Philippians 4:1-23

Continuing from the end of chapter 3 – where Paul wrote:

"^3:17You must become imitators-together with me, brothers, and you must scope the (holy-people) thus walking-around according as you have us (being) a type…²⁰for our citizenship is-from-the-beginning in (the) heavens out-from where also we eagerly-await (the) savior (who is the) Lord Jesus Christ ^.21who will change-the-outward-figure (of) the body of our humiliation (to be) formed-together with the body of his glory according to the in-working (for) him to be able and to subject all-things to him" – he writes:

Philippians 4:1:

^4:1So-that, my loved¹ and earnestly-longed-for brothers, my joy and crown, thus you must stand-firm in (the) Lord, loved-people¹.

Here, Paul addresses the Philippian holy-people (sanctified-people, saints, Christians, children of God) as his loved¹ and earnestly-longed-for brothers, thereby letting them know that, not only were they his brothers in the spirit category because they all had received the same gift of holy spirit and were therefore all children of God, but also that he loved them with God's love and was manifesting it towards them as he was writing this letter, and that he was having a real longing or desire for them.

The word "love¹" or the verb "to love¹" comes from the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love. To love with His love means to love the same way as God loves, to manifest God's love towards another, whether it is towards God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, yourself, your Christian neighbor, or towards anyone else. God tells His children today (all who have the spirit of Christ within us) how to Godly-love by means of His previously-revealed written Word and also via our holy spirit-life whereby we receive information from Him regarding how to love in different specific situations. It is the carrying out of God's commandments, His Word, which is the correct usage or way to manifest God's kind of love according to His will (refer to I Corinthians chapter 13 and I John 5:1-3). It is not the same as the brotherly or friendly kind of love, nor is it the same as the emotional/feelings/sexual kind of love.

Paul also calls them his joy and crown – right then, these holy-people caused him to rejoice and they were the evidence of his joy, plus these holy-people were the crown he had already received (the victory-wreath, as a garland on his head being the victor of a contest) because of his having carried-out God's and the Lord Jesus Christ's will towards them. This fact will not change because these Philippian Christians will remain children of God. They had already received holy spirit and they will also be gathered together when Christ comes to gather all the church with him.

Regarding the walk/behavior category, Paul writes in verse 1: it is with the consequence or result of what I have just written, my loved¹ and earnestly-longed-for brothers, my joy and crown, that in this manner (as I have written) you must stand-firm in the Lord (stand fast in the Lord as opposed to falling in the walk/behavior category). Stand-firm within the sphere of action of the Master who is our Lord Jesus Christ, loved-people¹ (you are people who are Godly-loved, not only by me but also by God and the Lord Jesus Christ).

[Reference: I Corinthians 9:25; Philippians 1:8 and 27; I Thessalonians 2:19 and 20.]

Verses 2 and 3:

^.2I encourage Euodia and I encourage Syntyche to think the same-thing in (the) Lord. ^.3Yes, also I ask you, genuine yoked-together-person, you must take them together-to-yourself, the-(women)-who contended-together with me in the good-message, with both Clementos and the remaining-people, workers-together with me, whose names (are) in (the) book of life.

Paul now addresses two individuals: I encourage Euodia (I exhort or call you beside me as a concerned father or mother would call their children close to them under their arms so as to help them to do what is right) and I encourage Syntyche to think the same-thing in the Lord (the thoughts in your minds ought to be the same-thing within the sphere of action of the Lord Jesus Christ). This is not talking about thinking the same about what color of paint to put on the walls or which carpet to put on the floor or what food to prepare for supper! Paul really clarifies to these women what "same-thing" they were to be thinking when he writes "in (the) Lord," which is what Paul has been teaching them. It includes all that God by means of their Lord Jesus Christ has done for them and made them to be in Christ and thus they were to think this same-thing towards each other also (refer to Philippians 1:6, 2:2 and 18, 3:1 and 16).

