Philippians 4

Philippians 4:1

And to make all [men] see. Jews as well as Gentiles. What [is] the fellowship of the mystery. The office or stewardship of this mystery. It was demonstrated in his apostleship to the Gentiles. Which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God. It was from the beginning God’s purpose to save the Gentiles by the gospel, but it had been kept hidden.

Philippians 4:2

To the intent. The mystery had been hidden during all the ages, but was now revealed in order that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known. It was made known, (1) To the Gentiles by preaching the gospel. (2) To Jews. This is implied in the “all” of Ephesians 3:9. (3) To principalities and powers in heavenly places; that is, to angelic beings. See 1 Peter 1:12. By the church. As the fruit of God’s wisdom revealed in the gospel, and especially by the union of Jews and Gentiles in one body.

Philippians 4:3

According to the eternal purpose. The purpose which God had in all the ages purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Proposed to fulfill through Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:4

In whom. In Jesus Christ. We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. All, both Jew and Gentile alike, can come boldly to God. Without the revelation of Christ we could hardly know of God of love, who loved to have us come to him.

Philippians 4:5

Wherefore. Seeing that I have revealed this glorious mystery to you. I desire that ye faint not. Do not become discouraged. At my tribulations for you. At his sufferings, a prisoner on account of the Gentiles. Which is your glory. “Which are your glory”, as in the Revised Version. The plural shows that “which” refers to tribulations. These tribulations all came in his work as the apostle of the Gentiles. Hence, they all suffered in a work which made them heirs of eternal glory.

Philippians 4:6

For this cause I. See Ephesians 3:1. He now resumes the thought of that verse. I bow my knees. In the attitude of prayer. Unto the Father. The Fountain of all mercies.

Philippians 4:7

Of whom. The Father is referred to. The words “Of our Lord Jesus Christ” of Ephesians 3:14 are not found in the best manuscripts and are omitted in the Revised Version. The whole family in heaven and earth is named. In the Revised Version, “Every family”. The idea is that the Father is the Father of all the families of his children, whether Jews or Gentiles on earth, or in heaven. He is “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9 Lu 11:2) to the believer of every race, in this world or the world to come. All, as far as creation is concerned, derive their being from him, like children from a parent, and all the good are his spiritual children.

Philippians 4:8

That he would grant you. Paul now states the things for which he so earnestly prays in behalf of those to whom he writes. According to the riches of his glory. In a degree which would correspond. To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. That their spirits might be strengthened by God’s spirit and endowed with the might of spiritual gifts.

Philippians 4:9

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. This is the second petition. That they may so lay hold of Christ by faith that he will be to them a present Savior, in their hearts. That ye, being rooted and grounded in love. The third petition relates to the love of Christ.

Philippians 4:10

May be able to comprehend. Unless they were “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17) and the “love of God shed abroad” in their hearts (Romans 5:5), it would be impossible for them to comprehend the exceeding riches of the love of Christ. This is the climax of prayer, the point to which the other petitions tend. Indeed, from the beginning of the Epistle, he has been declaring what love Christ has shown for the Gentile world.

Philippians 4:11

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. This is one of Paul’s paradoxes, like 1 Timothy 5:6. They could know something of the love of Christ, but we can never fully comprehended the infinite. That ye be filled with all the fulness of God. Filled with God’s grace to the full.

Philippians 4:12

Now to him. He has offered a prayer, and closes it with a doxology. According to the power that worketh in us. They knew something of the mighty working of the Spirit, and therefore of the Divine power. But God was able to do for them beyond all that they could conceive.

Philippians 4:13

Unto him [be] glory in the church by Jesus Christ. Let the church in all ages manifest his glory by its light. Throughout all ages. Literally, “Unto all the generations of the age of ages”. The idea is, through the endless succession of ages, or through all time.

Philippians 4:15

The Unity of the Church SUMMARY OF EPHESIANS 4: The Exhortation to Unity. The Seven Bonds of Unity. The Various Gifts Given to the Church. The Offices for Its Edification. The Church Compacted in Christ. The Gentiles Called from Their Former Lives. A New and Holy Life Commanded. I, therefore. Practical duties are now urged which grow out of their glorious privileges in Christ. The prisoner of the Lord. See PNT Ephesians 3:1. Compare Philemon 1:9. He was a prisoner because he was a servant of the Lord. Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. They had been called to a glorious calling, as he had shown in chapter 3. The Christian has been called to the highest calling with which man has ever been honored.

Philippians 4:16

With all lowliness and meekness. Walk in humility and gentleness of spirit. These are characteristics of walking worthily. Other are long-suffering, forbearing one another. To take offense easily, and to seek to “pay back” any fancied injuries, are the opposite of these qualities. In love. If the heart is filled with love, the other qualities will be shown forth. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

Philippians 4:17

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit. The unity of those who have the same Spirit, not merely an outward unity. In the bond of peace. An outward unity, which does not secure peace, cannot be the unity of the Spirit. Forbearance and long-suffering are essential to unity and peace.

Philippians 4:18

[There is] one body. The Unity commanded has a basis in seven unities which existed in the church, and should exist in all ages. There was then only one body, the church, the body of Christ; not a Gentile body and a Jewish body. Modern denominations were unknown. Compare Romans 12:5 1 Corinthians 12:12,13 Eph 2:16. And one Spirit. The same Spirit bestowed upon Jew and Gentile, and upon all saints. Even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. Wherever called and from whatever state, all were filled with one hope, that of immortality.

Philippians 4:19

One Lord. Christ, the Head of the church (1 Corinthians 1:13 Ephesians 1:10). All saints have one Master. One faith. One Lord who is the object of faith, and whom both Jews and Gentiles lay hold upon by faith in him. One baptism. All have been baptized into the “one Lord” upon the profession of the “one faith” by one rite. It would be utterly inconsistent with the Apostle’s argument, if there could be anything divisive about baptism, as three different ways of administering itself. He is showing that there is unity in each one of seven essential features of Christianity, and hence all should seek to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

Philippians 4:20

One God. Not gods many, but one God for all; “The Father of all, above all, through all, in all”. Meyer, upon this passage, says that the elements of church unity are: (1) The church itself constituted as a unity: One Body, one Spirit, one Blessed Hope. (2) The means by which this united church is built up: One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism. (3) Over all one Supreme Ruler, the God and Father of all. Bishop Pearson, on the creed, notes “Points of Unity of the Church”. He enumerates, (1) Unity of the Head; (2) Unity of the Spirit dwelling in it; (3) Unity of hope; (4) Unity of faith; (5) Unity of ordinance for admission; (6) Unity of the one Father; (7) Unity or organization, one Body.

Philippians 4:21

But unto every one of us iis given grace. While all named above is common, the Lord has given grace to each one according to the measure of the gift of Christ. That is, there are special offices, and special gifts, that Christ deals to each.

Philippians 4:22

Wherefore he saith. The citation is from Psalms 68:18. It is cited to show that Christ gives. When he ascended on high. Paul applies this to Christ’s ascension to heaven. He led captivity captive. The captives, led captive by Christ, are sin, the curse of the law, and death. And gave gifts to men. As a conqueror, returning in triumph, was wont to distribute gifts, so Christ signalized his ascension by gifts.

Philippians 4:23

Now that he ascended . . . also descended first. Paul, in applying this to Christ, shows that it implies that he must have descended from heaven, before his ascension to heaven. This must necessarily follow, if the one ascending is divine, and has a home in heaven, as Psalms 68:18 indicates.