Philippians
4English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
4
Therefore, my brothers,[a] whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand
firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
Exhortation,
Encouragement, and Prayer
2
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you
also, true companion,[b] help these women, who have laboured side by side with
me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose
names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord
always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any
excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practise these
things, and the God of peace will be with you.
God's
Provision
10
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern
for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not
that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I
am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In
any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and
hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens
me.
14
Yet it was kind of you to share[c] my trouble. 15 And you Philippians
yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no
church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you
only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your
credit.[d] 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied,
having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a
sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need
of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and
Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final
Greetings
21
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22
All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.
23
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Third Day, Our Deliverer
Reformation Study Bible
4:4 Rejoice. The theme of joy is prominent in Philippians. The
command to rejoice can always be obeyed, even in the midst of conflict,
adversity, and deprivation, because joy rests not on favourable circumstances,
but “in the Lord.” Paul uses repetition to emphasize this truth.
4:5 reasonableness. The Greek
word denotes the generous spirit that rises above offenses, or a forbearing
spirit, of which Jesus provides the supreme example (2 Cor. 10:1).
Such a person does not insist on his rights (2:1–4). Only such persons learn
the secret of joy.
The Lord is at hand. This may be understood
temporally, looking to Christ’s coming as a future event (3:20, 21), and taking
hope from this. Or Paul may also be speaking of Christ’s abiding presence with
those united to Him (1:1).
4:6 do not be anxious
about anything.
Although the same word is used in 2:20 of a loving concern for others, here it
denotes an anxiety that is incompatible with trust in God.
in
everything. Paul’s language is deliberately all-inclusive; there are no
restrictions on applying it.
prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving . . . requests. The four terms used here
make up two couplets. Paul is not defining separate types of prayers. Rather,
the cluster of words shows what importance he attaches to the practice of
prayer. Presenting requests in prayer provides an outlet for anxiety (1 Pet.
5:7). Doing so “with thanksgiving” is itself an antidote to worry.
4:7 peace of God. This is the direct
answer to the prayer of anxiety. Things that cannot be fully comprehended can
nonetheless be peacefully experienced by those who are “in Christ” (1:1; cf.
Eph. 3:18, 19).
true. See Eph. 4:24, 25.
honorable. The Greek word means “worthy of respect.”
just. See Titus 1:8.
pure. See 1 Tim. 5:22.
lovely . . . commendable. Terms used only here in the New Testament.
NIV Application Commentary
Verses 4–7 contain four admonitions (“rejoice,” “let your gentleness be evident,” “do not be anxious,” and “present your requests to God”), which at first seem to have little to do with one another. A closer look at the meaning of the terms standing behind these admonitions, however, reveals a common background for them all. The term “gentleness” (epieikes) was often used of an attitude of kindness where the normal or expected response was retaliation. Thus in the apocryphal book of Wisdom, a group of evil people who believe that life is short and that nothing lies beyond the grave decide to “crown” themselves “with rosebuds before they wither” and “everywhere … leave signs of enjoyment” (Wisd. 2:8–9, nrsv). But since the righteous man does not approve of their irresponsible merriment, they decide to persecute him. “Let us test him with insult and torture,” they say, “so that we may find out how gentle he is (ten epieikeian autou), and make trial of his forbearance” (2:19, nrsv). This is probably the connotation of the term in 2 Corinthians 10:1, where Paul appeals to “the meekness and gentleness (epieikeias) of Christ” as the reason for his own gentleness with the recalcitrant Corinthians. Paul, like Christ, refused to answer his detractors in kind.
The words “be anxious” (merimnao, 4:6) can refer to being unduly concerned about anything, but it is often used in contexts where persecution is the issue. Thus both Matthew and Luke use this word in their record of Jesus’ admonition to his disciples not to be concerned about what they will say before the local councils, governors, and kings who hunt them down because of their commitment to the gospel (Matt. 10:19; Luke 12:11). The term “guard” (phroureo) likewise is a figure drawn from the arena of conflict and is frequently used to refer to the action of a military garrison stationed inside a city (Judith 3:6; cf. 2 Cor. 11:32).
The
IVP New Testament Commentary Series
Rejoice,
Give Thanks and Pray (4:4-7)
As
elsewhere (2 Cor 13:11; 1 Thess 5:16), Paul begins with rejoice, here repeating
3:1 exactly, rejoice in the Lord—with the adverbial addition always (from 1
Thess 5:16). Thus it serves both to frame the preceding section on "their
affairs," giving a context for the warnings and appeals in that section,
and to introduce the final series of encouragements and exhortations. The two
adverbs always and again tell us much, especially that this is not just
"typical" and therefore to be passed over as a nice Christian
platitude, but crucial to the whole of this letter.
