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Philippians 4:16

in Philippians 4

For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my need.

KJV

For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

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This verse in Philippians 4

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

For even in Thessalonica - While labouring to plant the Church there, he was supported partly by working with his hands, 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:7-9; and partly by the contributions sent him from Philippi. Even the Thessalonians had contributed little to his maintenance: this is not spoken to their credit.

This site's exposition

communicate with my affliction

on Philippians 4:14-16

Having secured contentment, Paul turns to praise the gift without needing it: ye have well done. The history is exact and singular, in the beginning of the gospel no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only, and even in Thessalonica, the very next city on the road, they sent once and again. Philippi's partnership thread, struck at 1:5, is here given its ledger.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Philippians 15 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"For even in Thessalonica, ye sent once and again unto my need." Here again is great praise, that he, when dwelling in the metropolis, should be nourished by a little city. And lest, by always withdrawing himself from the supposition of want, he should, as I said at first, render them amiss, having previously shown by so many proofs that he is not in want, he here does it by one word only, by saying "needs." And he said not "my," but absolutely,-having a care of dignity. And not this only, but what followeth too, for since he was conscious that it was a very lowly thing, he again secures it, by adding as a correction.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Philippians · Written before 1274.

proposed

For even in Thessalonica you sent me help once and again. This is the reason why the Pope can take from one church to help another; but not without cause.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Philippians · Written before 1107.

proposed

An important praise of theirs is also in the fact that, while he was in the metropolis, he was sustained at the expense of a small city. For by "need" he means necessary expenses, not pleasures and luxury.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

It is an excellent thing to see those to whom God has abounded in the gifts of his grace abounding in grateful returns to his people and ministers, according to their own ability and their necessity: You sent once and again.
For even in Thessalonica,....
2 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Surely never was present so well repaid. He reminds them that in the beginning of the gospel no church communicated with him as to giving and receiving but they only,

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

For even in Thessalonica; - see the notes, Act 17:1. Paul remained there long enough to establish a flourishing church. He met, indeed, with much opposition and persecution there; and, hence, it was necessary that his wants should be supplied by others.

The words behind it

13 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

3 in all, six open

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 2:18

    For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.

    it leads to

    • Romans 15:22

      That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

    • Romans 1:13

      I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among…

    • Revelation 2:10

      Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful…

  • Through

    1 Thessalonians 2:9

    Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

    it leads to

    • 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9

      For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

    • 2 Corinthians 11:9

      And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to…

    • Acts 18:3

      and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.

  • Through

    Acts 17:1

    When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

    it leads to

    • 1 Thessalonians 1:1

      Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

    • 2 Thessalonians 1:1

      Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

About Philippians

The Arrival at Calvary, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Arrival at Calvary, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Philippians: the study guide →Read Philippians 4 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 15; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; 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.

Read on in Philippians 4 →