实践性的劝导

因此,我所爱的、所想念的弟兄们,我的喜乐、我的冠冕哪!各位蒙爱的人,你们当如此在主里站立得稳! 我恳求犹迪娅,也恳求辛图柯,要在主里同心合意。 是的,我真诚的同伴[a]哪!我也请求你帮助她们两位[b]。她们在福音工作上曾经与我、克莱门斯,和我的其他同工们一起奋战,这些人的名字都在生命册上。 你们要在主里常常欢喜。我再说,你们要欢喜! 要让所有人知道你们的谦和。主快到了! 在任何事上都不要忧虑;然而要在一切事上,藉着祷告和祈求,以感谢的心把你们所求的告诉神。 这样,神的平安——那高过一切理性的平安,就会在基督耶稣里保守你们的心、你们的意念。

最后,弟兄们,凡是真实的、庄重的、公义的、纯洁的、可羡慕的、高尚的,如果有什么美德,如果有什么可称赞的,这些事你们就当思想; 凡是你们在我身上所学到的、所领受的、所听到的、所看到的,这些事你们就当实行。这样,赐平安的神就会与你们同在。

为馈赠感恩

10 我在主里极其欢喜,因为现在你们终于又萌发了思念我的心。其实你们一直在思念我,只是没有机会表达[c] 11 我这样说,并不是因为我缺少什么;事实上,我已经学会了在任何情况下都知足。 12 我知道怎样处卑贱,也知道怎样处丰富;在一切事上,在一切情况下,或饱足、或饥饿,或丰富、或缺乏,我都得了秘诀。 13 藉着使我刚强的那一位[d],我一切都能。 14 不过你们分担了我的患难,做得很好。

15 腓立比人哪,你们也知道,在福音工作的开始,我离开马其顿省的时候,在供给和领受的事上,除了你们以外,没有别的教会与我分享。 16 就是我在帖撒罗尼迦的时候,你们甚至也一再地把我所需要的送来。 17 我并不是求什么供应,而是求你们的果子增多,归在你们的账上。 18 如今我一切都得到了,并且丰足有余。我已经得以满足了,因为我从以帕弗迪托接受了来自你们的东西;那是馨香的气味,是神所悦纳、所喜悦的祭物。 19 我的神将按照他荣耀的丰盛,在基督耶稣里满足你们一切的需要。 20 愿荣耀归于神我们的父,直到永永远远!阿们。

结尾的祝福

21 请问候在基督耶稣里的每一位圣徒。与我在一起的弟兄们都问候你们; 22 所有的圣徒,尤其是来自凯撒宫里的人[e],也都问候你们。 23 愿主耶稣基督的恩典与你们的灵[f]同在![g]

Footnotes

  1. 腓立比书 4:3 同伴——原文直译“同负一轭的”。
  2. 腓立比书 4:3 两位——辅助词语。
  3. 腓立比书 4:10 表达——辅助词语。
  4. 腓立比书 4:13 有古抄本附“——基督”。
  5. 腓立比书 4:22 凯撒宫里的人——或译作“凯撒家族的人”。
  6. 腓立比书 4:23 你们的灵——有古抄本作“你们大家”。
  7. 腓立比书 4:23 有古抄本附“阿们。”

我所親愛所想念的弟兄們,你們就是我的喜樂,我的冠冕。我親愛的弟兄,你們應當靠主站立得穩。

我勸尤阿迪婭循都基要在主裡同心。 我也求你這真實同負一軛的,幫助這兩個女人;因為她們在福音上曾與我一同勞苦,還有革利免並其餘和我一同做工的,他們的名字都在生命冊上。

門徒當在主裡喜樂

你們要靠主常常喜樂,我再說,你們要喜樂! 當叫眾人知道你們謙讓的心。主已經近了。 應當一無掛慮,只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求和感謝,將你們所要的告訴神。 神所賜出人意外的平安,必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心懷意念。

凡可稱讚的都要思念

弟兄們,我還有未盡的話,凡是真實的、可敬的、公義的、清潔的、可愛的、有美名的,若有什麼德行,若有什麼稱讚,這些事你們都要思念。 你們在我身上所學習的、所領受的、所聽見的、所看見的,這些事你們都要去行,賜平安的神就必與你們同在。

無論什麼景況都可知足

10 我靠主大大地喜樂,因為你們思念我的心如今又發生;你們向來就思念我,只是沒得機會。 11 我並不是因缺乏說這話,我無論在什麼景況都可以知足,這是我已經學會了。 12 我知道怎樣處卑賤,也知道怎樣處豐富,或飽足或飢餓,或有餘或缺乏,隨事隨在,我都得了祕訣。 13 我靠著那加給我力量的,凡事都能做。 14 然而,你們和我同受患難原是美事。 15 腓立比人哪,你們也知道我初傳福音,離了馬其頓的時候,論到授受的事,除了你們以外並沒有別的教會供給我。 16 就是我在帖撒羅尼迦,你們也一次兩次地打發人供給我的需用。 17 我並不求什麼饋送,所求的就是你們的果子漸漸增多,歸在你們的帳上。 18 但我樣樣都有,並且有餘。我已經充足,因我從以巴弗提受了你們的饋送,當做極美的香氣,為神所收納所喜悅的祭物。 19 我的神必照他榮耀的豐富,在基督耶穌裡使你們一切所需用的都充足。 20 願榮耀歸給我們的父神,直到永永遠遠!阿們。

21 請問在基督耶穌裡的各位聖徒安。在我這裡的眾弟兄都問你們安。 22 眾聖徒都問你們安。在愷撒家裡的人特特地問你們安。

23 願主耶穌基督的恩常在你們心裡!

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, 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.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

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.

16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

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.

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Christian Practices

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!

I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 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. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! Let everyone see your gentleness.[d] The Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds[e] in Christ Jesus.

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. 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

  1. Philippians 4:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Philippians 4:8 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.
  7. Philippians 4:10 tn Grk “for you were even concerned, but you lacked opportunity.”
  8. 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.
  9. Philippians 4:13 tn The Greek word translated “all things” is in emphatic position at the beginning of the Greek sentence.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.