Philippians 4
Worldwide English (New Testament)
4 And so, my brothers, I love you and want very much to be with you. I am very happy about you. And you are like a prize I have won in a race. My dear people, keep on standing firm and strong in the Lord.
2 I beg Euodia and Syntyche to agree to work together. I ask them to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 I beg you, my real helper, to help these women. They worked hard with me in telling the good news. Clement and my other helpers worked hard with me too. Their names are in God's Book of Life.
4 Always be glad for what the Lord has done, I will say it again, be glad.
5 Let everyone know that you think kindly of others before yourselves. The Lord is near.
6 Do not worry about anything. Talk to God about everything. Thank him for what you have. Ask him for what you need.
7 Then God will give you peace, a peace which is too wonderful to understand. That peace will keep your hearts and minds safe as you trust in Christ Jesus.
8 Here, my brothers, are some things I want you to think about. Think about things that are true, honest, right, clean and pure, things that are lovely, and things that are good to talk about. If they are good, and if they bring praise to God, think about these things.
9 I taught you, and you learned things from me. You heard the things I said, and you saw the things I did. Do these same things yourselves. Then God who gives peace will be with you.
10 The Lord made me very happy to know that you were thinking about me again. Yes, I know you were thinking of me before, but you had no way to help me.
11 I do not mean that I needed it. I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. I am happy with whatever happens to me.
12 I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I am rich. No matter how things are, I have learned how to live: when I have plenty of food, or when I am hungry; when I have more things than I need, and when I do not have enough.
13 I can do all things because Christ gives me strength.
14 But you were kind to help me when I was in trouble.
15 When I first told the good news after I left the country of Macedonia, you were the only church people who helped me. You sent me money to pay my expenses.
16 Even when I was in the city of Thessalonica, you sent money to help me more than once.
17 It is not that I want the gift. But I want you to have more and more blessing because you give.
18 I have all I need and more. Yes, I have plenty because Epaphroditus gave me what you sent me. Your gift was like a sweet-smelling offering to God. It was a sacrifice which God took and it pleased him.
19 My God will give you everything you need. He has wonderful riches in heaven because of Christ Jesus.
20 Praise God our Father for ever. Yes, he will do it.
21 Please give my greetings to every one who belongs to Christ Jesus. The Christian brothers who are with me greet you.
22 All of God's people send greetings to you, especially the people of Caesar's house.
23 The loving kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, may it be so!
Philippians 4
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
4 Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and yearn to see, my delight and crown (wreath of victory), thus stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I entreat and advise Euodia and I entreat and advise Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord.
3 And I exhort you too, [my] genuine yokefellow, help these [two women to keep on cooperating], for they have toiled along with me in [the spreading of] the good news (the Gospel), as have Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!(A)
5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is [a]coming soon].
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ([b]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that [c]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall [d]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of [e]untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.
10 I was made very happy in the Lord that now you have revived your interest in my welfare after so long a time; you were indeed thinking of me, but you had no opportunity to show it.
11 Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be [f] content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [g]infuses inner strength into me; I am [h]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].
14 But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me.
15 And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.
17 Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].
18 But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.
19 And my God will liberally supply ([i]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever (through the endless eternities of the eternities). Amen (so be it).
21 Remember me to every saint (every born-again believer) in Christ Jesus. The brethren (my [j]associates) who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints (God’s consecrated ones here) wish to be remembered to you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace (spiritual favor and blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) be with your spirit. Amen (so be it).
Footnotes
- Philippians 4:5 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- Philippians 4:6 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- Philippians 4:7 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- Philippians 4:7 William Gurnall, cited by Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- Philippians 4:9 Hermann Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek.
- Philippians 4:11 Literal translation: “self-sufficient.”
- Philippians 4:13 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- Philippians 4:13 Note that in Phil. 4:11, the Greek autarkas, translated “content,” is literally “self-sufficient.”
- Philippians 4:19 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- Philippians 4:21 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon.
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