Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 45

Paul Thanks the Church @ Philippi for their Generosity to him Part 3

Philippians 4:14-16 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no Church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. KJV

Paul immediately begins the start of his very next sentence (“Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction”) (Philippians 4:14) (KJV) with the conjunction “notwithstanding” to point out that despite him being able to do anything through our Lord Jesus Christ strengthening him in his inner man, he acknowledges that his human frail frame losing vigor, aching, fading, and becoming feeble needed the help they did provide for him while he was in a Roman Dungeon. Paul uses the English phrase “that ye did communicate with” which is translated by one Greek word sugkoinoneo meaning to share in company with, that is, co-participate in: - communicate (have fellowship) with, be partaker of (this Greek word is used here and only two other times in the New Testament). The English word “affliction” Paul uses here in this verse is translated by the Greek word thlipsis meaning pressure (literally or figuratively): - anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. In other words, we find Paul commending these fellow believers for sharing and partaking of his sufferings while he was in the Roman Dungeon, for they placed themselves in the place of Paul in spirit knowing that his suffering was a benefit to them receiving the Gospel at the time of their conversions from false gods to the Living Christ as if they were remembering the words this same Apostle wrote in his letter to the Hebrews when he said, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them --- those who are mistreated --- since you yourselves are in the body also.” (Hebrews 13:3) (NKJV).

Paul was not going to allow his pride to keep him from being helped by his fellow brethren and also acknowledging to them his extreme appreciation and gratitude for their sacrifices that relieved him in his time of need. Paul goes on to give thanks to the Philippian Church for giving to him to supply his needs as he embarked on his first journey into Corinth by way of Athens where he was later joined by Silvanus and Timothy by saying this to them, “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no Church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.” (Philippians 4:15) (KJV). In other words, none of the other Churches that Paul had planted shared any of their financial resources with Paul for his teaching them the Word of God, nor did they apparently share with any of the other Churches who were being persecuted and in need as Paul said with these words to the Corinthian believers who did not seem to get it initially, “Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the Gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.” (2 Corinthians 11:7-9) (NKJV).

This reality of the constant sharing of love gifts so often to Paul from the Macedonian or Philippian Church was what blossomed such a deep affectionate love Paul had for them. Note: “We find Paul giving little to know reprimands to the Philippian Church because they were expressing their faith in action to the Apostle when the other Churches failed (for whatever reason) to come to Paul’s aid and what perhaps was so discouraging to Paul was that none of the other Churches that he founded even offered help to him.” Let us not forget that it was the Apostle Paul who wrote these profound, piercing, and penetrating words to the Corinthian believers when they were acting like spoiled spiritual babies, “Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.’ Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless, we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the Gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who Preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:8-14) (NKJV).

The Philippian Church took these words very seriously and they made every effort to sow what financial resources they could to the Apostle Paul for sowing so much spiritual resources into their body of believers as these words written in the letter to the Hebrews describes this Philippian Church perfectly, “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.” (Hebrews 10:34) (NKJV). While Paul was ministering in Thessalonica, the Philippian Church continued to send support for his necessities there as well as he declares this way, “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.” (Philippians 4:16) (KJV). Paul worked with his own hands making tents to support himself while laboring in the Gospel to plant the Church there (1 Thessalonians 2:9), but while he was there he received once again love gifts from the Philippian Church for any needs he might have while sowing spiritual seed there. Apparently they sent Paul a couple of love gifts while he was in Thessalonica.

“The Apostle Paul was more refreshed by the fact that these believers in Philippi had not ever forgotten the fact that he was the angel or messenger of God that came to them (in their minds out of nowhere) with the Gospel of Grace that God the Holy Spirit took and opened their spiritual eyes to see Jesus Christ Crucified and changed their world forever, they were eternally grateful to Paul and showed it in their constant, consistent, and continual support of him financially during his Apostleship.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.   

“He reminds them that in the beginning of the Gospel no Church communicated with him as to giving and receiving but they only, Philippians 4:15. They not only maintained him comfortably while he was with them, but when he departed from Macedonia they sent tokens of their kindness after him; and this when no other Church did so. None besides sent after him of their carnal things, in consideration of what they had reaped of his spiritual things. In works of charity, we are ready to ask what other people do. But the Church of the Philippians never considered that. It redounded so much the more to their honor that they were the only Church who were thus just and generous.” Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…