Joy,
unmitigated, untrammeled joy, is—or at least should be—the distinctive mark of
the believer in Christ Jesus. The wearing of black and the long face, which so
often came to typify some later expressions of Christian piety, are totally
foreign to Paul's version; Paul the theologian of grace is equally the
theologian of joy. Christian joy does not come and go with one's circumstances;
rather it is predicated altogether on one's relationship with the Lord and is
thus an abiding, deeply spiritual quality of life. It finds expression in
"rejoicing," which is an imperative, not an option. With its
concentration in the Lord, rejoicing is always to mark individual and corporate
life in Philippi. They who "serve by the Spirit of God" (3:3) do so
in part by rejoicing in the Lord, whatever else may be their lot. In this
letter "whatever else" includes opposition and suffering at the hands
of the local citizens of the Empire, where Caesar was honoured as "lord."
In the face of such, the Philippians are to rejoice in the Lord always."
(See further comment on 1:18; 2:2, 17-18; 3:1.)
The
second imperative, let your gentleness be evident to all, follows from the
first. The Lord to whom they belong has graciously set them free for
joy—always. At the same time others should know them for their "gentle
forbearance" (NIV gentleness) toward one another and toward all, including
those who are currently making life miserable for them. Gentleness is used by Hellenistic
writers and in the LXX primarily to refer to God (or the gods) or to the
"noble," who are characterized by their "gentle
forbearance" toward others. That is most likely its sense here, only now
as the disposition of all of God's people.
On
Good Thoughts and Following Paul (4:8-9)
With
a finally, brothers [and sisters], Paul brings the hortatory part of the letter
to conclusion. There remains but the acknowledgment of their gift. These final
two sentences need to be held tightly together, not only because their
structural similarity suggests as much, but especially because the truth of the
one is to be assessed in light of the other.
For
many who were raised in evangelical traditions, verse 8 ought to be a breath of
fresh air. Contrary to what is often taught, implicitly if not explicitly,
there is a place in Christian life for taking into serious account the best of
the world in which we live, even though it may not be (perish the thought!)
overtly Christian. Or to put it another way, it is decidedly not Paul's view
that only what is explicitly Christian (be it literature, art, music, movies or
whatever) is worth seeing or hearing. Truth and beauty are where you find them.
But at all times the gospel is the ultimate paradigm for what is true, noble or
admirable. Or perhaps you have not noticed that many truly great movies (e.g.,
Spitfire Grill) find their greatness because they tell our story (redemption
through self-sacrifice), probably without even knowing it.
There
is nothing else like verse 8 in Paul's extant letters. It reflects a world with
which the Philippians were familiar before they had ever become followers of
Christ and friends of Paul; for although some of these words are common stock
in Jewish wisdom, they are especially the language of Hellenistic moralism (and
would be quite at home in Epictetus's Discourses). In effect Paul tells the
Philippian believers to take into account the best of their Greco-Roman
heritage, as long as it has moral excellence and is praiseworthy. Verse 9 puts
that into perspective: they comply with the first set of exhortations by
putting into practice what they have learned from Paul as teacher and have seen
modelled in his life. The whole concludes with the promise of God's abiding
presence as the God of peace.
The
verb logizomai ordinarily means "to reckon" in the sense of
"take into account," rather than simply to think about. Since the
first four words already point to what is virtuous (NIV excellent) and
praiseworthy, Paul most likely adds the proviso because he intends them to
select out what is morally excellent and praiseworthy from whatever belongs to
the world around them, and to do so on the basis of Christ.
The
Bible Panorama
Philippians
4
V 1: FIRMNESS In the light of
Christ’s second coming and the present personal knowledge of the risen Christ,
Christians are to stand fast in the Lord.
V 2–3: FELLOWSHIP This is expressed in
fellowship with each other, both in solving our differences and in working
together with others. The Philippian Christians are urged to do both of these
things in the aftermath of a dispute between two women in the church.
V 4:
FERVOUR Again, Paul urges the Christians to rejoice in the Lord always and
repeats this exhortation again immediately.
V 5:
FUNDAMENTAL ‘The Lord is at hand’ is fundamental to this verse, this
chapter, the whole of the book of Philippians, and the whole of the Christian
life. The knowledge of Christ’s presence with us now, and the certainty of His
glorious coming again soon, should produce Christian gentleness and shape the
Christian’s life in every facet. This should be true individually, with other
believers, and in the world in which every Christian lives.