Next, Paul addresses a particular man among the Philippian Christians with a word that describes his service. He writes: yes (with definite affirmation, as replying to a question posed or something else having been asserted to be the case – yes) also I ask you (and this usage of words implies familiarity between Paul and this man), who is a genuine (legitimate, usually spoken of children, genetic) yoked-together-person (jointly-yoked, co-yoked, yoked in conjunction with others on the same yoke; you work in service on the same team, so-to-speak, as oxen being tied to the same wooden/metal bar or frame by-which they all work within its limitations plowing a field going evenly together in the same direction according to their master's direction and instruction)….

Yes, also I ask you, genuine yoked-together-person, you must take them together to yourself (receive them in conjunction with you as catching or seizing them in your hands enclosing them all around so as to do what is necessary to aid them in their situation, to help them). Who? Those women who contended together with me (they rendered mutual help being athletes together with me for the same goal, for mastery of the same event as in public games, side-by-side on the same team with the same finish-line being aimed at and we all receive the prize). The usage of athletic terminology draws attention to us holy-people and the truth of us being together moving in the direction of the same objective, being joint or co contenders. You must help them, the women who contended together with me in the good-message (within the sphere of action of the gospel, that message which is well or good, the evangel).

And: …in company and association with both Clementos and the rest of the holy-people who are workers together with me (joint or co workers of myself, people who expend their energy doing work in conjunction with me), whose names are in the book of life. What book of life? It is a living spiritual record of names pertaining to God's realm. Just as this letter to the Philippian Christians was physically written on papyrus to record the words that God via Paul wanted to communicate to them, their names were spiritually written and so recorded and remembered in God's book pertaining to His life for He is Holy Spirit. Holy-people are written in the book of life because we have already received holy spirit-life and this truth cannot change.

[Reference: Psalm 69:28, Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Romans 12:16, 15:5; I Corinthians 3:9; Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 20:12-15, 21:27.]

Verses 4 and 5:

^.4You must joy in (the) Lord always; again I will say you must joy. ^.5Your consideration must be known to all men. The Lord (is) near.

You holy-people (all of you) must joy in the Lord always (constantly express joy, rejoice, within the sphere of action of the Lord) – again (another time, I repeat) I will say (tell, mindfully say, tell you with my mind being cognizant of what I am saying): you must rejoice. The Lord Jesus Christ must be the instrumental or efficient cause emanating from within all holy-people of our joy. We can manifest-forth joy during the everyday living of our lives because we have the spirit of Christ in us.

Your consideration (disposition of yielding appropriately with fitting-suitableness considering the rights of others in a righteous or just manner, which is according to what God and the Lord Jesus Christ indicate) must be personally known to/by all men (by your living and evidencing your consideration in your daily lives). Why? The Lord is near (both distance-wise because you have the spirit of Christ in you, and time-wise because the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ himself to be present is imminent). Again, Paul repeats "Lord" giving great emphasis to the Lord Jesus Christ – he is Lord, not someone or something else.

[Reference: Acts 24:4; II Corinthians 10:1; Galatians 5:22; Philippians 3:1; Titus 3:2; Hebrews 10:37; James 5:8.]

Verses 6 and 7:

^.6You must be anxious-about nothing but in everything by prayer and by supplication with thankfulness your requests must be made-known towards God, ^.7and the peace of God, the (peace) being-superior-to every mind, will guard your hearts and your mindful-devices in Christ Jesus.

You holy-people/Christians must be anxious (mentally distracted with care) concerning nothing (for/about not-one-thing; in other words: don't be anxious about anything!). But contrary to being anxious: in everything (during all, every single situation or circumstance) by prayer and by supplication…. Prayer = communication to and with God, the general speaking towards/with God. Supplication = the specific-communication of prayer, expressing the needful-request, the specific-need caused by a present lack.

Contrary to being anxious: in everything by/with prayer and by/with supplication in company and association with thankfulness…. This word "thankfulness" in the Greek comes from the same root word as the word "grace" plus the word "well" or "well-off." Therefore "thankfulness" is the expression made by the freedom of will of the recipient expressing well his gratitude to the giver of the grace (the bestowed unmerited or undeserved favor) given-to and received-by him. It is not a forced or obligated "thank you"! Here, it is with thankfulness towards God.

