Some thoughts for Today, The Christian's Contentment, Philippians 4

Philippians 4

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Think of Excellence

4 Therefore, my beloved brethren ^[a]whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to ^[b]live in harmony in the Lord. ³ Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also 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 gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is ^[c]near.⁶ Be anxious for nothing, 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 ^[d]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[e]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, ^[f]dwell on these things. ⁹ The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provisions

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak ^[g]from want, for I have learned to be ^[h]content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things ^[i]through Him who strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the ^[j]first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; ¹⁶ for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the ^[k]profit which increases to your account.¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am ^[l]amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus ^[m]what you have sent, ^[n]a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will supply ^[o]all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be the glory^[p]forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet every ^[q]saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. ²² All the ^[r]saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Footnotes:

1. Philippians 4:1 Lit and longed for
2. Philippians 4:2 Or be of the same mind
3. Philippians 4:5 Or at hand
4. Philippians 4:7 Lit mind
5. Philippians 4:8 Or lovable and gracious
6. Philippians 4:8 Lit ponder these things
7. Philippians 4:11 Lit according to
8. Philippians 4:11 Or self-sufficient
9. Philippians 4:13 Lit in
10. Philippians 4:15 Lit beginning of
11. Philippians 4:17 Lit fruit
12. Philippians 4:18 Lit made full
13. Philippians 4:18 Lit the things from you
14. Philippians 4:18 Lit an odor of fragrance
15. Philippians 4:19 Or every need of yours
16. Philippians 4:20 Lit to the ages of the ages
17. Philippians 4:21 Or holy one
18. Philippians 4:22 V 21, note 1

NIV Application Commentary

Paul begins in verse 10 with an exuberant expression of joy that the Philippians have again shown their concern for him. The Philippians had generously supplemented the income Paul earned in the workshop during his attempts to establish other churches both in Macedonia (4:15–16) and Achaia (2 Cor. 11:7–9). Perhaps because of their poverty (2 Cor. 8:1–2), however, they had not been able to help Paul in this way recently. Thus Paul rejoices “greatly” that the opportunity to show their concern for him has returned.

Despite this, Paul wants the Philippians to know that his joy does not depend on the alleviation of his physical discomfort; thus, although he is in prison, Paul says that he is not in need (vv. 11–13). He has learned to be content in every circumstance. The term “content” (au tarkes, v. 11) was used by Stoic philosophers of Paul’s time to mean “self-sufficient,” and in their view this characteristic was the most valuable attribute of the wise person. Indeed, like the wise Stoic, Paul does not consider physical deprivation an unmitigated disaster nor physical comfort the sign of success. But unlike the Stoic, Paul does not find the resources for this attitude in himself. They reside instead in the Lord, through whom he can face all things (v. 13).

So Paul remains unperturbed either by his own imprisonment and possible death or by fellow believers who seek to intensify his suffering. As long as Christ is being preached, Paul is joyful (1:18), and he does not want the Philippians to think that the physical comfort their gifts have made possible has increased his ability to cope with the difficulties at hand.

From NIVAC: Philippians by Frank Thielman. Published by Zondervan Academic.

Philippians 4

The Bible Panorama

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.

The Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.

Some thoughts for Today, Philippians 3, The Christian's Citzenship

Philippians 3

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Goal of Life

3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the [a]false circumcision; 3 for we are the true [b]circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss [c]in view of the surpassing value of [d]knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, [e]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and [f]the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 [g]in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on [h]so that I may lay hold of that [i]for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are [j]perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep [k]living by that same standard to which we have attained.

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their [l]appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our [m]citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform [n]the body of our humble state into conformity with [o]the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Footnotes:

Philippians 3:2 Lit mutilation; Gr katatome

Philippians 3:3 Gr peritome

Philippians 3:8 Lit because of

Philippians 3:8 Lit the knowledge of

Philippians 3:8 Lit because of

Philippians 3:10 Or participation in

Philippians 3:11 Lit if somehow

Philippians 3:12 Lit if I may even

Philippians 3:12 Or because also

Philippians 3:15 Or mature

Philippians 3:16 Lit following in line

Philippians 3:19 Lit belly

Philippians 3:20 Lit commonwealth

Philippians 3:21 Or our lowly body

Philippians 3:21 Or His glorious body

NIV Application Commentary

 [Paul] also speaks positively in verses 12–14 of what he is doing in light of the incompleteness of his spiritual journey. His language comes from the world of war and athletics and emphasizes the strenuous nature of his efforts to fulfill his vocation. In verse 12 he says that he presses on to take hold of the goals listed in verses 8–11, choosing a pair of words that could, in military contexts, refer to the pursuit of one army by another. Together the two terms connote a single-minded attempt to reach a particular goal.

