Philippians 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
VI. Instructions for the Community[a]
Chapter 4
Live in Concord. 1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.(A)
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche[b] to come to a mutual understanding in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you also, my true yokemate,[c] to help them, for they have struggled at my side in promoting the gospel, along with Clement and my other co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.(B)
Joy and Peace. 4 Rejoice[d] in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!(C) 5 Your kindness[e] should be known to all. The Lord is near.(D) 6 Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.(E) 7 Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.(F)
8 (G)Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.[f] 9 Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.(H) Then the God of peace will be with you.[g]
VII. Gratitude for the Philippians’ Generosity[h]
10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity.(I) 11 Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient.(J) 12 I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. 13 I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.(K) 14 Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.
15 You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the gospel,[i] when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. 16 For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. 17 It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. 18 I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, “a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice,[j] pleasing to God.(L) 19 My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.(M) 20 To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.(N)
VIII. Farewell[k]
21 Give my greetings to every holy one in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings; 22 (O)all the holy ones send you their greetings, especially those of Caesar’s household.[l] 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Footnotes
- 4:1–9 This series of ethical admonitions rests especially on the view of Christ and his coming (cf. Phil 4:5) in Phil 3:20–21. Paul’s instructions touch on unity within the congregation, joy, prayer, and the Christian outlook on life.
- 4:2 Euodia…Syntyche: two otherwise unknown women in the Philippian congregation; on the advice to them, cf. Phil 2:2–4.
- 4:3 Yokemate: or “comrade,” although the Greek syzygos could also be a proper name. Clement: otherwise unknown, although later writers sought to identify him with Clement, bishop of Rome (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.15.1).
- 4:4 Rejoice: see note on Phil 3:1.
- 4:5 Kindness: considerateness, forbearance, fairness. The Lord is near: most likely a reference to Christ’s parousia (Phil 1:6, 10; 3:20–21; 1 Cor 16:22), although some sense an echo of Ps 119:151 and the perpetual presence of the Lord.
- 4:8 The language employs terms from Roman Stoic thought.
- 4:9 Cf. note on Phil 3:17.
- 4:10–20 Paul, more directly than anywhere else in the letter (cf. Phil 1:3–5), here thanks the Philippians for their gift of money sent through Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25). Paul’s own policy was to be self-sufficient as a missionary, supporting himself by his own labor (1 Thes 2:5–9; 1 Cor 9:15–18; cf. Acts 18:2–3). In spite of this reliance on self and on God to provide (Phil 4:11–13) Paul accepted gifts from the Philippians not only once but more than once (Phil 4:16) when he was in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1–9), as he does now, in prison (my distress, Phil 4:14). While commercial terms appear in the passage, like an account of giving and receiving (Phil 4:15) and received full payment (Phil 4:18), Paul is most concerned about the spiritual growth of the Philippians (Phil 4:10, 17, 19); he emphasizes that God will care for their needs, through Christ.
- 4:15 The beginning of the gospel: it was at Philippi that Paul first preached Christ in Europe, going on from there to Thessalonica and Beroea (Acts 16:9–17:14).
- 4:18 Aroma…sacrifice: Old Testament cultic language (cf. Gn 8:21; Ex 29:18, 25, 41; Lv 1:9, 13; Ez 20:41) applied to the Philippians’ gift; cf. Eph 5:2; 2 Cor 2:14–16.
- 4:21–23 On the usual greetings at the conclusion of a letter, see note on 1 Cor 16:19–24. Inclusion of greetings from all the holy ones in the place from which Paul writes would involve even the Christians of Phil 1:14–18 who had their differences with Paul.
- 4:22 Those of Caesar’s household: minor officials or even slaves and freedmen, found in Ephesus or Rome, among other places.
Philippians 4
Legacy Standard Bible
Rejoice in the Lord Always
4 Therefore my brothers, loved and (A)longed for, my joy and crown, in this way (B)stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to (C)think the same way in the Lord. 3 Indeed, I ask you also, genuine companion, help these women who have contended together alongside of me in the gospel, with also Clement and the rest of my (D)fellow workers, whose (E)names are in the book of life.
4 (F)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your considerate spirit be known to all men. (G)The Lord is [a]near. 6 (H)Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by (I)prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And (J)the peace of God, which surpasses all [b]comprehension, will (K)guard your hearts and your (L)minds in (M)Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, (N)whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is [c]lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, consider these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen (O)in me, practice these things, and (P)the God of peace will be with you.
God Will Fill Your Needs
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last (Q)you have revived thinking about me; indeed, you were thinking about me before, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak [d]from want, for I learned to be [e](R)content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in abundance; in any and all things I have learned the secret of being filled and going (S)hungry, both of having abundance and (T)suffering need. 13 I can do all things [f]through Him who (U)strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to (V)fellowship with me in my affliction.
15 And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the [g](W)first preaching of the gospel, after I left (X)Macedonia, no church (Y)fellowshipped with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone. 16 For even in (Z)Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 (AA)Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the fruit which increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I have been filled, having received from (AB)Epaphroditus [h]what you have sent, [i](AC)a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And (AD)my God will fulfill [j]all your needs according to His (AE)riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to (AF)our God and Father (AG)be the glory [k]forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet every [l]saint in Christ Jesus. (AH)The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 (AI)All the [m](AJ)saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
23 (AK)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (AL)be with your spirit.
Footnotes
- Philippians 4:5 Or at hand
- Philippians 4:7 Lit mind
- Philippians 4:8 Or lovable and gracious
- Philippians 4:11 Lit according to
- Philippians 4:11 Or self-sufficient
- Philippians 4:13 Lit in
- Philippians 4:15 Lit beginning of
- Philippians 4:18 Lit the things from you
- Philippians 4:18 Lit an odor of fragrance
- Philippians 4:19 Or every need of yours
- Philippians 4:20 Lit to the ages of the ages
- Philippians 4:21 Or holy one
- Philippians 4:22 v 21, note 1
Philippians 4
King James Version
4 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 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.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 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.
9 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.
Philippians 4
New King James Version
Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts
4 Therefore, my beloved and (A)longed-for brethren, (B)my joy and crown, so (C)stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche (D)to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 [a]And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who (E)labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in (F)the Book of Life.
4 (G)Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your [b]gentleness be known to all men. (H)The Lord is at hand.
6 (I)Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with (J)thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and (K)the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Meditate on These Things
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are (L)true, whatever things are (M)noble, whatever things are (N)just, (O)whatever things are pure, whatever things are (P)lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and (Q)the God of peace will be with you.
Philippian Generosity
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last (R)your[c] 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, (S)to be content: 12 (T)I know how to [d]be abased, and I know how to [e]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 (U)through [f]Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that (V)you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, (W)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 (X)the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I [g]have all and abound. I am full, having received from (Y)Epaphroditus the things sent from you, (Z)a sweet-smelling aroma, (AA)an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God (AB)shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 (AC)Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Greeting and Blessing
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren (AD)who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with [h]you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- Philippians 4:3 NU, M Yes
- Philippians 4:5 graciousness or forbearance
- Philippians 4:10 you have revived your care
- Philippians 4:12 live humbly
- Philippians 4:12 live in prosperity
- Philippians 4:13 NU Him who
- Philippians 4:18 Or have received all
- Philippians 4:23 NU your spirit
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
