PHILIPPIANS 4
OUTLINE: Exhortation to cooperation: 4:2-20.
Exhortations: Solemn commands to live right; grateful
acknowledgments of the favors he had received from
them: salutation.
(vs 1) "brethren beloved" -- tender affection (3:1)
"longed for" -- a suggestion of pain caused by his separation
from them. (1:7,8).
"Joy and crown" -- Not the diadem worn by kings, but the
chaplet of victory in the games.
They were his crown of victory. (2:16). 1 Thess. 2:19.
"Stand fast" -- Paul often uses figures of running, walking,
pursuing; now he says "STAND."
It is often difficult to stand still in the face of attack
-- easier to turn and run, flee.
Eph. 6:11, 13, 14.
LET NO ERROR MOVE YOU AWAY FROM CHRIST JESUS.
"in the Lord" -- Only in Him can there be found the strength
to "stand fast." He left us the example of strength
and stability in the face of overwhelming odds. There
is no life separate from Christ Jesus.
(vs 2) "Euodia, Syntyche" -- we do not know what the difference was,
nor anything else of these two women, other than what
is said here.
It is doubtful that there was any doctrinal problem between
them; most likely a difference of opinion.
"be of the same mind" -- oneness, unity, harmony.
(Cf. Two animals cannot pull together if they are fighting
each other.)
"in the Lord" -- The only oneness that is of any value is that
which agrees with Christ.
(vs 3) "true yokefellow" -- Do not know to whom he has reference.But,
whoever it was, he knew the reference. Some think it
may have been Epaphroditus. Whoever it was, he could
be of assistance in solving the difference.
"yokefellow" -- Christians are bound together to do the work
of the Lord. Striving in unity, yoked.
"in the gospel" -- in the furtherance of the gospel.
"Clement" -- only thing we know about him; yet, the
Philippians must have well known to whom Paul referred
"rest of my fellow-workers" -- Not named.
"Book of Life" -- Recognized by God.
Ex. 32:32; Dan. 12:1; Mal. 3:16; Ps. 69:28;
Lk. 10:20; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 20:12,15; 21:28; Heb. 12:23
(1) keeping genealogical records -- Neh. 7:5, 64; 12:22-23.
(2) Then, enrolling citizens -- Jer. 22:30.
(3) A record of those under God's care and guardianship --
Ezek. 13:9.
NOTE: When earthly citizens die, their names are removed
from the records, but not so with those whose
citizenship is in heaven.
(vs 4) The privilege of the Christian -- REJOICE ALWAYS.
To some, Christianity is a drudgery, a wearisome task;
their whole life made miserable by restraints.
Mal. 1:13 -- Israel worshipped, but their heart was
not in it; they offered the rejected animals,etc.
1 Jn. 5:3 -- God's commands are not grievous.
Having surrendered ourselves wholly to the Lord.
REMEMBER: The speaker was a prisoner, awaiting
sentence. One who had suffered many things "for
Christ."
Circumstances alone do NOT determine the condition of
the heart and mind.
JOY must be cultivated:
Saved by Christ, who supplies our needs, with hope.
Other things may vary, change, but the character, law and
promises of God are constant--we can place our joys
and confidence in them.
(vs 5) "forbearance" ("moderation" -- KJ) -- restraint on passions;
sober living; then, gentleness, mildness, yieldedness.
Do not become embittered and alarmed; but be calm and
moderate, controlling yourself.
The Christian is willing to suffer wrong rather than
inflict wrong. 1 Cor. 6:7.
The Christian cannot afford to bow his back and cause
strife to have their desires and/or wishes.
All men should speak well of the Christian with reference
to his/her gentleness, forbearance.....
"Lord is at hand" -- At all times.
Ps. 145:18, 19 -- The Lord is ever near to protect, to help
His people.
Also, perhaps, the brevity of life; don't forget that the
Lord could return at any moment. This life-span is
very brief. Paul is saying be ready at all times, for
we know not when the end may come. Cf. Jas. 5:8,9.
(vs 6) "In nothing be anxious" -- Do not be overly concerned with the
things of this world.
("anxious" -- verb; "to be of a divided mind.")
Does not mean we are not to provide material needs. (1 Tim.
5:8.) But, we should have such confidence in the Lord
that we depend upon Him -- KEEPS ONE CALM. (Mt. 6:33.)
We do not look with fear and dread or with anxiety toward
the future.
HOW MANY CHILDREN OF GOD ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
THINGS OF THE WORLD, THAN ABOUT SPIRITUAL MATTERS.
