Philippians 4:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If he means every requirement, and in my opinion this is more likely, then he wishes to explain the following. Since he said earlier, "You lacked opportunity," here he adds the same thing as in the Epistle to the Corinthians.

There he says, "He who gives seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness" (2 Cor 9:10). He prays for them that they may have abundance and have something to sow.

He does not pray simply that they may have abundance, but that this be "according to" God's riches. Therefore he did this in accommodation to their condition.

If they had been like Paul, equally wise and equally crucified to the world, he would not have done this. But they were artisans, poor people, who had wives, brought up children, and managed households.

From little they gave to him, and still had some attachment to present things. Therefore he prays in condescension to their condition.

There is nothing improper in praying that people who use wealth in this way should have sufficiency and abundance. So look at what he prays for. He did not say, "May God make you rich and very rich."

What did he say? "May He supply every need of yours," so that you may not be in want, but may have everything necessary. Christ also commanded us to ask for this in the prayer He gave, teaching us to say, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Mt 6:11).

"According to His riches." What does this mean? According to His generosity, that is, insofar as it is easy and possible for Him to do, and in a short time. Since he said "need," he added, lest they think he intends to restrict them: "according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus."

You will abound in everything, he says, insofar as you use it for His glory. Thus he says either that you will lack nothing, as it is written: "Great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked" (Acts 4:33-34).

Or he urges them to do everything for His glory, as though saying: use your sufficiency for His glory.

Therefore use riches for His glory. The expression "by Christ Jesus" may be understood thus: the Father will accomplish this in Christ Jesus, that is, through Christ. Or it may mean: in the glory that belongs to Christ Jesus. Therefore he adds what follows.

See what he prays for. He did not say, 'May God make you rich and very rich.' What then? 'May He supply every need of yours,' so that you may not be in need, but have everything necessary (cf. Mt 6:11)."

"If Paul prays for those who give, then we, receiving benefits, should all the more not be ashamed to act in this way," that is, to pray.

"May all recognize the bounties of God and glorify Him with lips and heart in this life and beyond the grave" (Bishop Theophan).

He did this in keeping with their condition. If they had been like Paul, equally philosophical and equally crucified to the world, he would not have done this.

But they were craftsmen and poor. They had wives, raised children, managed households, and gave to him from little.

Moreover, they still had some attachment to present things. Therefore he prays in this way, condescending to their condition.

There is nothing inappropriate in praying that people who used their possessions in this way should have sufficiency and abundance.

Therefore see what he prays for. He did not say, ‘May God make you rich and exceedingly rich.’ What then?

‘May He fulfill every need of yours,’ so that you may not be in want, but may have everything necessary. Christ also commanded us to ask this in the prayer He gave.

He taught us to say, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ (Mt 6:11),” says Saint Chrysostom.

“According to His riches” means either richly and abundantly, so that you may have enough of everything and all live in sufficiency. This was so in the Church of Jerusalem, where there was not one needy person (see Acts 4:34).

Or it means “according to His generosity, that is, insofar as everything is easy and possible for Him to do, and quickly besides,” as Saint Chrysostom says.

“In glory” means either gloriously, that is, richly, or for the glory of His name. The glory of His name required that He enrich with sufficiency people such as they were.

They knew how to turn their possessions to the glory of His name. Or it means “unto glory,” so that, being enriched by His mercies, you may glorify Him still more by your works.

This accords with the word of the Lord: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven” (cf. Mt 5:16).

“In Christ Jesus” means for the sake of Jesus Christ. It is because they believed in Christ the Lord, cleaved to Him, and walked in His commandments.

For among stubborn unbelievers, even benefactions are worth nothing before God.

From all this Saint Chrysostom draws this lesson: “If Paul prays for those who give, then all the more should we, when receiving benefactions, not be ashamed to act in this way.

We should not receive as though we ourselves had need. Nor should we rejoice for ourselves, but for those who give.

In this way there will be a reward for us even when we receive, if we rejoice for them. Likewise, when they do not give, let us not be indignant, but rather grieve for them.

In this way we shall make them more zealous, teaching them that we do this not for ourselves.” That is, we receive not for ourselves, if we grieve when we do not receive.