Php 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
“Therefore”
- Paul is making a conclusion based upon what he had been sharing with them in the previous chapter.
- What is he concluding?
“so stand fast in the Lord”
- Phi 3:17-21
- Paul asks them to follow him.
- Be careful of those who are the enemies of the cross.
- Our conversation must be in heaven as we have a hope of the second coming.
- How can we stand fast?
- Be heavenly mind, have the mind of Jesus.
- Have the experience of righteousness by faith.
Php 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
Paul is exhorting Euodias and Syntyche to have the same mind.
- This theme keeps repeating throughout the book.
Php 4:3 And I intreat 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.
Paul is asking others to help Euodias and Syntyche as they were labourers together with Paul in the gospel along with Clement.
- He is asking them all to have the same mind and be fellow labourers.
- We know these people are good because their names are written in the book of life.
Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
“Rejoice… always and again I say rejoice.”
- Why is he asking us to rejoice? He is showing that we can rejoice in all circumstances.
- In chapter 1, he writes that he is in bonds (verse 13) yet there was a positive outcome for it. That even in the seemingly bad circumstances, there came a blessing. And so we can rejoice always as he did!
- Philippians 1:18
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
- Philippians 1:18
- Philippians 2:17-18
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.- Paul could rejoice even when he was offered upon the altar of sacrifice. Why? Because Jesus the Saviour did the same thing.
- Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Philippians 3:1
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.- He writes to us again to rejoice in the Lord. Even as he is about to warn them of evil workers in the following verses, he still says to rejoice!
“Let your moderation be known unto all men”
- The word moderation means gentleness and patience.
- How can people know about our gentleness and patience? Learning to rejoice and rejoice again in every circumstance.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
“Be careful for nothing”
- The word careful means anxious.
- What would make us anxious that Paul has to tell us not to?
- The evil workers in chapter 3.
- The reason why Paul was in prison was because of his own countrymen. They were constantly on his heels trying to persecute him and kill him. We can read about all that in the book of Acts.
- Yet Paul could still say that he was sitting with Christ in heavenly places.
- He could still rejoice and again rejoice. How?
“but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”
- Paul could rejoice, he could be careful for nothing because he had prayed and he had the assurance that God would hear and answer according to his will. And on top of that, he was thankful.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Prayer is what was just spoken about in the previous verse. This is the result of prayer:
- We can have the peace of God which passes all understanding.
- This is how our hearts and minds can be kept in Jesus Christ.
Prayer is what will help us to experience righteousness by faith. Which means, prayer is that which will give us the mind of Christ!
Php 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.
“Finally”
- A conclusion to how we can have the peace of God and to avoid being anxious.
How can we have that peace?
- It depends what we set our mind on according to this verse.
- We must think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report and virtuous.
- This is what will affect the mind.
- This is what can also determine whether we will have the mind of Christ or not, whether we have a healthy spiritual mind.
Php 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.
“and the God of peace shall be with you”
- If God is with us who gives us peace, that is the same as having “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.
- This is how we can have peace.
How is it that we can have peace?
- The things that we have learned, received, heard and seen, we must do.
- There must be the practical application. Righteousness by faith, having the mind of Christ is practical.
- There is prayer.
- But there must also be meditation (thinking on things) on those things that are good and virtuous.
Php 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.
Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Paul is thankful for the care that the church has shown him.
- But either way, he has learned to be content no matter what situation he is in.
Php 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.
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
“I can do all things”
- To be content with any circumstance. He described it in the previous verse.
- Based and abound.
- Full and hungry.
- Abound and to suffer need.
- Paul could be content in every circumstance because it was Christ that gave him strength.
- Contentment is a state of mind, not a state of being.
- So Paul could rejoice even when he was in prison because he had Christ’s mind. It was a byproduct of righteousness by faith. It was a byproduct of what he had been meditating on.
Php 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Php 4:15 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.
“Notwithstanding”
- Even though he could be content in every situation, Paul was thankful for the church in helping him in time of need.
That word “communicate” means to help with funds – giving and receiving.
Php 4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
Php 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
When Paul was in Thessalonica, even then the Church at Philippi sent him something for his necessity.
- Paul didn’t desire a gift, but it was evidence from the fruit of their actions that Paul’s words had taken a hold of their lives. That is what Paul desired more than their gift.
- Paul wanted them to practice self giving and self sacrifice. It would be evidence that they had the mind of Christ.
Php 4:18 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.
On the contrary, Paul was full and abounding. Why?
- He received the gift from them which was an odour of a sweet smell. It wasn’t perfume that he received, but it was their sacrifice that became that sweet smell, it became acceptable and well pleasing to God.
Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Because they had supplied the need of Paul, because they had fruit that showed their faith, Paul is saying that God would supply their need.
- They were giving their means to Paul.
- So when you are giving, your needs will always be met.
- That doesn’t just mean money, but also your spiritual needs.
Contextually speaking, he is only speaking to those that are giving already – not those that are withholding their means.
Php 4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Php 4:21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
Php 4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
Php 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.
“Caesar’s household”
- There were people there that were from Caesar’s household who were converted.
- Paul’s ministry had fruit. That’s why he could rejoice.
In this closing chapter, Paul is exhorting the church to be steadfast in the Lord. To have fruits that show their faith and their mind that ought to be yoked with Christ. To be moderate, to not be anxious, to rejoice, to be thankful, to be content in every situation, and to be self-sacrificial in our lives. That should be the fruit of every true Christian. Only Christ can help us to be like that. He is the only One that can strength us for every good work.
In summary of the book of Philippians:
Chapter 1
- Paul has a positive mind – even though he is in prison, he still rejoices.
- Paul lived what he preached – singing in prison (Acts 16).
- Rejoice always, and again I say rejoice.
Chapter 2
- Paul has lowliness of mind – mind of Christ – Paul, Timothy and Epaphrodites.
Chapter 3
- Paul always progresses in the mind, the experience of righteousness by faith.
Chapter 4
- Paul has a mind that rejoices always, and thinking of those things which are of good virtue.
So the book of Philippians is about the mind. How we can have the mind of Christ. And how we can have unity of the mind.