"Everything" -- your wants, needs, afflictions, trials, all
that pertains to the body, mind, whole man.
"Prayer" -- The cure for worry is prayer, faithful prayer!!!
But, prayer does not remove activity or effort. One
does not build a house, plant a field, etc., by simply
praying. There must be attentive planning and effort
put forth in order to succeed.
Does God answer prayer?? Truly, yet there are conditions to
be met before the prayer is acceptable to God. Prayer
must be "according to His will" (1 Jn. 5:14).
When one truly desire a thing, all energies are
strained to gain it. So, likewise, when we pray, we
will bring all our energies to accomplish it.
A MIRACLE need not be performed in order for God to answer
prayer. Cf. Elijah praying for rain. 1 Kgs. 18:41ff.
"Supplications" -- prayer continued in strong and incessant
pleadings. Stating our wants. Cf. Eph. 6:18.
"Thanksgivings" -- Gratitude. How thankful we should be. Yet,
how often we grumble to God about our lot in life.
(vs 7) "And" -- "Kai" -- has consecutive force, 'And so!'
"Peace of God" -- Composure of spirit given by God to them
that trust Him. THE RESULT OF PRAYER.
Inward peace of the soul that is grounded in God's presence
and promises. Mt. 11:28; Rom. 14:17
"of God" -- the source of genuine peace.
"passes all understanding" -- rises above the midst and clouds
of human speculation. As to human judgment, this peace
is beyond comprehension. Those in sin will never be
able to understand the contentment in Christ.
"guard" -- Our protector; no one can remove us.
"hearts" -- seat of will and affection.
"minds" -- by which we understand and reason.
"in Christ" -- Not merely a confidence in God, but a
confidence as realized and revealed in Christ Jesus.
This true peace is located -- IN CHRIST JESUS.
(vs 8) "finally" -- to sum up; to conclude;
"True" -- Jn. 17:17. from God.-- the Will of God. All else is
of little value. No variation here; dependable;
sincere; Foundation of all else. If what we do is not
founded upon truth, then meaningless.
"honorable" -- (footnote "reverend") respected; opposed to
flippancy that lacks intellectual seriousness; worthy.
"just" -- the right way of looking at things, according to
God's standard; lawful, according to law.
"pure" -- clean, without dirt, chaste, stainless; without sin.
"lovely" -- attractive; appealing to the finer side of a
Christian; calls forth love, attracts to itself. Not
unkind or faultfinding; not irritable or grumpy.
"of good report" -- gracious; a good name; whatever rings true
to the tune of God's standard.
"virtue" -- excellence, moral practice; courage; manliness.
"praise" -- honor given, thanksgiving.
"think on these things" -- Put your mind of these things.
Not merely the flash of a passing thought, but
deliberate and prolonged contemplation, as if one is
weighing a mathematical problem.
Consider the PROS and CONS of the moral values in life
Keep your mind pure, free from filth and iniquity.
Many fail here -- fail to give Christ worthy consideration.
Make your mind DWELL on elevated thoughts.
Control your thoughts, for "as a man thinketh, so is he."
(vs 9) "Learned and received" -- All of the above leads to action, to
application.
NOTE: Hearing, understanding, active, constant.
"heard and saw in me" -- teaching and life go together.
They heard Paul teach; they saw him so live.
Phil. 3:17 -- "be ye imitators together of me..."
1 Cor. 11:1 -- "imitators of me, as I also of Christ..."
"these things DO" -- The life of the Christian is ACTIVE, not
passive. A life of activity.
Must build on the rock --- obedience.
"and the God of peace" -- The end results; the desired
conclusion.
Jehovah desires to be with us; a constant companion.
Yet, His fellowship is CONDITIONAL.
Man must desire it; he must also express that desire.
1 Jn. 5:3.
PAUL'S THANK YOU NOTE: 4:10-18.
(vs 10) "rejoice in the Lord" -- Many rejoice, but, unless the
rejoicing is in harmony with God's Word, it is hallow,
empty and vain.
These brethren had assisted Paul often (cf. vs 16), but for
various reasons they had not had recent opportunity.
They had the will, but no opportunity to assist him.
How often today brethren have opportunity, but no will.
(vs 11) Paul did not demand anything of them; in fact he did not even
ask anything of them. He had learned the lesson of
contentment. Either with or without.
Contentment does NOT depend upon THINGS!!!
Contentment is a character of the mind, not the physical.
Cf. False contentment -- Luke 12:16-21, Rich fool,
"Soul...take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.."
Paul knew both joys and sorrows, yet he was content.
