Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis
Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis
Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis
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Paul counters these vicious accusations <strong>by</strong> stating unequivocally that he has more than enough<br />
(Customary Present tense). He has plenty of financial resources and he is extremely rich in<br />
spiritual blessings. Paul not only has enough of both, but he has leftovers!<br />
Echoing his prior statement, Paul says he has been filled up to the point of overflowing with<br />
blessings in the past, and he continues to be filled up to the point of overflowing (Intensive<br />
Perfect tense). The perfect tense is important here, because <strong>by</strong> using it, Paul is saying he was<br />
already filled to the point of overflowing with financial and spiritual blessings BEFORE the<br />
<strong>Philippians</strong> sent their latest grace gift. Then, after Epaphroditus arrived with their latest financial<br />
gift, he was really in superb financial shape. This is yet another way of refuting his critics, who<br />
accuse him of money grubbing. Paul then compares their understanding of grace giving using<br />
two OT phrases: a fragrant odor and an acceptable sacrifice. Their grace giving is an exhibition<br />
of both priestly functions, which are warmly accepted <strong>by</strong> God.<br />
REVELANT OPINIONS<br />
Paul signs a receipt for the gift they sent him ... a rubberstamp of the 1st century ... Paul's receipt<br />
also laid rest to any doubts about Epaphroditus taking the money and disappearing … Uses terms<br />
from the LXX as an odor of the Levitical sacrifices ... regarded as an offering to God. (K. Wuest)<br />
This passage contains traces of the primitive anthropomorphism which saw God as enjoying the<br />
smell of roasting flesh and allowing His wrath (anthropopathism) to be appeased. (F.W. Beare)<br />
By heaping up these important sacrificial terms at the end of his sentence Paul draws attention<br />
figuratively to the immense value of the <strong>Philippians</strong>’ gifts in the sight of God. (P. O’Brien) His<br />
financial cup had been filled to the brim and it had remained there up to the time of the writing.<br />
He did not need any more money from them. (R. Gromacki)<br />
Philp. 4:18 Moreover (post-positive transitional particle), I<br />
have received in total (avpe,cw, PAI1S, Customary) the all<br />
things (Acc. Dir. Obj.; referring to the money as a direct<br />
reference and supergrace blessings as a remote reference, or<br />
vice versa) and (continuative) I have more than enough<br />
(perisseu,w, PAI1S, Customary; with supergrace status, great<br />
abundance with left-overs, to be extremely rich); I have been<br />
filled up to the point of overflowing in the past and I<br />
continue to be overflowing (plhro,w, Perf.PI1S, πληρoω,<br />
Intensive) with (spiritual and monetary) blessings, having<br />
received in person (de,comai, AMPtc.NSM, Culminative,<br />
Circumstantial, Deponent) from Epaphroditus (Abl. Source) the<br />
things (Acc. Dir. Obj.; monetary offerings) from you all<br />
(Abl. Source), a fragrant (Qualitative Gen.) odor (Gen.<br />
Appos.; an idiom for "sweet memories"), an acceptable (Descr.<br />
Gen.) sacrifice (Gen. Appos.), pleasing (Complementary Acc.)<br />
to God (Dat. Ind. Obj.).
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