Philippians Chapter 1, Verse 5
From BibleWiki
5: επι τη κοινωνια υμων εις το ευαγγελιον απο πρωτης ημερας αχρι του νυν
5: For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until
now;
5: For your communication in the gospel of Christ, from the first day
unto now.
For your fellowship in the Gospel. "For your liberality towards me, a preacher of the gospel." Wetstein. There has been, however, no little difference of opinion about the meaning of this phrase. Many -- as Doddridge, Koppe, and others -- suppose it refers to the fact that they participated in the blessings of the gospel from the first day that he preached it until the time when he wrote this epistle. Others suppose that it refers to their constancy in the Christian faith. Others -- as Pierce, Michaelis, Wetstein, Bloomfield, and Storr -- suppose it refers to their liberality in contributing to the support of the gospel; to their participating with others, or sharing what they had in common with others, for the maintenance of the gospel. That this is the true sense seems apparent,
(1.) because it accords with the scope of the epistle, and what the apostle elsewhere says of their benefactions, he speaks particularly of their liberality, and indeed this was one of the principal occasions of his writing the epistle, Phil 4:10ff, Phil 4:15-18.
(2.) It accords with a frequent meaning of the word rendered fellowship -- koinwnia. It denotes that which is in common; that of which we participate with others, communion, fellowship, Acts 2:42 1Cor 1:9, 1Cor 10:16 Pmon 1:6; then it means communication, distribution, contribution, Rom 15:26 2Cor 9:13. That it cannot mean "accession to the gospel," as has been supposed, (see Rob. Lex.,) is apparent from what he adds -- "from the first day until now." The fellowship must have been something constant, and continually manifest; and the general meaning is, that in relation to the gospel to its support, and privileges, and spirit -- they all shared in common. They felt a common interest in everything that pertained to it, and they showed this in every suitable way, and especially in ministering to the wants of those who were ap- pointed to preach it.
From the first day. The time when it was first preached to them. They had been constant. This is honourable testimony. It is much to say of a church, or of an individual Christian, that they have been constant and uniform in the requirements of the gospel. Alas, of how few can this be said!
- "fellowship" "participation"
