because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Their real spiritual participation in the gospel, begun from the first day, continues until now. This fellowship of the Holy Ghost expresses itself not only in communion at the Lord's Supper but in holy liberality to brethren and ministers, that is the mark of genuine partnership in the Gospel.
AI summary
They became partakers of the gospel through faith from the moment the doctrine was set before them, a rare excellence indeed, for most are sluggish to obey God's call, and still more fall away through inconsistency. That they held fast from the first day until now marks their faithfulness as something to thank God for.
AI summary
The fellowship means their constant, shared participation in the gospel's support and blessings from the day Paul preached it until now. They felt a common interest in everything that pertained to it and showed this through liberality to those who served it, which was a chief reason Paul wrote to them.
AI summary