“Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.”
Yet it was kind of you to share in my distress — kalōs (beautifully, rightly) frames the gift as proper response to need. 'Share in my distress' (synkoinōneō tē thlipsei mou) is mystical participation: their gift unites them with Paul's suffering. Koinōnia (communion) extends to suffering-participation. The gift is relational, not transactional: they share his cross.
Church Fathers on Philippians 4:14
I have ofttimes said, that almsgiving has been introduced not for the sake of the receivers, but of the givers, for the latter are they which make the greatest gain. And this Paul shows here also. In what way? The Philippians had sent him somewhat, after a long time, and had committed the same to Epaphroditus. See then, how when he is about to send Epaphroditus as the bearer of this Epistle, he praises them, and shows that this action was for the need, not of the receiver,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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