“For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.”
For he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill — pothos (longing, yearning, same word used of Paul in 1:8) shows Epaphroditus's deep affection for the Philippians. 'Distressed' (ademonō, troubled, anxious) because of their anxiety about his illness reveals his concern for their concern: love spirals reciprocally. His illness separated him from them; the separation pains him more than the illness itself. This is koinōnia under duress.
Church Fathers on Philippians 2:26
“Since he longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick near unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.” Here he aims at a farther point, making it manifest, that Epaphroditus too was well aware, how he was beloved of them. And this is no light thing toward loving. You know how he was sick, he says; and he grieved that on his recovery he did…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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