Thanks for Their Gifts

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.(A) 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(B) 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,(C) whether living in plenty or in want.(D) 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.(E)

14 Yet it was good of you to share(F) in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days(G) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,(H) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;(I) 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica,(J) you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.(K) 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.(L) 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus(M) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant(N) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs(O) according to the riches of his glory(P) in Christ Jesus.

20 To our God and Father(Q) be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(R)

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God's Provision

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length (A)you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be (B)content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and (C)hunger, abundance and (D)need. 13 I can do all things (E)through him who strengthens me.

14 Yet it was kind of you (F)to share[a] my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that (G)in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, (H)no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 (I)Not that I seek the gift, but I seek (J)the fruit that increases to your credit.[b] 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, (K)having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, (L)a fragrant offering, (M)a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God (N)will supply every need of yours (O)according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To (P)our God and Father be (Q)glory forever and ever. Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 4:14 Or have fellowship in
  2. Philippians 4:17 Or I seek the profit that accrues to your account

God’s Provisions

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last (A)you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. 11 Not that I speak [a]from need, for I have learned to be [b](B)content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going (C)hungry, both of having abundance and (D)suffering need. 13 I can do all things [c]through Him who (E)strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to (F)share with me in my difficulty.

15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the [d](G)first preaching of the gospel, after I left (H)Macedonia, no church (I)shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; 16 for even in (J)Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 (K)Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the [e]profit which increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am [f]amply supplied, having received from (L)Epaphroditus [g]what you have sent, [h](M)a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And (N)my God will supply [i]all your needs according to His (O)riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to (P)our God and Father (Q)be the glory [j]forever and ever. Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 4:11 Lit according to
  2. Philippians 4:11 Or self-sufficient
  3. Philippians 4:13 Lit in
  4. Philippians 4:15 Lit beginning of
  5. Philippians 4:17 Lit fruit
  6. Philippians 4:18 Lit made full
  7. Philippians 4:18 Lit the things from you
  8. Philippians 4:18 Lit an odor of fragrance
  9. Philippians 4:19 Or every need of yours
  10. Philippians 4:20 Lit to the ages of the ages

Philippian Generosity

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last (A)your[a] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, (B)to be content: 12 (C)I know how to [b]be abased, and I know how to [c]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things (D)through [d]Christ who strengthens me.

14 Nevertheless you have done well that (E)you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, (F)no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek (G)the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I [e]have all and abound. I am full, having received from (H)Epaphroditus the things sent from you, (I)a sweet-smelling aroma, (J)an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God (K)shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 (L)Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 4:10 you have revived your care
  2. Philippians 4:12 live humbly
  3. Philippians 4:12 live in prosperity
  4. Philippians 4:13 NU Him who
  5. Philippians 4:18 Or have received all

Content Whatever the Circumstances

10-14 I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

15-17 You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice. Not that I’m looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.

18-20 And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God to no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.

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