Philippians 4
New English Translation
Christian Practices
4 So then, my brothers and sisters,[a] dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!
2 I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I say also to you, true companion,[b] help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry[c] along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! 5 Let everyone see your gentleness.[d] The Lord is near! 6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds[e] in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters,[f] whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. 9 And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
Appreciation for Support
10 I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)[g] 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. 12 I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment,[h] whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. 13 I am able to do all things[i] through the one[j] who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, you did well to share with me in my trouble.
15 And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion[k] you sent something for my need. 17 I do not say this because I am seeking a gift.[l] Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account. 18 For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 May glory be given to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21 Give greetings to all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers[m] with me here send greetings. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.[n]
Footnotes
- Philippians 4:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.
- Philippians 4:3 tn Or “faithful fellow worker.” This is more likely a descriptive noun, although some scholars interpret the word σύζυγος (suzugos) here as a proper name (“Syzygos”), L&N 42.45.
- Philippians 4:3 tn Grk “in the gospel,” a metonymy in which the gospel itself is substituted for the ministry of making the gospel known.
- Philippians 4:5 tn Grk “let your gentleness be seen by all.” The passive voice construction has been converted to active voice in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Philippians 4:7 tn Grk “will guard the hearts of you and the minds of you.” To improve the English style, the second occurrence of ὑμῶν (humōn, “of you”) has not been translated, since it is somewhat redundant in English.
- Philippians 4:8 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.
- Philippians 4:10 tn Grk “for you were even concerned, but you lacked opportunity.”
- Philippians 4:12 tn The words “of contentment” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by Paul’s remarks at the end of v. 11.
- Philippians 4:13 tn The Greek word translated “all things” is in emphatic position at the beginning of the Greek sentence.
- Philippians 4:13 tc Although some excellent witnesses lack explicit reference to the one strengthening Paul (so א* A B D* I 33 1739 lat co Cl), the majority of witnesses (א2 D2 [F G] Ψ 075 1175 1241 1505 1881 2464 M al sy Hier) add Χριστῷ (Christō) here (thus, “through Christ who strengthens me”). But this kind of reading is patently secondary, and is a predictable variant. Further, the shorter reading is much harder, for it leaves the agent unspecified.
- Philippians 4:16 tn Or “several times”; Grk, “both once and twice.” The literal expression “once and twice” is frequently used as a Greek idiom referring to an indefinite low number, but more than once (“several times”); see L&N 60.70.
- Philippians 4:17 tn Grk “Not that I am seeking the gift.” The phrase “I do not say this…” has been supplied in the translation to complete the thought for the modern reader.
- Philippians 4:21 tn Or perhaps, “The brothers and sisters” (so TEV, TNIV; cf. NRSV “The friends”; CEV “The Lord’s followers”) If “brothers” refers to Paul’s traveling companions, it is probably that only men are in view (cf. NAB, NLT). Since v. 22 mentions “all the saints,” which presumably includes everyone, it is more probable here that only Paul’s traveling companions are in view.
- Philippians 4:23 tc Most witnesses, including several significant ones (P46 א A D Ψ 33 1175 1241 1505 2464 M lat sy bo), have ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”) at the end of this letter, while an impressive combination of Alexandrian and Western mss (B F G 075 6 075 1739* 1881 sa Ambst) lack the valedictory particle. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Thus, on internal grounds, with sufficient support from external evidence, the preferred reading is the omission of ἀμήν.
Philippians 4
Lexham English Bible
Appeal for Unity
4 So then, my beloved and greatly desired brothers, my joy and crown, thus stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. 2 I appeal to Euodia and I appeal to Syntyche to be in agreement[a] in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask also you, true yokefellow, help them, who struggled along with me in the gospel with both Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life.
