Philippians 2:29
in Philippians 2Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy; and hold such in honor:
KJV
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
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This verse in Philippians 2
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThat is, receive him graciously, in a manner pleasing to God, or as befits saints. Paul says this for the benefit of the Philippians themselves, because the one who does good receives more benefit than the one who receives it. "Hold such people in honor." …
This site's exposition
the more eager to send him
on Philippians 2:28-30
Paul sends the recovered man home so their rejoicing can replace their anxiety, and they are to honor men like him. The ground is that he nearly died for the work of Christ, and risking translates a gambler's word for staking one's life.
This site's exposition
Welcome him in the Lord with great joy
Paul asks the church to receive its messenger with honor. Barnes reads the welcome as receiving a friend restored by God as a fresh gift. Theophylact notes that the command serves the Philippians themselves, since the one who does good gains more than the one who receives it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy." "In the Lord" either means spiritually and with much zeal, or rather "in the Lord" means God willing. Receive him in a manner worthy of saints, as saints should be received with all joy. All this he does for their sakes, not for that of his messengers, for greater gain has the doer than the receiver of a good deed. "And such hold in honor," that is, receive him in a manner worthy of saints.
It is apparent that the people and Epaphroditus loved one another inseparably. He is commended by the apostle also, so as to make him all the more dear.… This is the reason for explicitly recalling the struggle of Epaphroditus: his unhesitating willingness to die for …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he concludes by indicating how he should be received and why. He should be received honorably in the Lord, whose minister he is: "You received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus" (Gal. 4:14); "Let the elders who rule well be considered …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Receive him therefore,....
He presses them largely to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, in conformity to the example of the Lord Jesus, the great pattern of humility and love. The great gospel precept passed upon us; that is, to love one another. This is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Receive him therefore in the Lord - As the servant of the Lord, or as now restored to you by the Lord, and therefore to be regarded as a fresh gift from God. Our friends restored to us after a long absence, we should receive as the gift of God, and as a proof of his mercy. And hold such in reputation - Margin, honor such. This is a high commendation of Epaphroditus, and, at the same time, it enjoins an important duty in regard to the proper treatment of those who sustain such a character.
Receive him therefore in the Lord - For the Lord’s sake receive him, and as the Lord’s servant; and hold such zealous, disinterested, and holy preachers in reputation - honor those whom ye perceive God hath honored.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| προσδέχεσθε | prosdechesthe | do receive | G4327 → | |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| κυρίῳ | kurio | [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| μετὰ | meta | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| πάσης | pases | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| χαρᾶς | charas | joy | G5479 → | 58 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοὺς | tous | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τοιούτους | toioutous | such | G5108 → | |
| ἐντίμους | entimous | in honor | G1784 → | |
| ἔχετε· | echete | do hold; | G2192 → | 707 times |
προσδέχεσθεdo receive
prosdechestheG4327 →
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
κυρίῳ[the] Lord
kurioG2962 →711 times
μετὰwith
metaG3326 →461 times
πάσηςall
pasesG3956 →1235 times
χαρᾶςjoy
charasG5479 →58 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοὺς<the>
tousG3588 →19766 times
τοιούτουςsuch
toioutousG5108 →
ἐντίμουςin honor
entimousG1784 →
ἔχετε·do hold;
echeteG2192 →707 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:12But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 5:17–18
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- 1 Corinthians 16:18
For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
- 1 Corinthians 16:16
to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
- Hebrews 13:17
Through
1 Timothy 5:17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- Galatians 6:6
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.
- Luke 10:7
Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies15
On this chapter
About Philippians

This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 2.30; J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 9; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.
