SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:30
porque por la obra del Cristo estuvo cercano a la muerte, poniendo su vida para suplir vuestra falta en mi servicio.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:30
Verse 30. For the work of Christ] Preaching the Gospel, and ministering to the distressed. He was nigh unto death] Having laboured far beyond his strength.
Not regarding his life] Instead of parabouleusamenov th yuch, not regarding his life, paraboleusamenov, risking his life, is the reading of ABDEFG, and is received by Griesbach into the text. His frequent and intense preaching, and labouring to supply the apostle's wants, appear to have brought him nigh to the gates of death.
THE humiliation and exaltation of Christ are subjects which we cannot contemplate too frequently, and in which we cannot be too deeply instructed.
1. God destroys opposites by opposites: through pride and self-confidence man fell, and it required the humiliation of Christ to destroy that pride and self-confidence, and to raise him from his fall. There must be an indescribable malignity in sin, when it required the deepest abasement of the highest Being to remove and destroy it. The humiliation and passion of Christ were not accidental, they were absolutely necessary; and had they not been necessary, they had not taken place. Sinner, behold what it cost the Son of God to save thee! And wilt thou, after considering this, imagine that sin is a small thing? Without the humiliation and sacrifice of Christ, even thy soul could not be saved. Slight not, therefore, the mercies of thy God, by underrating the guilt of thy transgressions and the malignity of thy sin! 2. As we cannot contemplate the humiliation and death of Christ without considering it a sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and atonement for sin, and for the sin of the whole world; so we cannot contemplate his unlimited power and glory, in his state of exaltation, without being convinced that he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God through him. What can withstand the merit of his blood? What can resist the energy of his omnipotence? Can the power of sin?-its infection? -its malignity? No! He can as easily say to an impure heart, Be thou clean, and it shall be clean; as he could to the leper, Be thou clean, and immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Reader, have faith in Him; for all things are possible to him that believeth.
3. There are many ungodly men in the world who deny the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, and affect to ridicule those who profess to have received what they know Christ has purchased and God has promised, and which, in virtue of this, they have claimed by faith; because, say these mockers, "If you had the Spirit of God, you could work miracles: show us a miracle, and we will believe you to be inspired." Will these persons assert that St. Paul had not God's Spirit when he could neither heal himself, nor restore his friends and fellow helpers from apparent death? What then doth their arguing prove? Silly men, of shallow minds!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 30. Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death , etc.] Meaning either the work the church sent him about, and which he cheerfully undertook, and faithfully performed in carrying of a present to, and visiting the apostle in prison; which is called the work of Christ, because taken by Christ as if it was done to himself; and which, what with the long and fatiguing journey from Philippi to Rome, and the frequent visits he made to the apostle, and the much business besides that lay upon his hands, brought upon him a disorder which greatly threatened his life, and had almost issued in his death: or else the work of preaching the Gospel so frequently and constantly, and with so much zeal and vehemency at Rome; and which may be called the work of Christ, because it is what he calls unto, and qualities for, and in which his glory is greatly concerned; and on which this good man was so intent, gladly spending himself, and being spent in it, that he was brought through it to the brink of the grave: not regarding his life : he was careless of that, and of his health; he loved not his life, nor counted it dear to himself; he rather despised it, and made no account of it, being very willing to deliver it up, and sacrifice it in such a good work and cause: to supply your lack of service towards me ; to do that in their name, room, and stead, which they, through absence, could not do in person; signifying, that what was done to him, and for him, was but a piece of service and duty to him; and which this good man and faithful minister and messenger of theirs having done for them to the hazard of his life, he ought therefore to be received by them with great joy, and to be highly honoured and respected.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-30 - It is best with us, when our duty becomes natural to us. Naturally that is, sincerely, and not in pretence only; with a willing heart an upright views. We are apt to prefer our own credit, ease, and safety before truth, holiness, and duty; but Timothy did not so. Paul desire liberty, not that he might take pleasure, but that he might do good Epaphroditus was willing to go to the Philippians, that he might be comforted with those who had sorrowed for him when he was sick. I seems, his illness was caused by the work of God. The apostle urge them to love him the more on that account. It is doubly pleasant to have our mercies restored by God, after great danger of their removal and this should make them more valued. What is given in answer to prayer, should be received with great thankfulness and joy __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 δια 1223 το 3588 εργον 2041 του 3588 χριστου 5547 μεχρι 3360 θανατου 2288 ηγγισεν 1448 5656 παραβουλευσαμενος 3851 5666 τη 3588 ψυχη 5590 ινα 2443 αναπληρωση 378 5661 το 3588 υμων 5216 υστερημα 5303 της 3588 προς 4314 με 3165 λειτουργιας 3009
Vincent's NT Word Studies
30. The work of Christ. The text varies: some reading work of the Lord, and others the work absolutely. If the latter, the meaning is labor for the Gospel; compare Acts xv. 38. If the Lord or Christ, the reference may be to the special service of Epaphroditus in bringing the contribution of the Philippians.
Not regarding his life (parabouleusamenov th yuch). The correct reading is paraboleusamenov, meaning to venture, to expose one's self. It was also a gambler's word, to throw down a stake. Hence Paul says that Epaphroditus recklessly exposed his life. Rev., hazarding. The brotherhoods of the ancient Church, who cared for the sick at the risk of their lives, were called parabolani, 181 or reckless persons.
Your lack of service (to umwn usterhma leitourgiav). An unfortunate rendering, since it might be taken to imply some neglect on the Philippians' part. Rev., that which was lacking in your service. The expression is complimentary and affectionate, to the effect that all that was wanting in the matter of their service was their ministration in person, which was supplied by Epaphroditus.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:30 {Hazarding his life} (paraboleusamenos ti psuchi). First aorist middle participle of paraboleu" (from the adjective parabolos), to place beside. The old Greek writers used paraballomai, to expose oneself to danger. But Deissmann (_Light from the Ancient East_, p. 88) cites an example of paraboleusamenos from an inscription at Olbia or the Black Sea of the second century A.D. where it plainly means "exposing himself to danger" as here. Lightfoot renders it here "having gambled with his life." The word parabolani (riskers) was applied to the Christians who risked their lives for the dying and the dead.
