s point is plain. Christ’s handing himself over to death for his people was the supreme demonstration of his love for them. Because he is both the ground and model of their love, costly, sacrificial love is to be the distinguishing mark of their lives.359 To serve others in this way is not only to please God; it is also to imitate both God and Christ.

Significantly, Paul writes of the Philippians’ sacrificial love for him in terms of Christ’s sacrifice, ‘a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice which is pleasing to God’

says, “ and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” I love this verse because explains what the who the worthy sacrifice is. It is Christ. Christ willingly offered himself as a sacrifice to the Father, and this was fully pleasing to him.The apostle’s point is plain. Christ’s handing himself over to death for his people was the supreme demonstration of his love for them. Because he is both the ground and model of their love, costly, sacrificial love is to be the distinguishing mark of their lives.To serve others in this way is not only to please God; it is also to imitate both God and Christ. Significantly, Paul writes of the Philippians’ sacrificial love for him in terms of Christ’s sacrifice, ‘a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice which is pleasing to God’

Peter Thomas O’Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 355.