According to the niv, Paul’s goal is to reach “that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” But the Greek phrase behind “that for which” (eph’ ho) usually expresses cause in Paul’s letters, and it probably carries a causal force here. So the goal Paul pursues probably remains all that he has described in verses 8–11, and the second part of verse 12 should be rendered, “because Christ Jesus took hold of me.” That is to say, Paul vigorously pursues the knowledge of Christ, his sufferings, his resurrection power, and union with him at the final day because on the road to Damascus, Christ took hold of him (Acts 9:1–19; 22:3–16; 26:9–18). Had that event not taken place, Paul might still be busy “persecuting (dioko) the church” (Phil. 3:6) instead of pressing on (dioko) toward these goals (vv. 12, 14).

Even more expressive of the difficulty of Paul’s exertion to reach these goals is the athletic imagery in verses 12–14. Like a runner who knows that a backward glance at ground already covered will only slow his progress toward the finish, Paul says that he forgets what is behind and stretches out toward what is ahead, so that he might complete the race and win the prize. Some interpreters have taken Paul’s claim that he forgets what is behind as a reference to his pre-Christian past (cf. vv. 5–6), but two considerations point away from this interpretation. (1) The point under discussion here is Paul’s progress as a believer, not his progress beyond his days of persecuting the church. (2) When Paul uses athletic imagery elsewhere, the subject is his apostolic labors (cf. 2:16; 1 Cor. 9:24–26). These labors are his focus here too. Paul’s point, then, is that he refuses to rest on his past successes but presses on toward that day when he will present the Philippians and his other congregations blameless to Christ (1:10; 2:14–18; 1 Cor. 1:8; 1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23).

What is this prize? The term “call” in Paul’s letters, both as a noun and as a verb, possesses a rich theological significance. Just as God called Israel to be his people in the Old Testament (Isa. 48:12; 51:2), so, in Paul’s letters, God calls people from many ethnic and social backgrounds (1 Cor. 1:26; Eph. 3:1; 4:1) into fellowship with Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:9) and into his kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12), and he does this by his grace (Gal. 1:6). This call is not, moreover, to something that will be fully realized in the present but to the future for which the believer now hopes (Eph. 1:18; 4:4). Thus, the heavenly call toward which Paul stretches with all his might is God’s call to be part of the people, made up of both Jews and Gentiles, who will stand justified before him on the final day because of their identification with Christ (vv. 8–11).

From NIVAC: Philippians by Frank Thielman. Published by Zondervan Academic.

The Bible Panorama

Philippians 3

V 1–2: REJOICE In this ‘letter of rejoicing’, rejoicing and joy feature strongly. Here, that is so even though Paul has to address the false teaching that salvation is not possible without circumcision.

 3–8: RUBBISH Real Christians worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ, and put no confidence in themselves, in anything else or in anyone else for salvation. Paul even counts his immaculate Pharisee’s pedigree and religious zeal as rubbish, now, compared with the joy of knowing Jesus Christ.

 V 9: RIGHTEOUS Paul rejoices that his acceptance by God is because, having trusted Jesus Christ, his account is credited with the righteousness of his Saviour. He is now counted righteous through Jesus.

 V 10–11: RESURRECTION Paul is determined to know Jesus Christ closer, and even the fellowship of His sufferings and dying to self. This can only be because he is also determined to know the power of the resurrection of Jesus in his daily life.

V 12–14: REACHING Paul honestly admits he has a long way to go, but has learned to leave the past with God, press on with the present, and reach on into the future. He wants to lay hold of that which God has for him, and for which Christ has laid hold of him. His concern is to answer the ‘upward call of God in Christ Jesus’. Only when the past is dealt with, and Christ is known in the present, can Paul have confidence and determination like this.

 V 15–16: REVEALED With this mindset, Paul tells the Philippians to build on what they have already learned in the knowledge that God will reveal to them other lessons which they need to learn.

 V 17–21: REALITY Contrasting the walk of the Christians with lost people who despise the cross and live sinfully for this passing world, Paul reveals the reality of a Christian’s invisible and spiritual home in heaven. He looks forward to the future reality of the second coming of Christ and to the transformed resurrection body which will be given to each person who trusts Him.

The Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.

Why the 'New' Tolerance Is Actually Intolerant

Why the 'New' Tolerance Is Actually Intolerant

Morality as Wine Tasting

Today morality is more like wine tasting than banking. In banking, there is a right and wrong answer. If you deposit $1,000 in a new bank account and a week later try to withdraw $80, you would not be willing to agree to disagree when the teller says your account is empty.

But we don’t see morality like banking anymore. Instead, we see it more like wine tasting. In wine tasting, everyone has their favorite blends and no one is necessarily right or wrong—it all depends on individual palates. No one has the right to declare as an absolute truth that simply because they prefer a specific grape or vintage, it is superior to all other wines.

