Philippians 2:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"Therefore I sent him more quickly." What does "more quickly" mean? It means without postponement, without delay, with great haste, having commanded him to leave everything and go to you, so that he might free you from sorrow. We do not rejoice so much when we hear that those we love are well as when we see them so. This is especially true if it happens beyond expectation, as it did then with Epaphroditus. "Therefore," he says, "I sent him more quickly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful." How "less sorrowful"? In this way: if you rejoice, then I rejoice also, and he rejoices with the same joy. "And I may be less sorrowful." He did not say, without sorrow, but "less sorrowful," showing that his soul was never without sorrow.

Therefore I sent him the more quickly, that when you see him again you may rejoice. That is, I sent him immediately, so that, seeing him, you might be freed from sorrow over his illness, or rather might rejoice. And I may be less sorrowful. How can I be less sorrowful? If you rejoice, I too will likewise rejoice. He did not say, “without sorrow” (αλυπος), but “less sorrowful” (άλυπότερος), showing that his soul was never wholly free from sorrow. “Who is weak,” he says, “and I am not weak?” (2 Cor. 11:29).

He indicated the greatness of the danger by saying, "having disregarded his life." For, of course, when he learned that I was imprisoned and under heavy guard, he came, despising the danger, and saw me. By this, says the Apostle, he paid the debt for all of you. What all of you ought to have done, one man did. After this he turns his discourse to rebuke those who demanded the preservation of the superfluities of the Law.

Paul adds, “that I also may be less sorrowful,” because, after saying above that Epaphroditus had fulfilled his desire, he seemed sorrowful in sending him away. But since Epaphroditus himself also desired this, and they would rejoice on seeing him, Paul could say that he was less sorrowful.

The reason for this haste was that Epaphroditus himself greatly desired to return quickly to his Philippian flock. He “was sick, near to death,” and the Philippians, having heard this, did not yet know the outcome of his illness and were deeply troubled. “Therefore I sent him the more quickly,” writes the Apostle, “that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.”

As though unwilling to leave the Philippians without his care even for a single day, the Apostle writes to them about immediately sending Epaphroditus to them. He also praises him for many good qualities. In addition, he points to Epaphroditus's love for the Philippians and to their concern for him. This was expressed with special clarity when they heard of his grave illness, endured by him for faith in Christ. He had been sent by the Philippians to the Apostle with assistance, and therefore is called a minister to his need, cf. Rom. 15:16. The Right Reverend Theophan supposes that God had mercy on Epaphroditus in his illness through a miracle by the Apostle Paul. "In Ephesus, handkerchiefs and aprons soaked with the Apostle's sweat healed diseases and cast out demons, Acts 19:12.

Now the Apostle comforts the Philippians by sending to them their delegate, Epaphroditus, who himself burned with desire to see his fellow citizens. While with the Apostle, Epaphroditus fell ill. But God raised him from the bed of sickness, so that the Apostle, already grieving in imprisonment, might not have new sorrow added. Such sorrow would naturally have been stirred in him by the illness of his friend and fellow worker. The Philippians must receive Epaphroditus with special joy, because he did not spare his life, παραβ»λευσάμενος τή ψυχή, in serving the work of Christ. By his own services alone he supplied the services which all the Philippians owed to the Apostle.

"What does 'more quickly' mean? It means without postponement, without delay, with great haste, having commanded him to leave everything and go to you, so that he might free you from sorrow. For we do not rejoice so much when we hear that our beloved are well as when we see them so, especially if this happens beyond expectation, as it did then with Epaphroditus," St. Chrysostom. Thus the Apostle hastened to gladden the Philippians. He was certain that Epaphroditus's arrival would dispel the sorrow they had because of his illness and would fill them with joy. "And I shall be less sorrowful." By this the Apostle said that their sorrow is his sorrow. When they are delivered from sorrow, he too will be delivered. But he did not say: I shall be altogether without sorrow.