CHAPTER 4

(A.D. 64)

STAND FAST

¹Therefore, my Brethren dearly beloved and longed for (proclaims this Apostles love for the Philippians), my joy and crown (Paul took great delight in this Church), so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved (one can do this only by making the Cross the Object of his Faith, which will then give the Holy Spirit latitude to bring about such a victory).

REJOICE

²I beseech Euodias (should have been translated Euodia, because Euodias is a mans name), and beseech Syntyche (the Apostle beseeches both these ladies because it seems there had been a rupture between them, which had affected the entirety of the Church), that they be of the same mind in the Lord. (They both needed a fresh look at the Cross, which is the answer to all things as it regards the Lord.)

³And I intreat you also, true yokefellow (does not identify this man), help those women which laboured with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers (help settle the problem), whose names are in the Book of Life (refers to the roster of Believers kept in Heaven).

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always (not for all things, but in all things): and again I say, Rejoice. (Pauls teaching on emotional well-being, which follows, begins with rejoicing in the Lord.)

DONT WORRY

⁵Let your moderation (being satisfied with less than ones due) be known unto all men (even our enemies). The Lord is at hand (is near; actually refers to the Rapture).

⁶Be careful for nothing (dont worry about anything); but in everything by prayer and supplication (presents the cure for worry, which is believing prayer) with thanksgiving (takes in all God has done for us in the past, what He is doing at present, and shall do in the future) let your requests be made known unto God. (This speaks of all things, material, physical, and spiritual.)

⁷And the Peace of God (Sanctifying Peace), which passes all understanding (beyond the pale of human comprehension), shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (through what Christ did at the Cross).

THINK

⁸Finally, 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. (This can be done, providing the Cross is the Object of our Faith, which then gives the Holy Spirit latitude to help us.)

⁹Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do (Paul had given them the Gospel of the Cross, and they had seen it work in his life; so they had the correct teaching, and they had the correct example): and the God of Peace shall be with you. (Sanctifying Peace will be ours, if our Faith is properly placed in the Cross and remains in the Cross.)

THANKSGIVING

¹⁰But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly (concerning the gift they had sent him), that now at the last your care of me has flourished again (it seems that for a period of time, the Philippians had ceased to help the Apostle); wherein you were also careful (the Church at Philippi had not forgotten Paul, but lacked the means to get the gift to him), but ye lacked opportunity (thank the Lord, opportunity had finally presented itself).

¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want (declares his independence from creature comforts): for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (to be independent of external circumstances).

¹²I know both how to be abased (to keep rejoicing when there is no money), and I know how to abound (to keep rejoicing when there is money): everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (All will come sooner or later, and the negative is not for a lack of Faith, but rather for our instruction in Righteousness.)

¹³I can do all things (be abased or abound) through Christ Who strengthens me (from Whom I draw strength).

¹⁴Notwithstanding you have well done (he is not meaning to disparage the gift of the Philippian Church), that you did communicate with my affliction. (They helped Paul with his needs, as it regards the offering they sent him.)

¹⁵Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the Gospel (refers to the time when Paul first Preached the Word to them, about ten years previously), when I departed from Macedonia, no Church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only (proclaims the fact that the Philippians had always been generous).

¹⁶For even in Thessalonica (when he was starting the Church there) you sent once and again unto my necessity (proclaims their faithfulness).

¹⁷Not because I desire a gift (presents the Apostle defending himself against the slanderous assertion that he is using the Gospel as a means to make money): but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. (God keeps a record of everything, even our gifts, whether giving or receiving.)

¹⁸But I have all, and abound: I am full (proclaims the fact that the Philippian gift must have been generous), having received of Epaph-roditus the things which were sent from you (Epaphroditus had brought the gift from Philippi to Rome), an odour of a sweet smell (presents the Old Testament odors of the Levitical Sacrifices, all typifying Christ), a Sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. (For those who gave to Paul, enabling him to take the Message of the Cross to others, their gift, and such gifts presently, are looked at by God as a part of the Sacrificial Atoning Work of Christ on the Cross. Nothing could be higher than that!)

¹⁹But my God shall supply all your need (presents the Apostle assuring the Philippians, and all other Believers as well, that they have not impoverished themselves in giving so liberally to the Cause of Christ) according to His Riches in Glory (the measure of supply will be determined by the wealth of God in Glory) by Christ Jesus (made possible by the Cross).

BENEDICTION

²⁰Now unto God and our Father be Glory forever and ever. Amen. (All the Glory belongs to God, and rightly so!)

²¹Salute (greet) every Saint in Christ Jesus. The Brethren which are with me greet you. (This, no doubt, included Timothy, and several others. We are not told who all of them were.)

²²All the Saints salute you (refers to the Believers in the Church at Rome), chiefly they that are of Caesars household. (This presents the fact that Pauls work had operated notably to produce results, even in the most unlikely of places.)

²³The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all (made possible by the Cross). Amen.