You must be anxious-about nothing, but in everything by prayer and by supplication with thankfulness your requests (the objects sought by you, the things you are asking for) must be made personally known towards God – towards Whom? God (towards the only true God and not towards everybody else in your neighborhood or at the office)!

And what happens next, what joins equally together in consequence of you having done what is written in verse 6? The peace of, belonging-to and proceeding-from God (God's tranquil-harmony without strife) which is presently and actively being superior to every mind (holding the position or rank of authority over all/every mind-set, yours included)…. God's peace is being superior to every organ of mental perception, all mentality, for the purpose of protecting it, like a rock projection jutting-out above and beyond what is under it and thereby sheltering what is underneath from rain or anything else coming downwards.

And the peace of God, the peace being-superior-to every mind, will guard (as with powerful military authority keeping watch over) your hearts (the center or core of your beings, the seat of your whole personal selves and lives) and your mindful-devices (the contrivances or products of your mind's thinking, the plans issuing from the action of the mind) in Christ Jesus.

It is in Christ Jesus that God's peace (which you already have spiritually because you have received the spirit of Christ in you) guards your hearts and your mindful-devices concerning these requests following your making them known to God by prayer and by supplication with thankfulness. It is within the sphere of action of Christ Jesus – not in some "peace-treaty" signed by some influential politician or some peacefully sounding words such as "oh, it'll be alright" made by some friend or religious-leader when he/she did not receive any revelation regarding your requests, your situation, from God or the Lord Jesus Christ. Some Greek texts have the words "Lord Jesus" in place of "Christ Jesus" – also definitely referring to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Re-reading verses 6 and 7:

^.6You must be anxious-about nothing but in everything by prayer and by supplication with thankfulness your requests must be made-known towards God, ^.7and the peace of God, the (peace) being-superior-to every mind, will guard your hearts and your mindful-devices in Christ Jesus."

[Reference: II Corinthians 11:32; Galatians 3:23, 5:22.]

Verses 8 and 9:

^.8As-to-the-rest, brothers, as-many-things-as are true, as-many-things-as (are) reverential, as-many-things-as (are) righteous, as-many-things-as (are) pure, as-many-things-as (are) towards-love, as-many-things-as (are) good-report, since (there is) some virtue and since (there is) some praise, these-things you must calculate; ^.9the-things-which also you learned and received and heard and saw in me these-things you must practice, and the God of the peace will be with you.

As far as the rest (as to that-which remains is concerned, everything that remains to be said and that I could write about in this letter), brothers – again reminding these holy-people that they and Paul were all brothers in the spirit category because they had received the gift of holy spirit and therefore were children of God:

as-many-things-as are true (having essential reality, inherent verity from God's viewpoint; in the state of being true),
as-many-things-as are reverential (having deference to God and all the things of God and thus are deserving of reverence and respect from God's viewpoint; in the state of behaving reverentially),
as-many-things-as are righteous (having justness from God's viewpoint; in the state of being just),
as-many-things-as are pure (not contaminated from God's viewpoint by any bad-thing which may be near-by, in the state of being pure),
as-many-things-as are towards-love (being with and in motion towards producing love from God's viewpoint – this is the brotherly or friendly kind of love, as is to be demonstrated during the holy-people's greetings of one-another; in the state of being lovely),
as-many-things-as are good-report (well-omened speech that brings to light good-language which is God's Word; in the state of being good-report),

…since there is definitely some virtue (eminence of good quality and power, excellent standard of what is right/correct) and since there is definitely some praise (applause), these things you holy-people must calculate (reckon, count, compute in your minds).

The things which in addition you learned (have become informed of intellectually from me teaching you and through study and observation) and you received (have taken from me to beside or alongside yourselves) and heard (perceived with your ears the words that were spoken to you) and saw (perceived with your eyes and so knew) in me (within my sphere of action), these things you must presently and actively practice (habitually do and be in the process of accomplishing), and (joining equally together in consequence of you practicing these things) the God of the peace will be with you (the only true God, Who is the author and the source of the only true peace and from Whom His peace issues and emanates, will definitely be in company and association with you all in the walk/behavior category during your everyday living of life).

