The Meaning of Philippians 4:15 Explained

Philippians 4:15

KJV: Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

YLT: and ye have known, even ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the good news when I went forth from Macedonia, no assembly did communicate with me in regard to giving and receiving except ye only;

Darby: And know also ye, O Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I came out of Macedonia, no assembly communicated anything to me in the way of giving and receiving save ye alone;

ASV: And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  ye  Philippians  know  also,  that  in  the beginning  of the gospel,  when  I departed  from  Macedonia,  no  church  communicated with  me  as  concerning  giving  and  receiving,  but  ye  only. 

What does Philippians 4:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Philippians had been very thoughtful and generous with Paul when he left their town after planting their church on his second missionary journey. He had traveled south from Philippi into the province of Achaia. Probably the gift to which he referred in this verse is the same one he mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11:8, the gift that reached Paul in Corinth.

Context Summary

Philippians 4:10-23 - "my God Shall Supply Every Need"
The Apostle had been glad to receive the gifts of his friends, because these evidenced their earnest religious life. It was fruit that increased to their account. On his own part he had learned one of the greatest of lessons-contentment with whatever state he found himself in. This is a secret that can only be acquired by our experience of life in the will of God. When once the soul lives in God and finds its highest ideal in the fulfillment of His will, it becomes absolutely assured that all things which are necessary will be added. All things are possible to those who derive their daily strength from God.
It is wonderful to hear Paul say that he abounded, Philippians 4:18. A prison, a chain, a meager existence! The great ones of the world would have ridiculed the idea that any could be said to abound in such conditions. But they could not imagine the other hemisphere in which Paul lived; and out of his own blessed experience of what Christ could do, he promised that one's every need would be supplied. God's measure is his riches in glory; and his channel is Jesus Christ. Let us learn from Philippians 4:18 that every gift to God's children which is given from a pure motive is acceptable to Him as a fragrant sacrifice. That reference in Philippians 4:22 shows that Paul was making good use of his stay in Rome [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 4

1  From particular admonitions,
4  he proceeds to general exhortations,
10  showing how he rejoiced at their generosity toward him while in prison
19  And so he concludes with prayer and salutations

Greek Commentary for Philippians 4:15

In the beginning of the gospel [εν αρχηι του ευαγγελιου]
After he had wrought in Philippi (2 Thessalonians 2:13). [source]
Had fellowship [εκοινωνησεν]
“Had partnership” (first aorist active indicative). In the matter (εις λογον — eis logon). “As to an account.” No other church opened an account with Paul. Of giving and receiving Credit and debit. A mercantile metaphor repeated in Phlippians 4:17 by εις λογον υμων — eis logon humōn (to your account). Paul had to keep books then with no other church, though later Thessalonica and Beroea joined Philippi in support of Paul‘s work in Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:8.). But ye only (ει μη υμεις μονοι — ei mē humeis monoi). Not even Antioch contributed anything but good wishes and prayers for Paul‘s work (Acts 13:1-3). [source]
In the matter [εις λογον]
“As to an account.” No other church opened an account with Paul. [source]
Of giving and receiving [δοσεως και λημπσεως]
Credit and debit. A mercantile metaphor repeated in Phlippians 4:17 by εις λογον υμων — eis logon humōn (to your account). Paul had to keep books then with no other church, though later Thessalonica and Beroea joined Philippi in support of Paul‘s work in Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:8.). But ye only (ει μη υμεις μονοι — ei mē humeis monoi). Not even Antioch contributed anything but good wishes and prayers for Paul‘s work (Acts 13:1-3). [source]
But ye only [ει μη υμεις μονοι]
Not even Antioch contributed anything but good wishes and prayers for Paul‘s work (Acts 13:1-3). [source]
When I departed from Macedonia []
On his first European circuit, going by way of Athens to Corinth, where he was joined by Silvanus and Timothy, bringing a contribution from Macedonia. Acts 18:5; 2 Corinthians 11:9. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 4:15 mean?

Know now also you Philippians that in [the] beginning of the gospel when I went out from Macedonia not one with me church had partnership with regard to the matter of giving and receiving if not alone
οἴδατε δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς Φιλιππήσιοι ὅτι ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ὅτε ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας οὐδεμία μοι ἐκκλησία ἐκοινώνησεν εἰς λόγον δόσεως καὶ λήμψεως εἰ μὴ μόνοι

οἴδατε  Know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
Φιλιππήσιοι  Philippians 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: Φιλιππήσιος  
Sense: a resident of the town of Philippi.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἀρχῇ  [the]  beginning 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀρχή  
Sense: beginning, origin.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εὐαγγελίου  gospel 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: εὐαγγέλιον  
Sense: a reward for good tidings.
ἐξῆλθον  I  went  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐξέρχομαι 
Sense: to go or come forth of.
Μακεδονίας  Macedonia 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: Μακεδονία  
Sense: a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia.
οὐδεμία  not  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: οὐδείς 
Sense: no one, nothing.
μοι  with  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐκκλησία  church 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐκκλησία  
Sense: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.
ἐκοινώνησεν  had  partnership 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κοινωνέω  
Sense: to come into communion or fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner.
εἰς  with  regard  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
λόγον  the  matter 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
δόσεως  of  giving 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δόσις  
Sense: a giving.
λήμψεως  receiving 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: λῆμψις 
Sense: a receiving.
μόνοι  alone 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: μόνος  
Sense: alone (without a companion), forsaken, destitute of help, alone, only, merely.