Partnership, fragrant offering, and supply (4:14–20)

Says Philippians 4:14 says they shared in Paul's affliction. Philippians 4:15 says no church partnered with him εἰς λόγον δόσεως καὶ λήμψεως (eis logon doseōs kai lēmpseōs, "in the matter of giving and receiving") except they. Philippians 4:16 recalls repeated help in Thessalonica. Philippians 4:17 seeks fruit increasing to their account. Philippians 4:18 calls gifts received through Epaphroditus "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God" (BSB). ὀσμή is "a smell, odour"; εὐωδία, "fragrance"; θυσία, "a sacrifice"; δεκτός, "acceptable." Philippians 4:19 says God will supply all their need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:20 ascribes glory to God the Father forever.

Implies κοινωνέω (koinōneō, "to have a share of, go shares in") and λόγος (logos, "reckoning") of giving and receiving use partnership and account language. Philippians 4:19 is a promise that God will supply the Philippians' need in the setting of their generosity. It is not a prosperity formula.

Uncertain Whether every Christian may claim 4:19 apart from that partnership is open. A lean is taken toward a promise grounded in their generosity; wider application is not argued here, and the verse is not a formula for wealth. Which sacrifice text stands behind the offering phrases is not decided here. No lean is taken here. See note.language.Phil.4.18.fragrance-offering.heb. Editorial decision: print τὸ πλοῦτος; RP and TR have τὸν πλοῦτον (var.Phil.4.19.ploutos). The sense is unchanged.