Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Philippians 1:3

Much may be said in favour of the reading ἐγὼ μὲν εὐχαριστῶ (see crit. note) from the point of view of sense. The antithesis would then show that the letter is a direct reply to one received from Philippi, and the emphasis on Paul's own thanksgiving would be accounted for (with Zahn) by the supposition that the Philippians imagined a slight lack of cordiality on his part. This supposition is favoured by the prominence given in the Epistle to Paul's delight in them. εὐχ. τ. Θ. ἐπί. Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:4, εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ … ἐπὶ τῇ χάριτι … τῇ δοθείσῃ ὑμῖν; Papyr. Lond., xiii., κομισαμένη τὴν παρά σου ἐπιστολὴν παρʼ Ὥρου … ἐπὶ μὲν τῷ ἐρρῶσθα [ί] σε εὐθέως τοῖς Θεοῖς εὐχαρίστουν (quoted by Dsm [27], BS [28], p. 210). A word condemned by the grammarians, but in common use from the time of Polyb., and found in modern Greek as ὐκαριστῶ (Hatz., Einleit., p. 285). ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ μνείᾳ ὑμῶν. These words have been the subject of much discussion. No doubt ἐπί could be used here in what Ell [29] calls its “ethicolocal” sense of a circumstance or experience regarded as the basis of an action, and thus the meaning would be: “I give thanks to my God at my whole remembrance of you” (“every remembrance” is, it seems to us, in spite of Kl [30], Lips [31] and Weizs., linguistically impossible). Or, what is more natural after εὐχαριστῶ (see exx. supr.), ἐπί may be “on account of”. This would make good sense. The total impression left upon him by his intercourse with them is one which calls forth thankfulness. There is another possible meaning supported by Hfm [32], Zahn, Wohl [33], Harnack (Th. LZ [34], 1889, col. 419) and Sohm (Kirchenrecht, p. 81). ὑμῶν may be gen. of subject, and so we should translate: “on account of your whole remembrance of me”. This would accord admirably with the context, preparing the way for κοινωνία (Philippians 1:5), and pointing delicately to the practical expression of their thoughtfulness. The only serious objection to it is that the other interpretation fits in more suitably with the parallels Romans 1:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2 and those in LXX.

[27] Deissmann (BS. = Bibelstudien, NBS. = Neue Bibelstudien).

[28] Bibelstudien

[29] Ellicott.

[30] Klöpper.

[31]ips. Lipsius.

[32] Hofmann.

[33]ohl. Wohlenberg.

[34] Theologische Literaturzeitung.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Philippians 1:3

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