Not only peace inside spiritually by means of your holy spirit-life, and not only having the peace of God guarding your hearts and mindful-devices in Christ Jesus when in everything by prayer and by supplication with thankfulness you make your requests known towards God (verses 6 and 7), but also as you practice these things the God of the peace will be with you and so your actions will be performed with Him and His peace.

[Reference: Romans 15:33; I Corinthians 16:22; II Corinthians 6:8; Philippians 1:30, 3:17; I Timothy 3:8 and 11; Titus 2:2; I Peter 2:9; II Peter 1:3 and 5.]

Verses 10-13:

^.10But I greatly joyed in (the) Lord because already at-some-time you bloomed-up to think on my behalf, on which also you used-to-think but you used-to be-without-time, ^.11I do not say (this) because (it is) according to lack for I learned to be self-sufficient in which-things I am, ^.12I knew² also to be humbled, I knew² also to exceed, in everything and in all-things I was initiated² both to be fed and to hunger, both to exceed and to be caused-to-lack, ^.13I am strong (in) all-things in the (one) enabling me.

Paul continues: but I rejoiced with a large measure within the Lord (not by myself excluding the Master) because at some past time previously you bloomed-up (as plants which remain alive bloom with flowers from time to time, you blossomed again, flourished afresh in an upward manner) to have thoughts in your mind in my interests, on which (to think on my behalf) also you were continually thinking, not only on one occasion, but you were without the specific time-period (you lacked the opportune occasion or season) required to carry-through on this thinking.

Then Paul quickly points out: I am not presently and actively laying this out here with the objective-cause being that it is in accordance with a lack that I have (some particular want, deficiency, anything that falls-short or is behind on my part) – in truth I learned to be self-sufficient (holding all adequacy within myself being satisfied with enough and being strong to ward-off anything contrary) during or among the situations or circumstances I am presently experiencing.

For example: I knew and still know (perceive) also to be made-humble (brought to lowliness, a low degree, caused to be in a position of humbleness), and I knew and still know (perceive) also to exceed (abound over and above the number or measure already attained), in everything (within or during all, singular) and in all things (within or during all, plural), every and all situations or circumstances, I have been initiated and I am still initiated (inducted into these things and given instruction which is kept closed-off or shut-up as a mystery/secret from most people) both to be fed (filled with food, as the animals eat fodder, the hay or grass that is made available to them, whenever they want to, and become fat being satisfied with enough eaten at that time) and also to hunger (be hungry, hunger-after physical sustenance), both to exceed/abound and to be caused to lack (caused to be in want, deficient, made to fall-short or come-behind others in something).

Paul explains definitely and clearly: "I am strong (in) all-things in the (one) enabling me." I am presently and actively strong (I have strength in the physical realm, physically strong) in/for/with/during all things (all situations and circumstances) within the sphere of action of the one who is presently and actively enabling me (giving me able-power or ability within, empowering me, making me capable within).

Who was enabling Paul? The Lord Jesus Christ. Paul had the spirit of Christ in him, and when Paul was acting within the sphere of action of his master, the Lord Jesus Christ, and doing those things asked of him by his master, it was the Lord Jesus Christ who was the efficient and instrumental cause of Paul being enabled with the Lord's ability so as to be strong to carry them out. During all these different situations and circumstances which Paul became involved in as he carried out God's and the Lord Jesus Christ's intention, the Lord Jesus Christ continued to give Paul the ability to do what he was doing just as he had promised him, and this able-power strengthened Paul to carry-on doing the physical tasks he faced during his apostleship.

Paul gives great emphasis to the full-range of what he is writing about throughout this section by the repetition of the Greek root-word pas which can be translated into the English as "all" or "every."

[Reference: Mark 12:44; John 15:5; Acts 9:22; Romans 4:20; II Corinthians 9:8, 12:8-10; Ephesians 1:19-23, 6:10; I Timothy 1:12, 6:6; II Timothy 4:17.]

