Philippians 4:16 Unforgettable surprises

For in Thessalonica also, you send, once and twice, to my need.

In the previous verse, Paul noted that after he left Macedonia, the Philippians were the only ones of all the ecclesia to share in his financial fortunes. In fact, even when he was still in Thessalonica, they repeatedly sent him supplies. Thessalonica is the capital of Macedonia and Paul visited this city after his hasty departure from Philippi (Acts 16:40, 17:1). Thessalonica is more than 125 kilometers from Philippi. Paul’s stay in Thessalonica lasted only three weeks (Acts 17:2), but according to the above verse, he received a gift from Philippi at least twice in that short time.

Some time later Paul writes two letters to the Thessalonians from Corinth (where he lived for a year and a half; Acts 18:11). He then reminds them (1 Thes. 2:9; 2 Thes. 3:8) that while he was with them he was busy preaching the Gospel of God among them, but not wanting to bother any of them, and therefore he provided for himself. He was working day and night. Years later, as Paul reflects on this hectic time, those spontaneous gifts from the Philippians come back to his mind.

Delen: