Philippians 4

Philippians 4:1

“my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown” - Comments - In Philippians we see Paul’s greatest desire. When a man longs for something, there is no more room in his heart for a second affection. He may attend to other issues, but he longs for his deepest affections. This could be a hobby, a relationship, money, or, in Paul’s case, souls For example, when a man loves to fish as a hobby, he works and manages his life around the times that he can purchase a large bass boat and travel to the best fishing places in the country. He thinks and dreams about fishing. Other things are important, but none is so interesting and so desirous at to get away from it all and find his greatest joys in his fishing boat. Paul loved people as well as the Lord Jesus Christ. He planted churches by building up people’s lives. He was in the ministry to build the body of Christ. In contrast to this verse, Paul had just warned the Philippians in the previous verses (Philippians 3:17-21) to be careful of those appear to be Christian leaders, but serve their own desires, which are building their own ministry as the cost of other believers. Some people are building up the body of Christ. Others are building their little Christian empire here on earth and using souls to achieve their own goals. If these people whom Paul calls the enemies of the Cross were easy to recognize, Paul would not need to give himself as an example in the preceding verses. But many ministers are imitating the ministry and serving their own projects, building their own kingdom, as the cost of others who sacrifice. Paul was not just referring to those outside of the body of Christ in Philippians 3:17-21. He was also referring to ministers who started out well, but who are now working their own plan, having lost the plan of God for their lives. These ministers do not really love people. They love the honor of being called a minister. Their hobby is building their own earthly kingdom. The genuine minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a prisoner of the Lord. The false minister is an enemy of the Cross. His god is his belly. He minds earthly things. The genuine minister of the Gospel is sacrificing for the people of God. A false minister is serving his own plans and purposes, even if it is clothed in Christian works and titles. The genuine minister loves people; the false one loves his ministry and his title more than people. Both are serving in the name of Christ. The genuine minister will have rewards in heaven; the false one, though he may be save and work hard, will have his works destroyed, though he himself may be saved as by fire. In this epistle, Paul also used Timothy as an example of a true minister. Paul contrasted Timothy to the many who sought their own interests. Philippians 2:19-21, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Philippians 4:1 — “so stand fast in the Lord” – Comments - This is Paul’s purpose in all of his letters, especially brought out in chapter 3. Note Philippians 3:1 “for you it is safe”. Paul is trying to teach them and to constantly remind them in Philippians 3:1 of false teachers and God’s anointed men. Philippians 4:1 is a key verse, as a summary of Paul’s warnings in chapter 3.

Philippians 4:2-20

Glorification: The Father’s Promise of Divine Provision as Partners – In Philippians 4:2-20 Paul reveals practical ways in which they were to think in order to enter into rest in the mist of hardships. In Philippians 4:2-9 Paul exhorts the church at Philippi to put on the mind of Christ, in their relationships with others (Philippians 4:2-3), in their own physical activities (Philippians 4:4-7), in their thought life (Philippians 4:8) and in what they had learned from the example of Paul. In Philippians 4:10-20 Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi on their giving as a way of receiving divine provision from the Lord. The key verse in this section is Philippians 4:19, in which Paul promises that “my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Outline – Here is a proposed outline: A. Exhortation to Put on the Mind of Christ — Philippians 4:2-9B. Exhortation on God’s Provision — Philippians 4:10-20

Philippians 4:10-20

Exhortation on God’s Provision: A Promise of God’s Provision – Physical and Material Provision – In Philippians 4:10-20 Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi on their giving as a way of receiving divine provision from the Lord. Philippians 4:12 — Comments – Philippians 4:12 reflects on a lifetime of experience in trusting God and seeing His faithfulness. For a young person, the seasons of life change slowly. A young person always wants his circumstances to change quickly. However, for a seasoned Christian, he knows that change will come, the Lord will deliver. He learns to find rest in the Lord in difficult times as well as good times. King David also reflected on God’s faithfulness in his old age (Psalms 37:25). Psalms 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Philippians 4:11-12 — Comments - True Contentment - Peace and contentment in the midst of trials are the signs of true Christian maturity. Paul the apostle expresses this contentment in his epistle to the Philippians. Paul is not saying that he has learned to accept the curse, such as sickness and poverty, in his life. But rather, he has learned to put his confidence and faith in God without anxiety, whatever circumstances come his way. This whole chapter is about not being full of doubt and worry, but it is about putting your faith in God to supply every need in life. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 — Comments - Philippians 4:13 does not mean that we can do anything we want to do in the flesh. We can do anything God wants us to do, hence, the phrase “thru Christ Jesus.” We can do anything within God’s will. Philippians 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Philippians 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. Philippians 4:15 — “that in the beginning of the gospel” – Comments - Paul had been preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for approximately twenty years, since the early days of his conversion. He has been on his missionary journeys for perhaps five or six years. So the “beginning of the gospel” would be from the reference point of the believers in Philippi. Paul says that from the time that they first began to embrace the Gospel they extended gifts to Paul to support him work. In a secondary sense, the church of Philippi was Paul’s first missionary effort in his westward expansion into Europe. Philippians 4:15 — Comments - Paul has a way of telling, or reminding, the Philippians of all the good things that they have done for the Lord. As also does Jesus to the seven churches in Revelation 2, 3. Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. Philippians 4:17 — Comments - When we give to God with our tithes and offerings, we must understand that it is not that God is coming after our money, but that He is attacking our lack. He wants us to abound with blessings. Giving is the divine principle that He has ordained for our needs to be met. The believers at Philippi were givers. Because of this Paul promises them that God will supply every need they had (Philippians 4:19). This promise is not to stingy Christians, but to those who have learned to give cheerfully and liberally. Philippians 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. Philippians 4:18 — “I have all, and abound” - Comments - This confession of Paul did not mean that he had a lot of material possessions, for he was a traveling missionary. It means that the peace of God that comes by doing His will brought such a deep contentment within his heart, that he did not covet this world’s goods. God was meeting his daily needs, and with this divine provision, Paul was contented. There was a place of rest that he had entered into. Hebrews 4:9, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” Another way to say it is that the Lord was His Shepherd and he did not want (Psalms 23). Philippians 4:18 — “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God” – Comments - Note a similar description of how our prayers go up to God in the testimony of Cornelius. Acts 10:4, “And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” Philippians 4:18 — Comments - Note in Philippians 2:30 that Epaphoditus had brought a gift to Paul from the Philippians. Philippians 2:30, “Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.” Paul had financial needs. According to Acts 28:30 he was staying in a rented house. Acts 28:30, “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,” What could have been “filthy lucre” was made a sweet smelling odor in God’s sight. This is because the Philippians had used things to love people instead of using people to love and gain things. God has given us material things on this earth to bless others. We are to be careful and never use other people to meet our own selfish desires. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 — “But my God shall supply” – Comments - Paul knows that He was their God also, but he wanted to emphasize the fact that the Philippians had joined in partnership with the God who had called Paul to complete a task (Philippians 1:3-7). Paul wanted them to see that because they had helped Paul fulfill his divine calling, his God would in turn meet their needs. Thus, the Philippians are partakers of Paul’s blessings because of their support of Paul. Philippians 4:19 — “all your need” – Word Study on “need” – Strong says this Greek word “need” (÷ñåé́ ?á) (G5532) means, “employment, an affair, occasion, demand, requirement or destitution.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 49 times in the New Testament, being translated in the KJV as, it is translated, “need 25, need + 2192 14, necessity 3, use 2, needful 1, necessary 1, business 1, lack 1, wants 1.” Comments - Note the singular form in use, not plural “needs,” but singular. Philippians 4:19 could be translated “each need of yours.” God is interested in every need of yours, no matter how small, and will become involved with each of them. Read verse 6, “But in everything”, that is, in each specific need, make your request known unto God. How would God supply their needs? His principle of sowing and reaping applies to all believers. The church at Philippi had become partners in Paul’s ministry. They had given much to financially support him (Note Philippians 4:10-19). Paul assures them that as they have met his needs in the ministry, God would, in turn, meet their needs. Jesus told us that if we would follow His Word, it would position us so that we could receive from God. John 15:7, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Thus, we have to meet these conditions in order to ask and receive from God. The Lord once told me that if I would take care of His needs first, then He would take care of my needs. Philippians 4:19 — “according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” – Comments - We find a reference to these glorious riches in Ephesians 1:3, which tells us about the Father’s spiritual blessings which are given to us. Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

1. God the Father – The promise of our being chosen to inherit eternal life and the promise of Him meeting all of our needs in this life. Ephesians 1:4-5, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
2. Jesus Christ - The promise of Christ Jesus dwelling in us and of His Second Coming to take us to our eternal dwelling place. Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
3. The Holy Spirit - The promise of the Holy Spirit indwelling us to lead us, and impart His gifts into us. Galatians 3:13-14, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” 1 Corinthians 1:7, “So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:” What are some of those riches? Romans 2:4, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Romans 9:23, “And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” Romans 11:33, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:18, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,” Ephesians 2:7, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:8, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” Ephesians 3:16, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” Colossians 2:2, “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;” 1 Timothy 6:17, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” Philippians 4:19 — Comments (1) - This promise is not for everyone, but for those who had partnered with Paul in the ministry. Because they had taken care of God’s needs, He would in turn take care of their needs. This is the same principle that Jesus Christ taught us in John’s Gospel when He told us to abide in Him and we could ask what we desired and it would be given unto us. John 15:7, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” One good example from the Old Testament of this principle is found in the story of Elijah asking the widow of Zarephath to make him a cake first. In her poverty she met the needs of the man of God, which resulting in God supplying her needs. Comments (2) - Philippians 4:19 reveals the secondary theme of the epistle of Philippians, which is the declaration that as we take care of God’s servants, the Lord will meet all of our needs. Philippians 4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:21-23

Conclusion – Paul closes his epistle with final greetings (Philippians 4:21-22) and a benediction (Philippians 4:23). Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. Final Greeting — Philippians 4:21-222. Benediction — Philippians 4:23 Philippians 4:21-22 — Final Greetings – In Philippians 4:21-22 Paul gives a short final greeting to the believers in Philippi. Philippians 4:21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. Philippians 4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household. Philippians 4:22 — “Caesar’s household” – Comments - John Rutherfurd tells us that Caesar’s household refers to the “whole of the persons, slaves and freemen alike, composing the establishment of the emperor in his palace on the Palatine Hill at Rome.” It says that “these persons in the emperor’s palace would be employed in every conceivable capacity as household servants, cooks, bathmen, gardeners, grooms, kennel-keepers, porters, doorkeepers, messengers, secretaries, amanuenses, teachers, librarians, architects, carpenters, shoemakers, and in all other forms of service.”[86] Belonging to this household, even as the lowest of slaves, would grant social privileges, making this an important group of people. Evidently some of these people embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ. [86] John Rutherfurd, “Caesar’s Household,” in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., c1915, 1939), in The Sword Project, v. 1.5.11 [CD-ROM] (Temple, AZ: CrossWire Bible Society, 1990-2008).Philippians 4:23 — Benediction – Philippians 4:23 is called the final benediction. Philippians 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Philippians 4:23 — “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” - Comments (1) - In a similar way that the early apostles were instructed by Jesus to let their peace come upon the home of their host (Matthew 10:13), so did Paul the apostle open every one of his thirteen New Testament epistles with a blessing of God’s peace and grace upon his readers. Matthew 10:13 shows that you can bless a house by speaking God’s peace upon it. Matthew 10:13, “And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.” This practice of speaking blessings upon God’s children may have its roots in the Priestly blessing of Num 6:22-27, where God instructed Moses to have the priests speak a blessing upon the children of Israel. Now Paul closes his epistle to the Philippians by restating the blessing that he opened his epistle with in Philippians 1:2. Comments (2) - In Philippians 4:23 Paul basically commends them into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ, in much the same way that he did in the book of Acts. We find this statement at the end of all of Paul’s epistles. Acts 14:23, “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” Acts 20:32, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Philippians 4:23 — “Amen” – Comments - In the Textus Receptus the word “Amen” is attached to the end of all thirteen of Paul’s epistles, as well as to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, and to the General Epistles of Hebrews , 1 and 2 Peter , 1 and 2 John, and to the book of Revelation. However, because “Amen” is not supported in more ancient manuscripts many scholars believe that this word is a later liturgical addition. For example, these Pauline benedictions could have been used by the early churches with the added “Amen.”