4:15 {9} Now ye Philippians know also, that in the {n} beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
(9) He witnesses that he remembers also their former benefits, and again puts away sinister suspicion of greedy desire, in that that he received nothing from anyone else.
(n) At the beginning, when I preached the Gospel among you.
4:15 In the beginning of the gospel. When you first received the gospel (Ac 16:13-15).
When I departed from Macedonia. Keep in mind that Philippi was a chief city of Macedonia (Ac 16:12).
No church communicated with me... but ye only. Had fellowship with me (Revised Version). Those who sustained him were partners of his labors. See Ac 17:14.
4:15 In the beginning of the gospel - When it was first preached at Philippi. In respect of giving - On your part. And receiving - On mine.
4:10-19 It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is a harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want. The apostle had no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by him, let us do all things for him, and to his glory.
