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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philippians 2:19-30

Paul takes particular notice of two good ministers; for though he was himself a great apostle, and laboured more abundantly than they all, yet he took all occasions to speak with respect of those who were far his inferiors. I. He speaks of Timothy, whom he intended to send to the Philippians, that he might have an account of their state. See Paul's care of the churches, and the comfort he had in their well-doing. He was in pain when he had not heard of them for a good while, and therefore... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 2:19-24

2:19-24 I hope in the Lord Jesus soon to send Timothy to you, that I may find out how things are going with you and take heart. I have no one with a mind equal to his, for he is the kind of man who will genuinely care for your affairs; for all men are concerned with their own interests, and not with the interests of Jesus Christ. You know his tried and tested character, and you know that, as a child serves a father, so he has shared my service in the work of the gospel. So then, I hope to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 2:25-30

2:25-30 I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, your messenger and the servant of my need, because he is longing for you all, and he is very distressed because you heard that he had been ill, so ill that he nearly died. But God had pity on him, and not on him only, but on me too, that I might not have grief upon grief. So, then, I send him to you with the more despatch, that, when you see him, you may be glad again, and that I may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:24

But I trust in the Lord ,.... The Syriac version reads, "in my Lord": that I also myself shall come shortly : this he adds, partly to let them see, that he still retained a secret hope and persuasion in his own mind of a deliverance, though he could not be certain of it, how things would go with him; and partly, that he might not be thought to put them off with sending Timothy to them; for notwithstanding that, his intention still was, should he be released, to pay them a visit himself.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:25

Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus ,.... In the mean while, before either he or Timothy could come to them. This man was sent by the Philippians to the apostle with a present, and had been detained at Rome for some time, partly through business, and partly through sickness; but now the apostle thought it proper, he being recovered, to send him to them, who was one of their ministers. One of this name lived at Rome about this time, and was one of Nero's freemen F15 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:26

For he longed after you ,.... This verse and Phlippians 2:28 contain the reasons of the apostle's sending him; and the first is, because he had a very vehement and longing desire after all of them; to see them, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions add, and as it is read in the Alexandrian and Claromontane copies, and in others: it was not the city of Philippi he longed to see, which might be his native place, nor his natural relations and family, but the church there; and not the officers... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:27

For indeed he was sick nigh unto death ,.... It was not a mere rumour, or a false alarm, but was real matter of fact; and it was not a light disorder, a slight indisposition, but a very dangerous illness; though the sickness was not unto death, yet near it. Good men, such as Christ loves, as he did Lazarus, are sometimes sick; though their spiritual diseases are healed, and their sins forgiven, so that the inhabitants of Zion have no more reason to say that they are sick, since Christ has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:28

I sent him therefore the more carefully ,.... Or in greater haste, and as soon as possible: that when ye see him again ye may rejoice ; for this must greatly increase their joy, to see him again after he had been so long from them, and under such a disorder, which had made them to fear they should never see him more. The Syriac version renders it, "that when ye see him ye may rejoice again"; as they had done heretofore in his conversation and ministry, when among them: and that I may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:29

Receive him therefore ,.... Not only into their houses, where such as bring the doctrine of Christ should be admitted, and not others; but into their bosoms, into their hearts and affections, as he had reason to believe they would, and into their fellowship and communion, and to the exercise of his office among them, as their minister: and that in the Lord ; or "for the Lord", as the Arabic version renders it; for his sake, because he was one that was put into the ministry by him, was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:30

Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death ,.... Meaning either the work the church sent him about, and which he cheerfully undertook, and faithfully performed in carrying of a present to, and visiting the apostle in prison; which is called the work of Christ, because taken by Christ as if it was done to himself; and which, what with the long and fatiguing journey from Philippi to Rome, and the frequent visits he made to the apostle, and the much business besides that lay upon his... read more

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