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Php_4:16. Ὅτι ] since, indeed, ye also already in Thessalonica, etc. It is argumentative, namely, outbidding the early definition of date ἐν ἀρχῇ … Μακεδονίας , in Php_4:15, by one even antecedent, and thus serving more amply to justify that specification of time,[192] for which purpose the ὍΤΙ specifying the reason was quite sufficient, and (in opposition to Hofmann’s objection) no ΓΆΡ was necessary. The opinion of Wiesinger, that ὍΤΙ Κ . Τ . Λ . is intended to explain that it was only with the aid sent after Paul at a distance that the readers had entered into such a connection with the apostle as is previously mentioned, is bound up with the untenable interpretation of ἘΞῆΛΘΟΝ as pluperfect. The rendering of ὍΤΙ by that (Rheinwald, Matthies, Hoelemann, van Hengel, Rilliet, de Wette, Lünemann, Weiss) is to be set aside, because, while the emphatic οἴδατε καὶ ὑμεῖς , Php_4:15, accords doubtless with the exclusion of other churches in Php_4:15, it does not accord with Php_4:16 (“ye also know that ye have sent … to me!”), to which it would stand in an illogical relation, even apart from the uncalled-for inversion of the order of time, which would result. Hofmann’s explanation, which makes ὅτι in Php_4:16 parallel to the ὍΤΙ in Php_4:15 and places it in causal relation to ΟἼΔΑΤΕ , falls with his erroneous view of Php_4:15.
The ΚΑΊ before ἘΝ ΘΕΣΣΑΛ ., for which Hinsch, following Baur, thinks that he finds a reference in 2Co_11:9, is the simple also in the sense of also already; a climax as regards time; see Hartung, Partik. I. p. 135; Kühner, II. 2, p. 797.
ἐν Θεσσαλ .] is not used, in the sense of the bearers having arrived, for ΕἸς , for there is no certain instance of ἈΠΟΣΤΈΛΛΕΙΝ or ΠΈΜΠΕΙΝ with ἘΝ in this sense (Thuc. vii. 17 must, with Becker and Krüger, be read: Ἐς ΤῊΝ ΣΙΚΕΛΊΑΝ ); but the preposition is used from the standpoint of the receiver: “also at Thessalonica (when I was there) ye sent to me.” Thus this sending took place in Thessalonica. Comp. on Mat_10:16; Poppo and Krüger on Thuc. iv. 27. 1.
καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ δίς ] Comp. 1Th_2:18. The conception is: “when the first aid arrived, the ἐπέμψατε had taken place once; when the second arrived, it had taken place both once and twice.” Paul has not written δίς merely, nor yet ἍΠΑΞ Κ . ΔΊς (1Ma_3:30; Xen. Anab. iv. 7. 10), but by καὶ ἅπ . κ . ΔΊς he sets forth the repetition of the matter more emphatically, to the praise of his readers (Hartung, Partikell. I. p. 144). Comp. καὶ δὶς καὶ τρίς , Plat. Phaed. p. 63 D, Phil. p. 59 E; Herod, ii. 121, iii. 148. The opposite: οὐχ ἅπαξ οὐδὲ δίς , Plat. Clit. p. 410 B.
εἰς τ . χρείαν ] on behalf of the necessity, in order to satisfy it; comp. Php_2:15. The article indicates the necessity that had been existing in Paul’s case. On πέμψαι , used absolutely, comp. Act_11:29. What they sent, they knew.
[192] If Baur had noticed this correct logical connection, he would not have made an improper use of our passage to fortify his opinion of the affair of the aid being an invented incident.—The same assistance which is meant in ver. 15 cannot be meant in ver. 16, as some not attending to the καί (comp. Luther, Castalio, and others) have thought. This view is also at variance with the specification of time ὅτε ἐξῆλθον , ver. 15; for Paul abode several weeks in Thessalonica (Act_17:2), and then there still followed his sojourn in Beroea (Act_17:10 ff.), ere he quitted Macedonia and travelled to Athens.