Verse 14:

^.14Besides, you did beautifully having shared-in-common-together with my pressure;

Regarding what the Philippian holy-people had done, Paul writes: moreover, more/other than what I have just written, you did beautifully (you performed actions with a manifested decorous, harmonious and acceptable goodness) having shared-in-common in conjunction with my pressure (having actively joined in partaking with me of/with/in the same-thing, co-shared, participated, communion, having partnered sharing together with me what was common to you and myself, which in this case was my pressure, compression or stress that afflicted me, whatever may have been pressing-upon or squeezing me whether it was physical or mental or spiritual).

[Reference: Ephesians 5:11; Philippians 1:7 and 16.]

Verses 15-17:

^.15you knew² also, you Philippians, that in (the) beginning of the good-message when I came-out from Macedonia not-one church shared-in-common with me with-a-view-to (the) word of giving and receiving except you only, ^.16because even in Thessalonica both once and twice you sent the need to me, ^.17not because I earnestly-seek-after the gift but I earnestly-seek-after the fruit, the (fruit) becoming more-and-more with-a-view-to (the) word of you;

You knew and still know (perceive) in addition, you Philippian holy-people (yes, you, I am not referring to holy-people living in other locations) that during the initial time-period of my preaching the good-message when I went out (departed) away-from Macedonia (the area in which the city of Philippi is located), not one church shared-in-common with me (none of the assemblies of people called-out from other people, because they became holy-people/Christians, partook of the same things with me, not one church shared anything to become common to both parties, no church gave me a portion of what it already had, which would include material things) with a view to the word (into, regarding and directed to the spoken-account, the account which was spoken to them) of or pertaining-to:

giving (a noun referring to: the act of voluntarily giving a gift, unforced, with freedom of will yielding or presenting something with a specific quality that someone already has to someone else who does not have it yet, into the other’s ownership for his use)

and

receiving (a noun referring to: the act of receiving or taking something that is given from another to you for your own use)…

…except you only (you Philippian holy-people alone did this).

Paul explains: because with emphasis while I was in Thessalonica both at one-time and a second-time you sent the need to me (the necessity, that-which was needed, the needful-thing required by me for my use). The objective-cause of writing this here is not that I presently and actively earnestly seek after the gift (intensely look for the gift; the Greek word for 'gift' draws emphasis to the truth that the thing given has a specific quality - not that I am seeking to receive the gift, this was/is not my motivation) but on the contrary, I earnestly seek after the fruit (produce, that-which is produced) – what fruit? – the fruit presently and actively becoming more-and-more with a view to the word of you (the fruit which is becoming more than it was previously, the amount is increasing into, regarding and directed to the spoken-account pertaining to you, your account). It is not a win/lose situation but a constant giving and receiving whereby both parties benefit whether giving or receiving at any time. Paul earnestly sought to have the Philippian holy-people be blessed with fruit during the everyday living of their lives following upon their giving to him.

[Reference: Luke 11:13; Acts 16:12-17:10, 20:35; Romans 12:13, 14:12, 15:26-28; Ephesians 4:8; Philippians 1:5; James 1:17.]

Verses 18-20:

^.18but I have all-things and I exceed, I was filled² having accepted from Epaphroditus the-things from you: an odor of good-odor, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God, ^.19but my God will fill your every need according to His wealth in glory in Christ Jesus; ^.20but to God even our Father (is) the glory into the ages of the ages, with-certainty.

Paul continues: but I presently and actively have from you all things (I hold all the needed things that were due to me away from you, I have received them) and I exceed (abound over and above the number or measure already attained), I was filled and I am still full (made full, fulfilled) having accepted from Epaphroditus the things from you (having welcomed, subjectively-received or willingly taken what was presented to me from him which were the things you sent to me). From God's viewpoint these are:

an odor of good-odor (a smell which is a good smell, it is well, the kind of sweet odor as accompanying an acceptable sacrifice, sweet fragrance),
an acceptable sacrifice (a welcome, receivable offering – during this new covenant time-period because of what the Lord Jesus Christ, the redeemer, has already accomplished),
well-pleasing to God (goodly agreeable, acceptable and gratifying to/with God).