"I have learned" -- Learning comes from without, something
learned because someone taught. Paul was a student of
Jehovah God.
(vs 12) "abased" -- brought low, he knew the meaning of hunger,
thirst, fastings, cold, etc. -- 2 Cor. 11:23-28
"hunger...in want" -- yet not robbed of contentment.
"abound" -- to overflow, opposite of "abased."
"to be filled" -- have plenty.
(Cf. feeding and fattening animals)
"secret" -- to become familiar with; to learn.
NOTE: It may be more difficult to remain faithful when one
has all they need, when they are "filled," than when
they are "in want." Being "in want" has a way of
keeping one humble, whereas "being filled" often
causes one to trust in self.
(vs 13) "All things" -- "All things" must be qualified. Obviously,
Paul is not saying he can do that which is evil. "All
things" permitted by Christ.
"in Him" -- Christ was the strength of the apostle.
2 Cor. 12:9 -- "My grace is sufficient for thee...."
2 Tim. 4:17 -- Lord stood by
1 Tim. 1:12 -- the great enabler
(vs 14) Paul could get by without their assistance, but how grateful
he was for their gift.
They felt Paul's afflictions as if their own.
"afflictions" -- He was now a prisoner in Rome. Being united
with Christ, Christians suffer together. Thus a joint
participation; a "fellowship." They felt the pain of
Paul's imprisonment.
Cf. 3:10 -- "fellowship" of His sufferings" -- joint
participation in suffering.
(vs 15) They had been liberal with Paul from the beginning and Paul
is conscious of this.
"Ye Philippians" -- Paul called them by name; how personal,
how tender.
Refers to the establishment of churches on his 2nd Journey.
Paul received support from Philippi -- 1 Thess. 2:9;
2 Thess. 3:8; 2 Cor. 11:9.
NOTE: Business terminology. An account of expenditures and
receipts:
(1) The Philippians were the givers.
(2) Paul the receiver.
"Fellowship" -- joint participation in the preaching of the
Gospel.
(vs 16) Even in Thessalonica -- (probably about 50 miles)
"Once and again" -- continual in their support. Philippi saw a
need and rose to the occasion.
(vs 17) Paul did not request their support, although he could have;
1 Cor. 9:3-12.
Actually they benefited the most from the giving. Acts 20:35.
NOTE: One can have fellowship in preaching the gospel by
supporting the one preaching. Thus, those not
preaching may have part or fruit in new converts by
assisting those actually making the converts.
"your account" - Jehovah watches what transpires.
(vs 18) Paul's needs were met.
"Epaphroditus" -- Their messenger. cf. 2:25-30.
"a sacrifice" -- laid on God's altar.
"well pleasing to God" -- The Lord is cognizant of what we do.
AGAIN: God recognized their gift to Paul. Whatever is done
for the servant is done for the Master. Mt. 25:35-40.
NOTE: One does not BUY GRACE, but one pleases God when he
proves his love and loyalty in the service of our
King.
NOTE: The acceptability of the gift depends upon the heart
(motive) of the giver.
"Not what we give but what we share,
For the gift without the giver is bare."
(Lowell)
Cf. to our worship: The heart (will) must be in it.
Pharisees gave lip worship, but no heart. Mt. 15:7.
(vs 19) God is concerned with His children.
"My God" -- how tender, how touching, how personal.
He has promised the essentials.
"God will not fulfill every wish, but will supply 'every
need'!" (Hendriksen)
God cares: Lk. 6:38; 22:35; 2 Tim. 4:17-18; 1 Pet. 5:7.
Divine providence -- Mt. 6:25-33; Mk. 10:30; Eph. 3:8
"according to His riches" -- We are indeed RICH!!!
"in Christ" -- because of our relationship to Him.
(vs 20) Is there any reason why we should not praise "our God"?
To Him belongs all of our praise.
"Amen"-- not merely an expression of the lips, but of the
heart.
CONCLUSION -- BENEDICTION: 4:21-23.
(vs 21) Give each Saint my expression of thanks and love.
"Saint" -- God's children, set apart for service.
"brethren with me" -- Paul's companions in Rome. Timothy, etc.
(vs 22) "all the saints" -- The church in Rome sends greetings. This
in addition to those mentioned in verse 21.
"especially Caesar's household" -- Not necessarily the
immediate family of Caesar, but any guard or servant
in the household of Caesar. cf. 1:13
(vs 23) "Grace" -- major part of the gospel; God's unmerited favor.
Paul had become recipient of God's grace. He knew
about it.
AND SO SHOULD WE!!!
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