Philippians 4 15

Philippians 4:15 kjv

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 nkjv

Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.

Philippians 4:15 niv

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

Philippians 4:15 esv

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.

Philippians 4:15 nlt

As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.

Philippians 4 verses

Philippians 4 15 Meaning

The Apostle Paul reminds the Philippian church of their unique and steadfast partnership in his ministry. He specifically highlights their financial support, which began from the early days of his preaching the gospel in Macedonia and continued when he moved on. Paul states that no other church entered into such a financial and reciprocal partnership with him, except for the Philippians alone.

Philippians 4 15 Context

Philippians 4:15 comes towards the end of Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, where he expresses deep gratitude and affection for their partnership in the gospel. This letter was written by Paul while imprisoned, likely in Rome (around AD 60-62). The Philippian church was Paul's first convert in Europe (Acts 16) and held a special place in his heart. The immediate context from verse 10 onwards is Paul's thanksgiving for a renewed financial gift they had sent to him through Epaphroditus.Culturally, Paul was aware of societal expectations regarding receiving money from those he ministered to. While he often chose to work to avoid being a financial burden or being accused of exploiting converts, he also affirmed the right of gospel ministers to receive support (1 Cor 9). The Philippians' unique, consistent, and unsolicited support distinguished them significantly. This verse specifically recalls his initial ministry stages when he moved from Macedonia (where Philippi is located) to Achaia, highlighting that even then, when his work was less established, they alone supported him. The term "giving and receiving" implies a recognized arrangement, akin to a ledger account, showing their formal commitment to financially backing his missionary work.

Word Analysis

• And you yourselves also know (καὶ γὰρ οἴδατε καὶ ὑμεῖς):
  • καὶ γὰρ: "For even you." The kai gar emphasizes this is not new information, but a reminder of something they already knew and participated in, affirming shared history.
  • οἴδατε (oida): Refers to a deeply ingrained, intuitive, or experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual assent. They had personal knowledge of this truth because they were the ones who did it.
  • This phrase emphasizes a relational foundation – Paul is reminding dear partners of their unique contribution.
• Philippians (Φιλιππήσιοι):
  • A direct address, underscoring the personal and intimate nature of his appeal and gratitude to this specific church, his first European converts.
• that in the beginning of the gospel (ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου):
  • ἐν ἀρχῇ (en archē): Not the very first proclamation of the gospel generally, but the nascent stage of Paul's European mission. For them, it signified the beginning of their engagement with and support of the gospel, particularly through Paul's ministry.
  • This highlights their foundational and consistent support right from their inception as a church community.
• when I departed from Macedonia (ὅτε ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας):
  • A chronological marker of a significant transition in Paul's second missionary journey. He established churches in Philippi and Thessalonica (Macedonia), then moved to places like Athens and Corinth (Achaia), as recounted in Acts 17-18.
  • This marks a period when Paul moved to new fields where he faced different challenges and likely fewer immediate supporters, making the Philippians' continued support even more significant.
• no church shared with me (οὐδεμία μοι ἐκκλησία ἐκοινώνησεν):
  • οὐδεμία (oudemia): Emphatic negation—"not even one."
  • ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia): Refers to other congregations Paul encountered or established.
  • ἐκοινώνησεν (ekoinōnēsen): From koinōneō, meaning "to have fellowship, share in, participate." It denotes active participation and mutual sharing, forming a bond or partnership. Here, it is specifically applied to material support for spiritual work.
• concerning giving and receiving (εἰς λόγον δόσεως καὶ λήψεως):
  • εἰς λόγον (eis logon): "Into an account of," or "with respect to an account of." This is a commercial metaphor, akin to a financial ledger or a partnership agreement.
  • δόσεως καὶ λήψεως (doseōs kai lēpseōs): "Giving and receiving." This phrase underscores a reciprocal spiritual economy. The Philippians gave financial and material support, enabling Paul to give spiritual teaching and blessings. It's a mutual spiritual-material transaction or covenant. It emphasizes a structured, intentional contribution, not haphazard charity.
• but you only (εἰ μὴ ὑμεῖς μόνοι):
  • εἰ μὴ (ei mē): "Except."
  • μόνοι (monoi): "Only." This powerfully underscores the exclusive and unique generosity of the Philippian church. It sets them apart, magnifying their commitment and genuine partnership with Paul above all others. This singularity makes their actions particularly commendable and noteworthy.

Philippians 4 15 Bonus section

The uniqueness of the Philippians' financial partnership suggests not a criticism of other churches (many of whom may have had their own challenges or spiritual dynamics), but an extraordinary commendation for the Philippians' distinctive commitment. Paul frequently wrestled with the ethics of receiving support, often choosing self-sufficiency to ensure the gospel was preached without hindrance or suspicion (1 Thess 2:9, 2 Thess 3:8-9). Therefore, the Philippians' consistent support implies a trust and shared vision that allowed Paul to deviate from his standard self-reliant practice when dealing with them, reflecting a deep spiritual bond. This verse highlights a crucial aspect of church growth and missions: the indispensable role of those who support the ministers of the Word with their resources, making gospel work possible and demonstrating true koinōnia in action.

Philippians 4 15 Commentary

Philippians 4:15 acts as a grateful acknowledgment and commendation from Paul to his most cherished partners in the gospel. It lays the groundwork for his extensive thanksgiving by recalling their historical and consistent generosity. The Philippians were unique among all churches in actively supporting Paul financially, specifically noted "in the beginning of the gospel" when he expanded his mission from Macedonia. This wasn't merely a donation; the phrase "giving and receiving" denotes a conscious, covenantal partnership. They gave material aid, which was reciprocated by Paul's spiritual ministry, a divine economic exchange where both parties were blessed and contributed to the advance of God's kingdom. This commitment, distinct from all other churches, revealed their deep devotion to Christ's mission and Paul's apostleship, enabling him to fulfill his calling without being a burden.

• Practical usage example: Modern believers partnering with missionaries or church planters through regular financial contributions, seeing it as their share in spreading the gospel, not merely charity.