1:5 For your {b} fellowship in the gospel from the {c} first day until now;
(b) Because you also are made partakers of the Gospel.
(c) Ever since I knew you.
1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel. For your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel (Revised Version). He is thankful and full of joy that from the first they had constantly sympathized with him and aided in extending the gospel. It was a really missionary church.
From the first day until now. See Php 2:25 4:10,18 for illustrations.
1:5 The sense is, I thank God for your fellowship with us in all the blessings of the gospel, which I have done from the first day of your receiving it until now.
1:1-7 The highest honour of the most eminent ministers is, to be servants of Christ. And those who are not really saints on earth, never will be saints in heaven. Out of Christ, the best saints are sinners, and unable to stand before God. There is no peace without grace. Inward peace springs from a sense of Divine favour. And there is no grace and peace but from God our Father, the fountain and origin of all blessings. At Philippi the apostle was evil entreated, and saw little fruit of his labour; yet he remembers Philippi with joy. We must thank our God for the graces and comforts, gifts and usefulness of others, as we receive the benefit, and God receives the glory. The work of grace will never be perfected till the day of Jesus Christ, the day of his appearance. But we may always be confident God will perform his good work, in every soul wherein he has really begun it by regeneration; though we must not trust in outward appearances, nor in any thing but a new creation to holiness. People are dear to their ministers, when they receive benefit by their ministry. Fellow-sufferers in the cause of God should be dear one to another.
