The Meaning of Philippians 2:30 Explained

Philippians 2:30

KJV: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

YLT: because on account of the work of the Christ he drew near to death, having hazarded the life that he might fill up your deficiency of service unto me.

Darby: because for the sake of the work he drew near even to death, venturing his life that he might fill up what lacked in your ministration toward me.

ASV: because for the work of Christ he came nigh unto death, hazarding his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Because  for  the work  of Christ  he was nigh  unto  death,  not regarding  his life,  to  supply  your  lack  of service  toward  me. 

What does Philippians 2:30 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Specifically, Epaphroditus had become sick because of his service for Christ, apparently his service of travelling to Rome and ministering to Paul there. He had daringly exposed himself to danger. [1] It was as he had labored for his absent Philippian brethren, to make up their deficiency in this sense ( Philippians 4:14-18; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:17), that he had become ill.
Aphrodite (Venus) was the goddess of gamblers. When a pagan Greek threw the dice he would cry out "epaphroditos!" meaning "favorite of Aphrodite." Epaphroditus" name may have connections with this custom. If Song of Solomon , Paul may have written that Epaphroditus "risked [2] his life" as a play on his friend"s name. Paul made a more obvious wordplay with Onesimus" name, which means "useful" (cf. Philemon 1:10-11).
"He says Epaphroditus gambled with his life, but won, because God was there and "had mercy on him."" [3]
Paul"s emphasis in chapter2was on the importance of unity and its necessary prerequisite, humility. For true partnership in the work of the gospel to exist there must be unity among the workers. The key to achieving unity is for each believer to adopt the humble mind of Christ.

Context Summary

Philippians 2:19-30 - Honoring Christian Messengers
The Apostle nobly honored the younger men who wrought with him. He speaks of Timothy as his son, and expatiates on the genuineness of his loving interest in each of his converts. He describes Epaphroditus as his brother, fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier. How tenderly he refers to his sickness and recovery, as though God had conferred on himself special favor in giving back this beloved comrade in the great fight!
It is well worth while to ponder the remark that God does not add sorrow to sorrow, Philippians 2:27. He tempers His wind to the shorn lamb. He cautions the accuser that he must not take Job's life. With the trial He makes the way of escape. He keeps His finger on the wrist while the operation is in progress, and stays it as soon as the pulse flutters. Not sorrow upon sorrow! Note also that "hazarding" of life, Philippians 2:30, r.v. It was a common experience in those great days of Christ's suffering Church, Acts 15:26. How strange it is today to watch the sacrifices that men and women will make in times of war, when a new spirit is stirring in the world and men adventure everything for liberty, righteousness, and fatherland, and then compare this extravagant expenditure of blood and treasure with what we have done for Jesus. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 2

1  Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility;
12  to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world,
16  and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God
19  He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also

Greek Commentary for Philippians 2:30

Hazarding his life [παραβολευσαμενος τηι πσυχηι]
First aorist middle participle of παραβολευω — paraboleuō (from the adjective παραβολος — parabolos), to place beside. The old Greek writers used παραβαλλομαι — paraballomai to expose oneself to danger. But Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, p. 88) cites an example of παραβολευσαμενος — paraboleusamenos from an inscription at Olbia or the Black Sea of the second century a.d. where it plainly means “exposing himself to danger” as here. Lightfoot renders it here “having gambled with his life.” The word παραβολανι — parabolani (riskers) was applied to the Christians who risked their lives for the dying and the dead. [source]
The work of Christ []
The text varies: some reading work of the Lord, and others the work absolutely. If the latter, the meaning is labor for the Gospel; compare Acts 15:38. If the Lord or Christ, the reference may be to the special service of Epaphroditus in bringing the contribution of the Philippians. [source]
Not regarding his life [παραβουλευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ]
The correct reading is παραβολευσάμενος , meaning to venture, to expose one's self. It was also a gambler's word, to throw down a stake. Hence Paul says that Epaphroditus recklessly exposed his life. Rev., hazarding. The brotherhoods of the ancient Church, who cared for the sick at the risk of their lives, were called parabolani or reckless persons. [source]
Your lack of service [τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα λειτουργίας]
An unfortunate rendering, since it might be taken to imply some neglect on the Philippians' part. Rev., that which was lacking in your service. The expression is complimentary and affectionate, to the effect that all that was wanting in the matter of their service was their ministration in person, which was supplied by Epaphroditus. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 2:30 mean?

because for the sake of the work of Christ unto death he came near having disregarded [his] life so that he might fill up of you deficit of toward me service
ὅτι διὰ τὸ ἔργον Χριστοῦ μέχρι θανάτου ἤγγισεν παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ ἵνα ἀναπληρώσῃ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα τῆς πρός με λειτουργίας

ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
διὰ  for  the  sake  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
ἔργον  work 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
Χριστοῦ  of  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
μέχρι  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μέχρι 
Sense: as far as, until.
θανάτου  death 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θάνατος 
Sense: the death of the body.
ἤγγισεν  he  came  near 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐγγίζω  
Sense: to bring near, to join one thing to another.
παραβολευσάμενος  having  disregarded 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: παραβολεύομαι 
Sense: to consult amiss.
τῇ  [his] 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ψυχῇ  life 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ψυχή  
Sense: breath.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ἀναπληρώσῃ  he  might  fill  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀναπληρόω  
Sense: to fill up, make full, e.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ὑστέρημα  deficit 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὑστέρημα  
Sense: deficiency, that which is lacking.
πρός  toward 
Parse: Preposition
Root: πρός  
Sense: to the advantage of.
με  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
λειτουργίας  service 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: λειτουργία  
Sense: a public office which a citizen undertakes to administer at his own expense.