Philippians 4:10

10. But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.

Translation and Paraphrase

10. But I rejoice in the Lord (very) greatly, because now at length your thought for me has blossomed anew. (I realize, of course, that) you have indeed been thinking of me, but you lacked opportunity (to show it).

Notes

1.

4:10 begins a new paragraph in the outline, Thanks for the Philippians-' gift (Philippians 4:10-20). In spite of the fact that the paragraph is obviously a section expressing thanks, the word thanks is not in it. Paul expressed this thanks without being fawning, or condescending, or conventional. His thanks are all the more meaningful because they do not contain a trace of such superficiality as I just don-'t know what I-'d have done without your wonderful gift.

2.

How did Paul feel when the Philippians sent money to him? He rejoiced in the Lord greatly. (The Greek verb is actually a past tense form; but this was frequently used as a literary device wherein the writer placed himself in the reader's position, and expressed his feelings as past, even though the action may have still been in progress when the reader read of it. Thus Paul rejoiced, but he doubtless was still rejoicing.)

3.

How long had it been since the Philippians had sent help to Paul? It had been a long time: at length.

4.

Ye have revived your thought for me. Revive (Gr. anathello) means shoot up again, sprout again, grow green again. The New English Bible translates this well: Your care for me has now blossomed afresh.

5.

Had the Philippians temporarily forgotten Paul? By no means: Ye did indeed take thought (a Gr. imperfect tense form, indicating continuous past action), but ye lacked opportunity to show it. Paul had been in several prisons in Judea, and on a long ship trip, and marooned on the island of Malta, etc. Mail was slow where it existed at all in those times. For a long time the Philippians could hardly even have known whereabouts of Paul.