Be Anxious for Nothing
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be made known to all people. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds[b] in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are pleasing, whatever things are commendable, if there is any excellence of character and if anything praiseworthy, think about these things. 9 And the things which you have learned and received and heard about and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Support for Paul’s Ministry
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your concern for me[c], for whom also you were thinking, but you had no opportunity to express it. 11 Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how both to make do with little[d] and I know how to have an abundance[e]. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to have an abundance[f] and to go without. 13 I am able to do all things by the one who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless you have done well by sharing[g] with me in my affliction. 15 Now you also know, Philippians, that at the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone, 16 because even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion[h] you sent for my need. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek for the profit that increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am well supplied[i] because[j] I received from Epaphroditus what you had sent[k], a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will fulfill your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever[l]. Amen.
Final Greetings and Benediction
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, and especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Footnotes
- Philippians 4:2 Literally “to think the same thing”
- Philippians 4:7 Or “thoughts”
- Philippians 4:10 Literally “you have revived to think on behalf of me”
- Philippians 4:12 Literally “to be humbled”
- Philippians 4:12 Literally “to abound”
- Philippians 4:12 Literally “to abound”
- Philippians 4:14 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“sharing”) which is understood as means
- Philippians 4:16 Literally “both once and twice”
- Philippians 4:18 Literally “I have been made full”
- Philippians 4:18 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“received”) which is understood as causal
- Philippians 4:18 Literally “the things from you”
- Philippians 4:20 Literally “to the ages of the ages”
腓立比書 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
保羅的勸勉
4 我所親愛、所想念的弟兄姊妹,你們就是我的喜樂,我的冠冕。我親愛的弟兄姊妹,你們要靠主堅定不移。 2 我懇求友阿蝶和循都姬要在主裡同心。 3 忠心的同工啊,請你幫助她們二人,因為她們曾與我、革利免和其他同工一起為福音辛勞,這些人的名字都記錄在生命冊上了。
4 你們要靠主常常喜樂!我再說,你們要喜樂! 5 要讓眾人都知道你們是謙和寬容的人。主快來了。 6 你們應該一無掛慮,凡事要藉著禱告和祈求,以感恩的心將你們的需要告訴上帝。 7 這樣,上帝那超越人所能理解的平安必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心思意念。
8 最後,弟兄姊妹,你們要思想一切真實、可敬、公義、純潔、可愛、有好名聲、有美德和值得讚許的事情。 9 你們從我身上學習、領受、看到和聽到的,都要照著去行。這樣,賜平安的上帝就必與你們同在。
致謝
10 我在主裡真是非常喜樂,因為你們現在又一次關心我。其實你們向來都很關心我,只是沒有機會。 11 我並非有缺乏才這樣說,因為我已經學會在任何處境中都能知足。 12 我知道如何過貧窮的日子,也知道如何過富足的日子。我學到了秘訣,不論飽足或饑餓,豐裕或缺乏,在任何情況下都可以處之泰然。 13 靠著賜我力量的那位,我凡事都能做。
14 然而,你們與我共患難,真是太好了。 15 腓立比人啊!你們也知道,在我離開馬其頓傳福音的初期,除了你們以外,沒有別的教會供應我的需要。 16 即使我在帖撒羅尼迦的時候,你們也不止一次供應過我的需要。 17 我不求得到你們的饋贈,只希望你們所做的會帶給你們更大的賞賜。 18 我現在樣樣都有,豐富有餘。我從以巴弗提手上收到了你們送給我的禮物,已經充足了。這些饋贈是蒙上帝悅納的馨香祭物。 19 我的上帝必按照祂在基督耶穌裡的榮耀,豐豐富富地賜給你們所需用的一切。
20 願榮耀歸給我們的父上帝,直到永永遠遠。阿們!
問候
21 請代我問候在基督耶穌裡的眾聖徒。我這裡的弟兄姊妹也問候你們。 22 所有的聖徒,特別是在凱撒宮裡工作的人,都問候你們。
23 願主耶穌基督的恩典與你們的靈同在!
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