Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
[Immediate Reaction to the Verse: The mention here of Clement would make it appear that the Letter really originated in Rome when Paul was in prison because Clement was from Rome and he was co-workers of Peter and Paul in the Church of Rome]
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and the petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Thanks for Their Gifts
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
[Immediate Reaction to the Verse: Again this has reference to Rome's origin of the Letter. The Final Greetings verse 22 baffled many as to what is the meaning of fo Caesar's household. It is a code for the Church in Rome, since the church is also called the household of God, and Caesar is always related to Rome, thus the combination of words will show that all God's people in Caesar's household are in fact the members of the Church in Rome. Paul may have used the code to replace the one used by Peter calling Rome, Babylon in his Letters. It was a difficult period for the church and they were using codes to protect the church members and church leaders against the enemies trying to destroy Christianity at the onset.]
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.[Some manuscripts do not have Amen.]
NOTES:
4:1–9 This series of ethical admonitions rests especially on
the view of Christ and his coming (cf. Phil 4:5) in Phil 3:20–21. Paul’s
instructions touch on unity within the congregation, joy, prayer, and the
Christian outlook on life.
4:2 Euodia…Syntyche: two otherwise unknown women in the
Philippian congregation; on the advice to them, cf. Phil 2:2–4.
4:3 Yokemate: or “comrade,” although the Greek syzygos could
also be a proper name. Clement: otherwise unknown, although later writers
sought to identify him with Clement, bishop of Rome (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical
History 3.15.1).
4:4 Rejoice: see note on Phil 3:1.
4:5 Kindness: considerateness, forbearance, fairness. The
Lord is near: most likely a reference to Christ’s parousia (Phil 1:6, 10;
3:20–21; 1 Cor 16:22), although some sense an echo of Ps 119:151 and the
perpetual presence of the Lord.
4:8 The language employs terms from Roman Stoic thought.
4:9 Cf. note on Phil 3:17.
4:10–20 Paul, more directly than anywhere else in the letter
(cf. Phil 1:3–5), here thanks to the Philippians for their gift of money sent
through Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25). Paul’s own policy was to be self-sufficient
as a missionary, supporting himself by his own labor (1 Thes 2:5–9; 1 Cor
9:15–18; cf. Acts 18:2–3). In spite of this reliance on self and on God to
provide (Phil 4:11–13) Paul accepted gifts from the Philippians not only once
but more than once (Phil 4:16) when he was in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1–9), as he
does now, in prison (my distress, Phil 4:14). While commercial terms appear in
the passage, like an account of giving and receiving (Phil 4:15) and received
full payment (Phil 4:18), Paul is most concerned about the spiritual growth of
the Philippians (Phil 4:10, 17, 19); he emphasizes that God will care for their
needs, through Christ.
4:15 The beginning of the gospel: it was at Philippi that
Paul first preached Christ in Europe, going on from there to Thessalonica and
Beroea (Acts 16:9–17:14).
4:18 Aroma…sacrifice: Old Testament cultic language (cf. Gn
8:21; Ex 29:18, 25, 41; Lv 1:9, 13; Ez 20:41) applied to the Philippians’ gift;
cf. Eph 5:2; 2 Cor 2:14–16.
4:21–23 On the usual greetings at the conclusion of a
letter, see note on 1 Cor 16:19–24. Inclusion of greetings from all the holy
ones in the place from which Paul writes would involve even the Christians of
Phil 1:14–18 who had their differences with Paul.
4:22 Those of Caesar’s household: minor officials or even
slaves and freedmen, found in Ephesus or Rome, among other places.
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