Paul’s Sufficiency

Paul now comes to one of his main reasons for writing. If this note (4:10–20) was an integral part of the main letter, he has reserved it to the end to give it prominence—his expression of thanks for the gift that Epaphroditus had brought him from the Philippian church.

4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord, meaning “I gave joyful thanks to the Lord” (when I received your gift). Paul is grateful to the Philippian Christians for the gift they have sent, but his rejoicing arises chiefly from the evidence it supplies of their continued eagerness to cooperate with him in the gospel.

Some commentators have found Paul’s wording here very oddly chosen for an expression of thanks: Dibelius speaks of his “thankless thanks.” But his words have to be read in the light of the deep m…