Paul was very "CAREFUL" to remember the SACRIFICE
of the Philippians (Philippians 4:10) as EVIDENCE of their "FELLOWSHIP in the GOSPEL" (Philippians 1:5):
The Greek word ("PHRONEO") rendered "CARE"
(Philippians 4:10) is also rendered "MIND" (Philippians 2:5) in reference to the Lord's humble and selfless CONSIDERATION of others
(Philippians 2:3-4)
This SAME Greek word is used of Paul's THOUGHTFUL appreciation
of the Philippians' "CARE" of him (Philippians 4:10)
Paul notes that their "LACK of OPPORTUNITY"
(Philippians 4:10) was NOT due to an ABSENCE of DESIRE on their part - for he hastens
to add, "NOT that I speak in respect of WANT" (Philippians 4:11):
What they LACKED was the MEANS to PERSONALLY DELIVER their
gifts to Paul and, thus, they SENT their gifts to him VIA the hand of EPAPHRODITUS (Philippians 4:18)
Paul declares that "I have LEARNED, that in WHATSOEVER
STATE I am, therewith to BE CONTENT" (Philippians 4:11):
There are three Greek words used to describe three MODES
of "LEARNING":
The Greek word ("GRAMMA") refers to "LEARNING"
FROM BOOKS (Acts 26:24)
The Greek word ("DIDASKALIA") refers to "TEACHING"
or "INSTRUCTION" (Romans 15:4)
The Greek word ("MANTHANO") refers to "LEARNING"
BY EXPERIENCE (Philippians 4:11) as in the case of the Lord Who EXPERIENTIALLY "LEARNED OBEDIENCE
BY the THINGS which He SUFFERED" (Hebrews 5:8)
Paul PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED the RESURRECTION POWER of
CHRIST through PHYSICAL WEAKNESS (II Corinthians 12:9-10)
Paul PRAYERFULLY DESIRED that ALL SAINTS would EXPERIENCE
that SAME RESURRECTION POWER (Ephesians 1:19-20), and, thus, BY FAITH OCCUPY their HEAVENLY POSITION (Colossians 3:1 cf.Ephesians 2:6)
Paul expressed his APPRECIATION by saying, "WELL
DONE", in "that ye did COMMUNICATE (SHARE) with my "AFFLICTION" (Philippians 4:14):
He began his letter to them by GIVING THANKS to God (Philippians 1:3)
for their "FELLOWSHIP in the GOSPEL" (Philippians 1:5)
Their "FELLOWSHIP in the GOSPEL" (Philippians 1:5)
was EXEMPLARY - "in the BEGINNING of the GOSPEL ... NO CHURCH ... BUT YE ONLY" (Philippians 4:15)
- "COMMUNICATED (SHARED) with me as concerning GIVING and RECEIVING" (Philippians 4:15)
Thus, they EXPERIENCED "the POWER of GOD" through
being PARTAKERS "of the AFFLICTIONS of the GOSPEL" (II Timothy 1:8 cf.II Corinthians 8:3-5)
Thus, they DEMONSTRATED what it meant to EXPERIENCE "the
POWER of His RESURRECTION" (Philippians 3:10) through "the FELLOWSHIP of His SUFFERINGS" (Philippians 3:10)
- "IF we SUFFER, we shall also REIGN with Him" (II Timothy 2:12)
Paul had NO DESIRE for PERSONAL GAIN, BUT he did EARNESTLY
DESIRE FRUIT on BEHALF of OTHERS (Philippians 4:17):
Thus, he sent Timothy to them - who was UNIQUELY LIKE
MINDED to Paul concerning his DESIRE for the CARE of their SPIRITUAL "STATE" (Philippians 2:19-21)
Under "the DISPENSATION of the GRACE of God"
(Ephesians 3:2) - God has PROMISED His people that He will "SUPPLY ALL your NEED
according to His RICHES in GLORY by CHRIST JESUS" (Philippians 4:19):
God's PRIMARY DESIRE is for His people's SPIRITUAL WELL
BEING, i.e. for their "PERSEVERANCE" in "PRAYER" and, thereby, "WATCHING" and MAKING
"SUPPLICATION for ALL saints" (Ephesians 6:18)
The Lord works through the SACRIFICIAL GIVING of His people
II Corinthians 8:1-2) to PROVIDE for the DISTRIBUTION of FUNDS to MEET the PHYSICAL NEEDS
of His people (Philippians 4:15,18)