Philippians 2:26

For Here lay the "necessity," in St Paul's view, of his friend's return to the Philippians; in Epaphroditus" longing for them, and their love and anxiety in regard of him.

he longed The Greek is full and emphatic, he was (in a state of) longing, of home-sickness. See note on Philippians 1:8. Doubtless the feeling was a recent if not a present one; and in an English letter we should say accordingly, "he has beenin a home-sick condition."

after you all A reading which has considerable support is "to see you all." The precise phrase thus formed occurs Rom 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Timothy 1:4. Perhaps this is a reason for deciding against it here, as it might be a transcriber's reminiscence.

Observe the still recurring "you all." Epaphroditus may have been in some way involved in those differences between sets and circles at Philippi (see above, on Philippians 1:27, &c.) which gave St Paul anxiety. So he emphasizes Epaphroditus" impartialaffection for them.

was full of heaviness Better, [has been] sore troubled. The word is used of our blessed Lord's "sore trouble" in the Garden, Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33. By derivation (see Lightfoot here) it probably suggests the restlessnessof profound dislike, shrinking from loathedpain or grief. We see a character of great sensitiveness and tenderness.

ye had heard, &c. An English letter-writer would more naturally, say you have heard that he has been ill. The reference is to comparative recency, and present results. See Introduction, p. 16.