Philippians 4:16

Greek:
ὅτι καὶ ἐν Θεσσαλονίκῃ καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ δὶς εἰς τὴν χρείαν μοι ἐπέμψατε

KJV:
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

Comments:
once and again: Paul refused the Thessalonians money while he served them (1 Thessalonians 2:9), having his needs met not just by his tent-making, but by at least these two gifts of the Philippians as well.

necessity: Paul needed certain material things to accomplish his business—or ministry. The Philippians’ gifts made it possible for Paul to have those things and do his ministry.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Even when I was serving other people, particularly those in Thessaloniki, you sent to me what was needed for me to serve there.

Philippians 4:15

Greek:
οἴδατε δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς Φιλιππήσιοι ὅτι ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ὅτε ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας οὐδεμία μοι ἐκκλησία ἐκοινώνησεν εἰς λόγον δόσεως καὶ λήμψεως εἰ μὴ ὑμεῖς μόνοι

KJV:
Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

Comments:
in the beginning of the gospel: Apparently, Paul uses the phrase to refer generally to the time they were introduced to and received the gospel, and to the kingdom expanding from there in the form of his traveling and preaching.

communicated with me: The Philippians had consistently met Paul's needs as he served in other places, including Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:8-12) and Thessaloníki (Thessalonica), as he mentions in the next verse. Not only were they serving him by doing so, but as Paul describes things to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 12:13, he was also doing the Philippians a service by giving them a means of participating in the ministry. But they had also joined with him in fellowship while he was in their city. For instance, after his imprisonment, it was Lydia's household that took him in and consoled him. (Acts 16:40).

Expanded Paraphrase:
After all, you Philippians also know that from the time you first received the good news, you became the ones who joined in that message with me. I practically went out as your missionary. Even when I first left your area, Macedonia, and ended up in Thessaloníki, you were already sending gifts to meet my needs. No one else did that.

Philippians 4:14

Greek:
πλὴν καλῶς ἐποιήσατε συγκοινωνήσαντές μου τῇ θλίψει

KJV:
Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Comments:
Notwithstanding: The adversative conjunction here contrasts the completeness Paul has in Christ (as in v 13) with the need he experiences in the world—particularly in bonds—which in this case was satisfied by the activity of the Philippians. Being content means neither that a believer is without real needs in this world nor that acting to meet those needs for others in this world is somehow unimportant.

Expanded Paraphrase:
But the fact that I have learned to be satisfied in Christ in no way lessens the importance of what you did for me by ministering to my needs. You may not be in bonds with me, but you have become my friends in suffering.

Philippians 4:13

Greek Text:
πάντα ἰσχύω ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με Χριστῷ

KJV:
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Comments:
can do: The word Paul uses here for “can do” is very broad, relating both to the power to be and to do. He uses it in Galatians 5:6 and 6:15 to say that neither keeping the law (circumcision) nor eluding it (uncircumcision) “can do” anything at all, but faith and being a new creature is what gives new “power”.

all things: The context makes Paul’s claim here specific. It might be contradictory for him to be full and to be hungry. But Christ enables him to do both. As a point in this chapter, Paul is able to be content even when imprisoned and wanting basic needs. Generally, it is important to remember that while God’s power is boundless, His will is specific. So passages like this one are always unbounded regarding God’s power, but specific regarding His intent.

through Christ who strengthens me: Some texts have the word “Christ”; others do not. Either way, the context make it obvious that Christ is the one doing the empowering.

Expanded Paraphrase:
I am able to be or do absolutely anything God intends for me precisely because of the One who empowers me to do it—Christ.

Philippians 4:12

Majority Text:
οἶδα καὶ ταπεινοῦσθαι οἶδα καὶ περισσεύειν ἐν παντὶ καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν μεμύημαι καὶ χορτάζεσθαι καὶ πεινᾶν καὶ περισσεύειν καὶ ὑστερεῖσθαι

KJV:
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Comments:
abased…abound: The Greek word Paul uses to say “abased” means to be lowered, humiliated, or stripped of anything that might afford pride. In contrast, the word he chooses for “abound” means to overflow, in which state a person would be inclined to pride. He repeats the vocabulary of “abound” at the end of this verse as well. But there the point is that in either condition (stripped or overflowing) his attitude is to reflect both aspects of the reality that he is in Christ.

full…hungry: Paul is to be satisfied that he has Christ, but aware of the still great need around him in the world, for righteousness for instance. This hunger is the one blessed in Matthew 5:6.

Expanded Paraphrase:
I have been humiliated to the point of prostration, and I have been exalted beyond measure. But I also understand how I am supposed to behave in each of those conditions. Because Christ does not change, I am always everywhere to be the same. Whether in penury or abundance I am to be in some ways satisfied (as I am personally) and in other ways pining (as I do for righteousness in the world), in some ways overflowing and in others wanting.