Charles Ellicott Commentary Philippians 4:10

"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." — Philippians 4:10 (ASV)

Now at the last.—In these words, there is an expression of some previously disappointed expectation, not wholly unlike the stronger expression of wounded feeling in 2 Timothy 4:9–10, 16.

At Caesarea, St. Paul would necessarily have been cut off from the European churches. In Rome, a universally frequented metropolis, he may have expected some earlier communication.

But, fearing to wound the Philippians by even the semblance of reproof (in their case undeserved), he adds at once, In which ye were also careful (before), but ye lacked opportunity.

Epaphroditus seems to have arrived early. His arrival likely occurred almost as soon as St. Paul reached Rome, providing the Philippians with the opportunity they had previously lacked.

On verses 10-20:

These verses form a singularly graceful and dignified postscript, acknowledging the offerings of the Philippians sent by Epaphroditus, in a tone mingling apostolic commendation and blessing with a true brotherly thankfulness.