Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Philippians 2:26

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Since he longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow." Here he aims at a farther point, making it manifest, that Epaphroditus too was well aware, how he was beloved of them. And this is no light thing toward loving. …

Homily on Philippians 9 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Knowing, he says, that you love him and are grieved by his illness, he therefore desires to see you, in order to free you from the sorrow that came upon you because of his illness.

Commentary on Philippians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

But why? To satisfy the desire with which he has been longing for you all: "For I long to see you" (Rom. 1:11), and also to relieve him of his sorrow, because he was sad at the sorrow you felt, when you heard that he was sick.

Commentary on Philippians ↗