John Calvin Commentary Philippians 4:15

"And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only;" — Philippians 4:15 (ASV)

And you know, I understand this to have been added by way of excuse, since he often received something from them; for if the other Churches had discharged their duty, it might have seemed as though he were too eager to receive. Therefore, in defending himself, he praises them, and in praising them, he modestly excuses others. We must also, following Paul’s example, be careful that the pious, seeing us too inclined to receive from others, do not on good grounds consider us insatiable.

You also know, he says. “I do not need to call other witnesses, for you yourselves also know.” For it frequently happens that when one person thinks that others are failing in their duty, he is more liberal in giving assistance. Thus, the liberality of some escapes the notice of others.

In the matter of giving and receiving, he alludes to financial matters, in which there are two parts: the one receiving, the other expending. It is necessary that these should be balanced by mutual compensation. An account of this nature was maintained between Paul and the Churches. While Paul administered the gospel to them, an obligation rested upon them in return for supplying what was necessary for his support, as he says elsewhere:

If we dispense to you spiritual things, is it a great matter if you give in return carnal things? (1 Corinthians 9:11).

Therefore, if the other churches had relieved Paul’s necessities, they would have been giving nothing gratuitously but would have been simply paying their debt, for they should have acknowledged themselves indebted to him for the gospel. This, however, he acknowledges, had not been the case, since they had not contributed anything on his behalf. What base ingratitude, and how very unseemly, to treat such an Apostle with neglect, one to whom they knew they were indebted more than they could ever repay! On the other hand, how great was the forbearance of this holy man, to bear with their inhumanity with such gentleness and indulgence, that he did not use even one sharp word by way of accusing them!