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📚Therefore, my brethren dearly loved and longed for 📖, my joy and crown 📖, stand firm 📖 in the Lord, my dearly loved ones. Words of encouragement and exhortation
2 📚I plead with Euodias and plead with Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
4:2 We do not know who these two Christian women were, but their quarrel alarmed Paul. He begged them to settle their dispute. Compare Phil 2:1-2. He well knew what factions and divisions can do to a group of believers – 1 Cor 1:10-13; 3:3-4.⚜
3 📚And I beg you also, true colleague 📖, to help those women who laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with my other fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life 📖. 4 📚Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice. 5 📚Let your gentleness 📖 be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand 📖.
How to live without worry
6 📚Be anxious 📖 about nothing 📖, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving 📖 make your requests known to God 📖.
4:6 Here is God’s way for us to have continual peace of mind and heart in all circumstances of life (except when sinning – that will always rob believers of their peace).⚜
7 📚And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4:7 The peace of God means here the peace He gives. It is like His own peace. God does not worry about anything. Peace in us is the result of submission to God and trust in Him – Isa 26:3. See also John 14:1, 27; 16:33; Col 3:15. This peace is like the “rest” Jesus promised in Matt 11:28-30. Believers can have peace in situations where others could never have it, and they will not be able to understand how they have it and will wonder at it. This peace of God will act as a guard at the door of their minds and hearts, and will keep out the anxieties, worries, and disturbing thoughts that so greatly trouble those without this peace.⚜
8 📚Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy, think on these things 📖. 9 📚Those things that you have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace 📖 will be with you.
4:9 God set Paul forth as an example to believers. We can learn from him what we should think, believe and practice – Phil 3:17.⚜
Contentment in every situation
10 📚But I greatly rejoice 📖 in the Lord, that now at last your care for me has flourished again. Previously you certainly cared, but you lacked opportunity. 11 📚Not that I am speaking about my needs, for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. 12 📚I know both what it is to have little, and I know how to have plenty. Everywhere and in everything I am instructed both how to be full and to be hungry, both to have plenty and to suffer need.
4:11-12 See 1 Tim 6:6-8; Heb 13:5; Luke 3:14. Who is the truly rich person on earth? He who is content with what he has. Contentment is something Paul “learned”, not something he had by nature. Contentment goes along with the peace of God which guards the hearts of those who trust Him. For some of the situations in which Paul learned to be contented see 2 Cor 4:8-9; 6:4-10; 11:23-27. He was not writing this letter from a mansion, in the midst of plenty, but from prison – Phil 1:12-13. The desire of some Christians to pile up money, possessions, luxuries, etc, is contrary to God’s Word and exceedingly harmful to the spiritual life.⚜
13 📚I can do all things 📖 through Christ 📖 who strengthens 📖 me.
The Philippians’ gifts to Paul
14 📚However, you have done well, in that you shared in my trouble. 15 📚Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel there, when I was leaving Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you. 16 📚For even to Thessalonica 📖 you sent again and again for my need.
17 📚Not that I am seeking a gift. I seek to have fruit going abundantly into your account.
4:17 Verse 10.⚜
18 📚But I have everything in abundance. I am full, having received by Epaphroditus the things from you. They are a sweet-smelling aroma 📖, a sacrifice 📖 acceptable and well-pleasing to God. 19 📚And my God will supply all your need 📖 according to his riches 📖 in glory by Christ Jesus.
4:19 They had met Paul’s needs – v 18. This was out of their great poverty – 2 Cor 8:2. God would meet their needs according to His great riches. There is a principle at work in this matter which we should all learn and put into practice. See Luke 6:38; 2 Cor 9:6-8.⚜
Closing remarks
20 📚Now to our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 📚Greet every saint 📖 in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 📚All the saints greet you, chiefly those who belong to Caesar’s household 📖.
23 📚The grace 📖 of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.