What Does Philippians 4:15 Mean in the King James?

Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

Philippians 4:15 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The word translated “communicated” means sharing in common, so giving and receiving become one bond of participation.

THE MEANING

The verse presents the good news as shared work expressed through giving and receiving. Receiving is not outside the common bond; it is one side of participation.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that receiving makes you separate from the shared work.

THE ROOT

κοινωνέω

koinōneō

GROWS FROM

κοινων-

koinōn-

Common, shared; having a part in common.

“communicated” in this verse is koinōneō. The word carries the sense of entering a common share, not merely passing something along. Here, giving and receiving both belong to one participation, so the receiver is within the bond too.

ALSO GROWS

koinōnia: Sharing in common.

κοινωνία

This noun names the shared participation carried by the verse’s “giving and receiving.”

koinōnos: Partner, participant.

κοινωνός

This branch makes visible the person who has a share in common with others, not a bystander to their giving.

THE PATTERN

Gospel participation takes concrete shape when what one has and what another needs enter a shared exchange.

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Romans 12:13 · KJVThe word translated “Distributing” comes from the same Greek word family, presenting material sharing as participation.

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 13:16 · KJV“Communicate” names sharing in common as a concrete expression of doing good.

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

2 Corinthians 8:14 · KJVThe exchange moves both ways: one person’s abundance meets another’s need, and the relationship remains shared.

THE THREAD

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Romans 12:13 · KJV

“Distributing” translates a form from the same ⁨κοινωνέω⁩ family as “communicated” in Philippians. The shared root reveals provision as participation in common, not an act that leaves the receiver outside the bond.

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