V 6–7: FAITH Prayer, supplication,
and thanksgiving are the expressions of faith to be made known to God in
everything. Thus anxiety is dealt with and is replaced with the surpassing
peace of God through Christ.
V 8–9: FINALLY Paul’s final exhortation
is to concentrate on things that are noble, just, lovely, of good report,
virtuous, and praiseworthy. Christians should concentrate and meditate on these
things, rather than on the things of the world. This is the example Paul set at
Philippi. In following it, the church knows the presence of the God of peace
with them.
V 10–13: FORTIFIED Paul rejoices in the
material support of Christians. Nevertheless, in all circumstances, adverse and
favourable, Paul finds that he ‘can do all things through Christ who
strengthens [him]’. This brings contentment to him even when he is in physical
need.
V 14–16: FAITHFULNESS Notwithstanding this
confidence in God, the repeated and continual faithfulness of the church is
gratefully commended by him. They sent money to Paul when he was in distress
and continually when he was in Thessalonica,
V 17–20: FULNESS Paul is grateful that,
currently through their giving, God is fully supplying everything that he
needs. Selflessly, he is grateful for the fruit that will come to the giver,
knowing that God will also supply all their needs ‘according to His riches in
glory by Christ Jesus’. Their gift rises to God like a pleasing and
sweet-smelling sacrifice.
V 21–23: FRUIT The fruit of the gospel
is not only in Philippi, where people have trusted Christ, but also among his
captors in Rome. Some may have been Christians before Paul went there, but
doubtless some have been the fruit of his witness, even in chains. God’s grace,
which he wishes for them all, is certainly upon him.
Dictionary
of Bible Themes
8349
spiritual growth, means of
God
has provided various means by which believers may grow spiritually.
God
supplies the resources for spiritual growth
Php
2:13; 2Pe 1:3 See also Jn 1:16; Jn 4:14; Jn 15:2,5; 1Co 10:13; 2Co 3:18; 2Co
9:10; Gal 5:22-23; Php 1:6; Col 2:19; Jas 1:17; Jas 4:6; Jude 24
God’s
people must make efforts to grow spiritually
Php
2:12; 2Pe 1:5-9 See also Ro 6:19; 2Co 7:1; Gal 5:16,25; Eph 5:15-16; Eph
6:11-13; 1Ti 4:7; 1Ti 6:11-12; 2Ti 1:6; 2Pe 3:14; 1Jn 3:3; Jude 20
Specific
means of spiritual growth
Death
to self-interest Col 3:5 See also Mt 16:24 pp Mk 8:34 pp Lk 9:23; Ro 6:6,12; Ro
8:13; Eph 4:22; Col 3:9; 1Pe 1:14; 1Pe 2:11
The
Scriptures 2Ti 3:16-17 See also Jos 1:8; Ps 19:7-8; Ps 119:9-11; Jn 17:17; Eph
6:17; Col 3:16; 1Pe 2:2; 1Jn 2:14
Prayer
Mt 6:13 pp Lk 11:4 Col 4:2 See also 1Ch 16:11; Mt 7:11 pp Lk 11:13; Mt 26:41 pp
Mk 14:38 pp Lk 22:46; Jn 16:24; Ac 4:29-31; Eph 6:18; 1Th 5:17; Jas 1:5
Focusing
on Jesus Christ Heb 3:1 See also Mt 11:29; Jn 13:15; Ro 15:5; Php 2:5; Heb
12:2-3; 1Pe 2:21; 1Jn 2:6
The
role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual growth
Eph
3:16-18 See also Eph 1:13-14,17; Eph 2:19-22
Christian
leadership Eph 4:11-13 See also 1Co 4:16; 1Co 11:1; Php 1:25; Php 3:17; Heb
13:7,17; 1Pe 5:2-3
Faith
in God Eph 6:16 See also Heb 11:6; 1Jn 5:4
Suffering
and testing Ro 5:3-4 See also Job 23:10; Ps 119:67; Zec 13:9; Heb 12:10-11; 1Pe
1:6-7; Jas 1:2-4
Perseverance
Heb 12:1 See also Php 3:12-14; 1Ti 4:15
Cultivating
wholesome thinking Php 4:8
God
will bring the spiritual growth of believers to completion
1Jn
3:2 See also Eph 5:25-27; Php 1:6; Jude 24-25; Rev 21:2
Yours
by His Grace, for the sake of His Church
and His Kingdom
Blair
Humphreys
Southport,
Merseyside, England
No comments:
Post a Comment