“For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”
Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow — the gravity is unvarnished: death threatened. God's eleos (mercy, compassion) is the sole explanation of recovery. Paul's inclusion ('not only... also on me') shows how their interdependence means their suffering is mutual. 'Sorrow upon sorrow' (lypē epi lypē) would compound Paul's grief at imprisonment with grief at Epaphroditus's death. God's mercy preserves Paul from double devastation. Providence protects the community's bonds.
Church Fathers on Philippians 2:27
“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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