The Meaning of Philippians 4:18 Explained

Philippians 4:18

KJV: But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

YLT: and I have all things, and abound; I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things from you -- an odour of a sweet smell -- a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God:

Darby: But I have all things in full supply and abound; I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you, an odour of sweet savour, an acceptable sacrifice, agreeable to God.

ASV: But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, and odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.

Discover Philippians 4:18

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Philippians 4:18?

MEANING: What does Philippians 4:18 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Philippians 4:18 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Philippians 4:18?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  I have  all,  and  abound:  I am full,  having received  of  Epaphroditus  the things [which were sent] from  you,  an odour  of a sweet smell,  a sacrifice  acceptable,  wellpleasing  to God. 

What does Philippians 4:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul felt fully satisfied. He had received the Philippians" recent gift in full. This acknowledgment was his written receipt for their donation as well as a thank you note. He also viewed their gift as an offering ultimately made to God that was acceptable to Him. Sweet savor offerings in Israel were sacrifices made in worship more than to atone for sin. The Philippians were serving as believer-priests by sending their gifts to Paul.
Other sacrifices Christians can make to God beside our material possessions ( Philippians 4:18) include our bodies ( Romans 12:1-2), our converts ( Romans 15:16), our praise ( Hebrews 13:15), and our good works ( Hebrews 13:16).

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 4:18

I have all things [απεχω παντα]
As a receipt in full in appreciation of their kindness. Απεχω — Apechō is common in the papyri and the ostraca for “receipt in full” (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 110). See Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16. [source]
I am filled [πεπληρωμαι]
Perfect passive indicative of πληροω — plēroō “Classical Greek would hardly use the word in this personal sense” (Kennedy). An odour of a sweet smell (οσμην ευωδιας — osmēn euōdias). Οσμη — Osmē old word from οζω — ozō to smell. Ευωδια — Euōdia old word from ευ — eu and οζω — ozō In Ephesians 5:2 both words come together as here and in 2 Corinthians 2:15 we have ευωδια — euōdia (only other N.T. example) and in verse 2 Corinthians 2:16 οσμη — osmē twice. Ευωδιας — Euōdias here is genitive of quality. Sacrifice Not the act, but the offering as in Romans 12:1. Well-pleasing (ευαρεστον — euareston). As in Romans 12:1. [source]
An odour of a sweet smell [οσμην ευωδιας]
Οσμη — Osmē old word from οζω — ozō to smell. Ευωδια — Euōdia old word from ευ — eu and οζω — ozō In Ephesians 5:2 both words come together as here and in 2 Corinthians 2:15 we have ευωδια — euōdia (only other N.T. example) and in verse 2 Corinthians 2:16 οσμη — osmē twice. Ευωδιας — Euōdias here is genitive of quality. [source]
Sacrifice [τυσιαν]
Not the act, but the offering as in Romans 12:1. Well-pleasing (ευαρεστον — euareston). As in Romans 12:1. [source]
Well-pleasing [ευαρεστον]
As in Romans 12:1. [source]
I have [ἀπέχω]
I have received in full. See on Matthew 6:2; see on Luke 6:24. [source]
Odor of a sweet smell []
See on 2 Corinthians 2:15, 2 Corinthians 2:16. Frequent in Septuagint, of the odor of sacrifices. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 4:18 mean?

I have however all things and abound I am full having received from Epaphroditus the things from you an odor of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well-pleasing - to God
ἀπέχω δὲ πάντα καὶ περισσεύω πεπλήρωμαι δεξάμενος παρὰ Ἐπαφροδίτου τὰ παρ’ ὑμῶν ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας θυσίαν δεκτήν εὐάρεστον τῷ Θεῷ

ἀπέχω  I  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀπέχω  
Sense: have.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
πάντα  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
περισσεύω  abound 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: περισσεύω  
Sense: to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure.
πεπλήρωμαι  I  am  full 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: πληρόω  
Sense: to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full.
δεξάμενος  having  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: δέχομαι  
Sense: to take with the hand.
Ἐπαφροδίτου  Epaphroditus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἐπαφρόδιτος  
Sense: an associate with Paul in the ministry.
τὰ  the  things 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὁ  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὀσμὴν  an  odor 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὀσμή  
Sense: a smell, odour.
εὐωδίας  of  a  sweet  smell 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: εὐωδία  
Sense: a sweet smell, fragrance.
θυσίαν  a  sacrifice 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: θυσία  
Sense: a sacrifice, victim.
δεκτήν  acceptable 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: δεκτός  
Sense: accepted, acceptable.
εὐάρεστον  well-pleasing 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: εὐάρεστος  
Sense: well pleasing, acceptable.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ὁ  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεῷ  to  God 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.

What are the major concepts related to Philippians 4:18?

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Similar Scriptures for Philippians 4:18

2 Corinthians 9:12 [5]
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Ephesians 5:2 [4]
Philippians 2:25-26 [3]
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