Philippians Chapter 4

(Phil 4:1) Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Paul loved his brethren at Philippi as we should love each other. Paul missed them sorely calling them not only beloved, but also longed for. He exhorted the Philippians to "stand fast". They were to be steadfast or stable in the Lord. Such stability depended upon their submitting to Him and staying submitted to Him.

(Phil 4:2) I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

It seems that these two did not get along. Current thinking is that they were arguing. Perhaps Paul is making a play on words about these two women. Euodias (according to Strong) means a good journey and Syntyche means an accident (or a chance meeting, again, according to Strong). They may have been on a good journey, but had an accident and were now at each others' throats. It was a shame to mar a good journey with an accident. The next verse tells us that they had helped Paul spread the Gospel. Paul exhorted them to table their differences and become united in their belief. Their argument probably was not over doctrine anyway, so they should bury the hatchet and get on with their Christian lives.

(Phil 4:3-5) And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. {4} Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. {5} Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

We cannot know who Paul's true yokefellow (or fellow-laborer) was. But since Paul sent the letter to the entire church at Philippi (See Philippians 1:7), it is likely that this was addressed to the pastor or bishop of the church at Philippi. If not he, then the bishop would probably have known to whom Paul was speaking. I opt for the bishop for he would have been the best single person to speak with concerning getting help for Euodias and Syntyche. After all, those two ladies had served well with Paul and later, with Clement and other ministers. Certainly, they had a good report. However, they needed help to get over some obstacle between themselves.

We have no information about Clement, other than what we read here. This person could very easily be Clement 1, Bishop of Rome from c. 92 to 101 AD. Paul wrote this epistle to the Philippians c. 62 AD, and the Clement mentioned here could have become Bishop of Rome some thirty years later.

No matter what, even with a dispute between brethren, rejoice always in the Lord. Paul repeated it for emphasis. Moderation, or patience, is one of the fruits of the Spirit. The Lord is near so always rejoice and continue in moderation. This does not imply that Jesus would return any moment. It tells us that God is always near us: "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth" (Psalm 145:18).

Let us take a look at the book of life, mentioned here. The literal Greek is βιβλω ζωης (biblo zoes). Bιβλο is the dative case of the noun βιβλος (biblos), book, or scroll. The dative case tells us that it is the indirect object of a verb-'written' in this instance. Ζωης is the genitive case of ζοη (zoe), life. The genitive case indicates possession. Here that simply means to render it in the English, "of life'. There is no mystery here; we correctly translate the phrase, 'the book of life'.

Paul said that Euodias' and Syntyche's, Clement's, and his other fellow workers' names were written in the book of life. What is the book of life? In Isaiah 4:3, "And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:", it is apparent that the living inhabitants of Jerusalem were written down in a register. It is similarly apparent that only the names of the living were written in the register. We may extrapolate that since the inhabitants of Jerusalem who were not alive were no longer written in this register, that is, their names were written there while living and removed when they died. Ancient kings maintained a roster of their armies. When a member of the army died, his name was stricken from the roster. And, of course the Israelites always kept the names of individuals in genealogies. When a man dies, his name would have beeen removed from among the living and placed among the dead.

Moses interceded for the people of Israel in the desert. He told God, in Exodus 32:32, "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." It is evident that God had written a list of the people who would be allowed to enter into the Promised Land. Moses asked God to remove his name from the list if God did not forgive te sins of the people. When Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it (Numbers 20:11-12) , God did remove Moses' name from the list. Moses did not enter the Promised Land.

The book of life is therefore symbolic of a list of those who will enter into God's rest. Daniel tells us that there is a book of life in which are written the names of the saved. Daniel 12:1-2 "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (2) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Those written in this book of life will be delivered and have eternal life. Those not will receive everlasting contempt (they will go into the lake of fire, see Revelation 20:15.

(Phil 4:6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. There is no need to worry, just ask the Father to see you through. He always will.

Let us discuss supplication. I have known people who felt guilty about praying for themselves. We certainly need to pray for others. God wants us to. But do not forsake prayer for yourself, especially when you need it. Don't feel guilty about it. Pray for others, and yourself. Do you have a problem? Ask God; He will help you. Psalms 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

(Phil 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

If you trust God, you should have this peace. If you don't have this peace, ask God for it. Peace is a very comprehensive word. To the Hebrew, peace was much more than just freedom from war or worry, peace was the completeness of all things. Here are several different senses for the word peace (shalom) in Hebrew: completeness, soundness, welfare, safety, prosperity, tranquility, contentment, and friendship. But the one overriding use of the word shalom is that of completeness. In the Hebrew mindset, being in peace is like being copasetic, that is, everything is satisfactory. The Greek word for peace, ειρηνη, eirene, 1515, adds harmony to the list. Now this epistle would have been written with the Hebrew mindset, so I must opine that Paul was speaking of the God of completeness. Being complete engenders all of the other senses, peace, harmony, prosperity, well-being, etc.

