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Php_2:19. The apostle now, down to Php_2:24, speaks of sending Timothy[136] to them, and states that lie himself trusted to visit them shortly.
ἘΛΠΊΖΩ ΔῈ Κ . Τ . Λ .] The progress of thought attaching itself to Php_2:17 (not to Php_2:12) is: However threatening, according to Php_2:17 f., and dangerous to life my situation is, nevertheless I hope soon to send Timothy to you, etc. He hopes, therefore, for such a change in his situation, as would enable him soon to spare that most faithful friend for such a mission. Here also, as in Php_1:21-26, there is an immediate change from a presentiment of death to a confidence of his being preserved in life and even liberated (Php_2:24). The right view of Php_2:17-18 debars us from construing the progress of the thought thus: for the enhancement of my joy, however, etc. (Weiss). Others take different views, as e.g. Bengel: although I can write nothing definite regarding the issue of my case,—an imported parenthetic thought, which is as little suggested in Php_2:17 f. as is the antithetical relation to χαίρετε κ . συγχαίρ . μοι discovered by Hofmann, viz. that the apostle is anxious as to whether all is well in the church.
ἐν κυρίῳ ] making the hope causally rest in Christ. Comp. on 1Co_15:19.
ὑμῖν ] not equivalent to the local ΠΡῸς ὙΜᾶς (van Hengel), nor yet the dative commodi (“vestros in usus, vestra in gaudia,” Hoelemann, comp. de “Wette and Hofmann), whereby too special a sense is introduced; but the dative of reference, (1Co_4:17; Act_11:29), indicating the persons concerned as those for whom the mission generally is intended.
κἀγώ ] I also, as ye through the accounts[137] to be received of me, namely, those which ye shall receive through this epistle, through Epaphroditus, and through Timothy.
εὐψυχεῖν ] to be of good couraye, occurs here only in the N. T. See Poll. iii. 135; Joseph. Antt. xi. 6. 9. Comp the εὐψύχει in epitaphs (like ΧΑῖΡΕ ) in Jacobs, ad Anthol. xii. p. 304.
τὰ περὶ ὑμ .] the things concerning you, quite generally, your circumstances. Eph_6:22; Col_4:8. See Heindorf, ad Plat. Phaed. p. 58 A.
[136] Hofmann’s hypothesis, that the church had expressed a desire that the apostle would send them one who should aid them, with word and deed, in their affairs, has no hint of it given at all in the text; least of all in ἵνα χἀγὼ εὐψυχῶ κ . τ . λ . Why should Paul not have mentioned, in some way or another, the wish of the church?—Baur and Hinsch find no motive mentioned for the mission of Timothy. As if the motive of love conveyed by ἵνα χἀγώ κ . τ . λ . were not enough!
[137] There is a delicate compliment implied in this κἀγώ ; for Timothy was to come back again to the apostle (but not Epaphroditus, ver. 25), and thus he hopes to receive the desired news about them which shall make him be of good courage. Hofmann introduces the comparative sense: fresher courage, under the assumption which he reads between the lines, that the apostle is concerned about various things in the church, which Timothy would succeed in settling and arranging. Paul’s cordial, loving interest in the welfare of the Philippians is quite sufficient to explain the εὐψυχῶ .