Appreciation

Appreciation

Excerpt


Apparently some time elapsed between gifts from the Philippian church. It may have been years between the gifts mentioned in 2 Cor 8 and the one delivered by Epaphroditus. Perhaps Paul had despaired of their love for him since so much time elapsed and since they were the ones who remembered him financially and a financial gift uniquely expressed love. Their gift was a cause of joy in the Lord. Perhaps they expected Paul to be joyful because of the gift but, as the context clearly reveals, his joy was in the Lord.

Spiritual relationships brought the most satisfaction: their love for him because of Christ’s love and his love for the Lord. Thus, it was natural for a material gift to become an occasion for Christian joy. The Christian nature of this relationship is supported by the word Paul used for “concern.” It is the key verb of the epistle, phroneō. Paul used it consistently to point out proper Christian attitudes in following the mind of Christ. He must have consciously alluded to that in his choice of the word.


Melick, Richard R. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Vol. 32. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991. Print. The New American Commentary.