(Phil 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul told us to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." This verse gives us a way to take bad thoughts captive. We may meditate or think on the things listed here to help replace bad thoughts. While these are helpful, we in our own power cannot get rid of these thoughts. Only through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit may we overcome any evil or sin in our lives. For it is not we in our own power that are able to overcome. We cannot overcome sin in our own strength. I believe that is what God is telling Zechariah in his prophecy, chapter four verse six: "This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." God told Zechariah that Zerubbabel would rebuild the temple. Nevertheless, the building would not be by the power or might of Zerubbabel or the people who rebuilt the temple. The actual rebuilding would be done by the power of the Spirit of God in Zerubbabel and those construction workers under him.

Let us clarify the words written in this verse to make sure we really understand their meaning.

(Phil 4:9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Paul had studied under Gamaliel, a brilliant scholar of his time. Paul was educated and very learned in the scripture. Paul also took 13 years AFTER his conversion learning about Christ. He knew his teachings were divinely inspired (1 Corinthians 2:12-13), and he had taught his converts the truth. They were to continue to do all he had taught them.

The Holy Spirit gave Paul he Gospel he taught. His Gospel was the truth. It was truth because it came from God. If we will heed the things Paul did and the things he taught, The God of peace, which is the God of completeness, will be with us. Why? Because the Gospel teaches us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and His work at Calvary and that will save us. When we are saved, God is with us and will never leave or forsake us. He is our God and we are His children.

(Phil 4:10) But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Apparently, the church at Philippi had helped Paul in the past, but now it had been some time since they had helped. Paul made sure to state that he did not blame them for the lapse by telling them he knew they had not the chance to send help. The opportunity they lacked was not that they did not have the means; it was simply that there was something unfavorable to proceeding with their help. We do not know what the problem was, but an educated guess is in order.

Philippi was in Macedonia where the modern city of Kavala is located. It is about five hundred miles as the crow flies from Rome. The only viable route was by sea. The land route would be about 800 miles through modern Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and finally Austria, and then south through Italy to Rome. The route would lead directly through the Alps. While that was a possible journey, it was an unlikely one. The point is that the distance from Rome and the separation caused by sea and mountains would be a barrier to effective communication and visitation. The times were against them as well. Christianity was not well received by the Jews, the Greeks, or the Romans. That may have caused security problems along the route from Philippi to Rome, be it sea or land. Consequently, distance and danger could have been the cause of their lacked opportunity. Perhaps this is a correct scenario, perhaps not. I remind you again this is simply conjecture.

However, we do not that they finally had an opportunity to send help to Paul and took advantage of it. Furthermore, Paul was very grateful. But note to Whom he was grateful. He praised God. Yes he was thankful to the Philippians, but he gave the glory to God.

Before I was saved, I occasionally helped a neighbor. He always thanked God for my help. Out of earshot, or to friends, I would express my disgust that He would thank God when I had provided the help. Well that is how the world thinks and I was a part of the world then, over twenty years ago. Since my conversion, I have realized, through the leading of the Spirit, that it was indeed God who provided my friend's needs. God simply used me (unknown to me) to provide for my neighbor's needs. Paul knew that God provided his needs through the agency of the church at Philippi. God fulfilled His purposes for both the Philippians and for Paul. The Lord taught the Philippians to put others' needs first and He taught Paul that once again, he could depend on Him.

Note that Paul used the word flourished. One English definition of flourish is "To thrive; to grow luxuriantly; to increase and enlarge, as a healthy growing plant." (Noah Webster 1848 Dictionary). Merriam Webster has the same definition. The Greek here, ανεθαλετε (anethalete), is the indicative aorist active second person plural of αναθαλλω (anathallo, 330). Surprisingly, αναθαλλω has a similar meaning to the English definition of flourish. It means to grow or bloom, or to thrive and increase. To Paul the bountiful gift he had received was evidence that the Philippians' ability to provide care was flourishing.

(Phil 4:11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Though Paul had had his share of hardship, that was not an overriding concern of his. He says that he had learned to be content. But Who was his teacher? It was the Holy Spirit, of course, Who is the teacher of all believers. He had been taught through his many trials to be content in all situations.

