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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Philippians 4:18 - 4:18
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18. ἀπέχω δὲ. The δὲ carries on the correction, begun in Php 4:17, of any possible mistake of his warm words. He is well supplied; he must not be suspected of suggesting more gifts in the future.
ἀπέχω. “I have received in full.” Cp. Mat 6:2; Mat 6:5; Mat 6:16, ἀπέχονσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν: Luk 6:24, ἀπέχετε τὴν παράκλησιν ὑμῶν: Phm 1:15, ἵνα αἰώνιον αὐτὸν ἀπέχῃς. So in classical Greek, Callim., Epigr. 57, τὸ χρέος ὡς ἀπέχεις, Ἀσκληπιέ, κτλ. If the Philippians did owe him anything, they have amply paid!
παρὰ Ἐπαφροδίτου. See on Php 2:25-30. Here we learn explicitly what is implied there (Php 2:25; Php 2:30), that he was the bringer of the collection to St Paul.
τὰ παρʼ ὑμῶν. He will not say τὰ παρʼ ἱ. χρήματα: it was more than money; the money was but the symbol of their hearts.
ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας. “Odour of fragrancy” (εὖ, ὄζω). So Eph 5:2, of the Saviour’s atoning Sacrifice. The phrase is common in LXX. for the Hebrew רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ, “savour of rest” (e.g. Gen 8:21); the fume of the altar, recognized by the Deity as a token of allegiance or propitiation. Here the ὀσμὴ εὐωδίας is either that of the “burnt-offering” of self-dedication, embodied in self-denying giving, or that of the “peace-offering” of thanksgiving, similarly embodied (cp. Lev 1:9; Lev 3:5), or that of both, as both are combined in our Liturgy of the Holy Communion.
θυσίαν δεκτὴν εὐάρεστον. Cp. Heb 13:16, τῆς εὐποιΐας καὶ κοινωνίας μὴ ἐπιλανθάνεσθε, τοιαύταις γὰρ θυσίαις εὐαρεστεῖται ὁ θεός.