Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

LWB Philp. 4:15 Now you Philippians, you also know with a certainty, that in the beginning
of the gospel [ministry], when I had departed from Macedonia, not a single church [due to
lack of maturity] contributed to me with reference to the doctrine of giving and receiving,
except only you,
KW Philp. 4:15 But you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the beginning of the good
news, when I went out from Macedonia, not even one assembly made itself a partner with me as
regards an account of giving and receiving except you only,
KJV Philippians 4:15 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.
TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS
Paul doesn’t want the Philippians to think he has forgotten their kindness, concern and grace
given to him in the past, so he reminds them that they already know beyond a shadow of a doubt
(Intensive Perfect tense) that they were the only church to do so. In the beginning of Paul’s
ministry, when he first left Macedonia (Historical Aorist tense), not a single church contributed
to his efforts (Constative Aorist tense) except the Philippians. The only church with enough
believers who had matured to the point of understanding the doctrine of grace giving and
receiving was the Philippian church. So in the early days, the only believers who shared in Paul’s
spiritual success were the Philippians. Paul was truly thankful; he has not forgotten their initial
grace gift, or any of their subsequent donations to his ministry.
REVELANT OPINIONS
“In the beginning” refers to the time when Paul first preached the Word to them about ten years
previously. (K. Wuest) Giving and receiving is a reference to debits and credits, a merchant’s
metaphor. Paul kept books on the Philippians. (A.T. Robertson) Material gifts passed from the
church to the apostle, and spiritual blessings flowed the other direction. (R.P. Martin) “Except you
only” means you were the only church that had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and
receiving ... He knew that the financial support provided by this congregation, within the context of
true friendship, was properly motivated and with no strings attached. (P. O’Brien) Verse 15 is
recognized by most scholars as the accounting language of debits and credits. (M. Silva) Paul had
bestowed on them priceless spiritual gifts. It was only squaring the account that he should receive
material blessings from them. Their mutual relations are expressed by the Apostle very delicately.
(W.R. Nicoll)
Philp. 4:15 Now (transitional) you (Nom. Appos.) Philippians
(Voc. Address), you also (adjunctive) know with a certainty
(oi=da, Perf.AI2P, Intensive), that (conj.) in the beginning
(Loc. Time) of the gospel (Adv. Gen. Ref.; ministry), when
(temporal conj.) I had departed (evxe,rcomai, AAI1S, Historical,