One of his learning experiences was actually in the city of Philippi. Paul and Silas were arrested for casting a spirit out of a medium and causing unrest. They were caned and their feet placed in stocks at the jail. Imagine receiving a public beating and then being placed in foot stocks. The humiliation and the pain would be enough for anyone to be bitter, yet Paul and Silas remained cheerful. They actually sang hymns at midnight. Shortly afterwards an earthquake broke down the walls of the jail. Then Paul and Silas were able to lead the jailer and his family to Christ. Read the story in Acts 16:16-40.

(Phil 4:12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Or "I know how to be without and I know how to be with plenty: I am taught everywhere and in everything to be both satisfied and hungry, both to abound and be needy." Paul is able to overcome all situations because of Jesus Christ, hence the next verse.

(Phil 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Paul could be abased or he could abound. In either case he was able abide because of the strength he received from Christ.

This is one of my favorite verses. I quote this KJV version to myself often. The modern versions leave all the power out of this verse.

There is more than one way of viewing this verse. The first way I am strengthened is by Christ Himself. In some other translations the verse reads, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." So it is Christ Who gives me my strength. That is certainly true. If we follow modern sentence structure and grammar, there should be a comma after "Christ" and before "which" in the KJV rendering. But doing this alters the interpretation a bit. But this is my point. I think the altered interpretation is another correct way of viewing this verse.

Let us see how it looks this way: " I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." This structure implies that it is the fact that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. The upshot is, it is Christ Who strengthens me and it is the fact that He strengthens me that gives me further strength. The King James Version lets me see it both ways. That is why I do not like the NIV (similar to all the modern versions) rendering: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." The modernists' precious Westcott-Hort Text and Nestle-Aland Text totally leave out the word "Christ" here.

This is the Westcott-Hort text: me παντα ισχυω εν ενδθυναμουντι με παντα Christ in the Greek is χριστω. As you can plainly see, it is not in the text. Here is the same verse from the Textus Receptus (KJV Greek text): παντα ισχυω εν τω ενδυναμουντι με χριστω. The Majority Text (identical in nearly 5000 individual extant manuscripts) reading is identical with the Textus Receptus.

The United Bible Societies' Nestle-Aland Text is identical to the Westcott-Hort Text. Virtually all of the modern translations employ the United Bible Societies' Nestle-Aland Text texts as their basic Greek textual authority. Why would I wish to read a Bible based on Greek texts that were incomplete? This sort of error is extant throughout both Aleph and B and therefore in the Westcott-Hort and Nestle-Aland texts. STICK WITH THE KJV for your authority. The modern versions leave out the inspiration of the Spirit, choosing instead to leave its authority to the whims of men.

(Phil 4:14-17) Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. {15} Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. {16} For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. {17} Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

The Philippians are the only ones who gave to Paul. He never asked, but rather had a job to support himself. (Acts 18:1-3). Paul said that he did not desire a gift; rather, he wished their good works to be credited to their account in Heaven. One fruit of the spirit is love. Their love for Paul is what enabled them to give. This work of theirs will withstand the fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Theirs is not wood, hay, or stubble, but silver, gold, and precious stones (see 1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

(Phil 4:18-19) But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. {19} But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Paul was grateful for the gift the church at Philippi had, once again, sent to him. This time they sent it to him via Epaphroditus, who became ill while in Rome with Paul. They have supplied Paul's need. God will supply theirs.

When the priests offered God the sacrifice of a burnt offering, they deemed it a sweet savor to God. Paul is comparing their gift with a sacrifice of burnt offering to the Lord. He told them their gift was a sacrifice and an offering and that it was well pleasing to God.

Many apply verse 19 to all. Here it is a word of gratitude and hope from Paul to the church at Philippi, but it does have universal application to Christians. Because they were well-pleasing to God, He would take care of all of their needs. They were saved, believers in Christ, and pleasing to God. Their salvation was by Jesus Christ, and because of Christ, their need would be supplied according to his riches in glory. Those riches are everything. God owns everything. All the riches of the world belong to God. Therefore, God is more than able to supply us with all our needs.

(Phil 4:20-23) Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. {21} Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. {22} All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household. {23} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Caesar's household are those who were keeping Paul in bonds in 1:13. Paul converted many of the officials in charge of him to Christ during his imprisonment. Those are the saints to whom he refers.

 As Paul has said, I now say to you: the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

This work is undertaken in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
This study of Philippians Copyright © 2004, Mark S. Oaks. All Rights Reserved
The content of this study (with the exception of any scripture or quote) is the sole
production of Pastor Mark Oaks and is subject to change as he grows and learns.