These Philippian Christians had not just thrown something together and put it in a carrier-bag and sent it with Epaphroditus just to "do their bit for the ministry"! No! They had been truthful and honest about their giving and did it in accordance with God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul had received revelation that from God's point of view what they had given to him via Epaphroditus they had spiritually given to God Himself: an odor of good-odor, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God!

And what was the fruit of their physical material giving to Paul, but ultimately to God? Paul tells them: "but my God will fill your every need according to His wealth in glory in Christ Jesus." My God will fill (make full, fulfill) your every need (all or every single necessity, that-which is needed, the needful-thing required by you for your use) – according to what? – in accordance with (in conformity and proportion to) His wealth in glory in Christ Jesus (God's richness within importance, splendor, renown, within the sphere of action of Christ Jesus).

Paul was not the one who would physically give something to them. The only true God Who is Holy Spirit told Paul to tell them, “my God will fill your every need according to His wealth in glory in Christ Jesus” – they would receive from God, not from Paul or from any other source! What a wonderful promise to the Philippian Christians.

Having done so well, who gets the glory – the Philippian holy-people or Paul or Epaphroditus or Christ or someone else? Paul writes: "but to God even our Father (is) the glory into the ages of the ages, with-certainty." To God Who emphatically is our Father (the Father spiritually of all holy-people no matter what location we are living in) is the glory (the importance, splendor, renown) – for how long? – into the ages of the ages (the durations of lifetimes for/throughout the durations of lifetimes – not only one age or a group of ages, but emphatically for all the durations of life, the entirety, for eternity, forever) – with-certainty! Amen! Truly! Surely!

To God even our Father (is) the glory into the ages of the ages, with-certainty.

[Reference: Genesis 8:15-22; Romans 9:23 and 24, 12:1 and 2; II Corinthians 2:14-17, 9:6-10; Galatians 1:5; Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 13:16.]

Verses 21 and 22:

^.21You must greet every holy-person in Christ Jesus. The brothers together with me greet you. ^.22All the holy-people greet you but especially the (holy-people) from the house of Caesar.

As Paul begins to close-out this letter, he writes: you must greet (draw to yourselves, salute) every holy-person in Christ Jesus (all or every single person who is holy, sanctified by having received the gift of holy spirit which is the spirit of Christ). All holy-people are in Christ spiritually and our actions ought to correspond to being within the sphere of action of Christ Jesus.

Paul also lets them know that the brothers – again he reminds them that they were all brothers in the spirit category having received the same holy spirit and thus being children of God: the brothers who are in conjunction with me, being right here with me as I write this letter, send their greetings to you Philippian Christians. All the holy-people in this area greet you but especially (most of all) the holy-people out-from the house belonging to Caesar.

How kind of Paul and God to allow these greetings to be sent via this letter to the Philippian Christians!

[Reference: Philippians 1:1 and 13.]

Verse 23:

^.23(May) the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (be) with your spirit, with-certainty.

Paul's opening address in this letter to all the holy-people in Christ Jesus, the holy-people being in Philippi together with overseers and ministers, included grace – and here he closes-out this letter by expressing this prayerful desire: may the grace (the unmerited, freely-bestowed favor) of, belonging-to and proceeding-from the Lord Jesus Christ be in company and association with your spirit, with-certainty! Amen! Truly! Surely! There is surety in what is written.

Notice that Paul writes "your" (plural) "spirit" (singular), literally = the spirit of you. All of us holy-people have the same holy spirit-life within us, not separate entities! We are limbs of the one spiritual body of Christ. We have the new creation which is the spirit of Christ in us and it is via this holy spirit that our Lord Jesus Christ extends his grace to us as we walk/behave ourselves according to his will which is also God's will.

[Reference: Galatians 6:18. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

(May) the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (be) with your spirit, with-certainty.