The problem is, the God of the Bible sees morality like banking, not wine tasting. This is why Jesus referred to sins as “debts” in the world’s most famous prayer (Matt. 6:12).

Today there are not sins. There is only one sin, and that is calling anything a sin.

Some thoughts for Today, The Christian's Conduct, Philippians 2

Philippians 2

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Be Like Christ

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any [a]affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete [b]by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing [c]from [d]selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude [e]in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be [f]grasped, 7 but [g]emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [h]on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will [i]prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you [j]appear as [k]lights in the world, 16 holding [l]fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 But I hope [m]in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. 25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your [n]messenger and minister to my need; 26 because he was longing [o]for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. 29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death [p]for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete [q]what was deficient in your service to me.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Verses 12-13

I. He exhorts them to diligence and seriousness in the Christian course: Work out your own salvation. It is the salvation of our souls (1 Pet. 1:9), and our eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9), and contains deliverance from all the evils sin had brought upon us and exposed us to, and the possession of all good and whatsoever is necessary to our complete and final happiness. Observe, It concerns us above all things to secure the welfare of our souls: whatever becomes of other things, let us take care of our best interests. It is our own salvation, the salvation of our own souls. It is not for us to judge other people; we have enough to do to look to ourselves; and, though we must promote the common salvation (Jude 1:3) as much as we can, yet we must upon no account neglect our own. We are required to work out our salvation, katergazesthe. The word signifies working thoroughly at a thing, and taking true pains. Observe, We must be diligent in the use of all the means which conduce to our salvation. We must not only work at our salvation, by doing something now and then about it; but we must work out our salvation, by doing all that is to be done, and persevering therein to the end. Salvation is the great thing we should mind, and set our hearts upon; and we cannot attain salvation without the utmost care and diligence. He adds, With fear and trembling, that is, with great care and circumspection: “Trembling for fear lest you miscarry and come short. Be careful to do every thing in religion in the best manner, and fear lest under all your advantages you should so much as seem to come short,” Heb. 4:1. Fear is a great guard and preservative from evil.

II. He urges this from the consideration of their readiness always to obey the gospel: “As you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, Phil. 2:12. You have been always willing to comply with every discovery of the will of God; and that in my absence as well as presence. You make it to appear that regard to Christ, and care of your souls, sway more with you than any mode of showing respect whatsoever.” They were not merely awed by the apostle’s presence, but did it even much more in his absence. “And becauseit is God who worketh in you, do you work out your salvation. Work, for he worketh.” It should encourage us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain. God is ready to concur with his grace, and assist our faithful endeavours. Observe, Though we must use our utmost endeavours in working out our salvation, yet still we must go forth, and go on, in a dependence upon the grace of God. His grace works in us in a way suitable to our natures, and in concurrence with our endeavours; and the operations of God’s grace in us are so far from excusing, that they are intended to quicken and engage our endeavours. “And work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for he worketh in you.” All our working depends upon his working in us. “Do not trifle with God by neglects and delays, lest you provoke him to withdraw his help, and all your endeavours prove in vain. Work with fear, for he works of his good pleasure.”—To will and to do: he gives the whole ability. It is the grace of God which inclines the will to that which is good: and then enables us to perform it, and to act according to our principles. Thou hast wrought all our works in us, Isa. 26:12. Of his good pleasure. As there is no strength in us, so there is no merit in us. As we cannot act without God’s grace, so we cannot claim it, nor pretend to deserve it. God’s good will to us is the cause of his good work in us; and he is under no engagements to his creatures, but those of his gracious promise.

The Bible Panorama

Philippians 2

V 1–4: LOVING LOWLINESS Selfishness and strife is to be rejected as, through the fellowship of the Spirit, God’s love in Christ makes Christians humble, like-minded, and causes them to care for others.

V 5–11: LIFTED LORD This likeminded humility to be sought was exemplified by Jesus in His incarnation and death for us. Although He was God by nature, He humbled Himself, through becoming a man and a bondservant, to the very lowest point of death on the cross. This resulted in His exaltation to the very highest place in heaven. Humility produces elevation, by God’s grace.

V 12–18: LIVING LIGHTS God’s working in the lives of the Christians produces a reverent outworking of His salvation, irrespective of whether the apostle Paul is with them or not. The Philippian Christians are urged to live in such a way that their blamelessness and shining example will be obvious to all, in contrast with the wicked world around. They will proclaim God’s word so that Paul, who is imprisoned and facing death, knows that his labour has not been in vain.

V 19–30: LOYAL LABOURERS Paul now commends Timothy for his son-like service in the gospel. He esteems Epaphroditus highly for his courage, sacrifice and selfless love for Christ and for Christians, including for Paul himself. Epaphroditus was near to death as a result of his sacrificial service for the Lord. It is good to see how God’s grace is lived out in the lives of those who are ‘sold out’ for Christ.

The Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.