Phili 2:26-27 | JFB | STEP | 26. For —reason for thinking it "necessary to send" "Epaphroditus. Translate as Greek, " Inasmuch as he was longing after you all." full of heaviness —The Greek expresses the being worn out and overpowered with heavy grief. because that ye had heard that he had been sick —rather, "that he was sick." He felt how exceedingly saddened you would be in hearing it; and he now is hastening to relieve your minds of the anxiety.

Philippians 2:26-27

26. For—reason for thinking it "necessary to send" "Epaphroditus. Translate as Greek, "Inasmuch as he was longing after you all."

full of heaviness—The Greek expresses the being worn out and overpowered with heavy grief.

because that ye had heard that he had been sick—rather, "that he was sick." He felt how exceedingly saddened you would be in hearing it; and he now is hastening to relieve your minds of the anxiety.

27. Epaphroditus' sickness proves that the apostles had not ordinarily the permanent gift of miracles, any more than of inspiration: both were vouchsafed to them only for each particular occasion, as the Spirit thought fit.

lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow—namely, the sorrow of losing him by death, in addition to the sorrow of my imprisonment. Here only occurs anything of a sorrowful tone in this Epistle, which generally is most joyous.