Philippians 4 is the fourth and final chapter of the
Epistle to the Philippians
The Epistle to the Philippians is a Pauline epistle of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The epistle is attributed to Paul the Apostle and Timothy is named with him as co-author or co-sender. The letter is addressed to the Christian chu ...
in the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
of the
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
. It is
authored by
Paul the Apostle
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
about mid-50s to early 60s CE and addressed to the Christians in
Philippi
Philippi (; grc-gre, Φίλιπποι, ''Philippoi'') was a major Greek city northwest of the nearby island, Thasos. Its original name was Crenides ( grc-gre, Κρηνῖδες, ''Krenides'' "Fountains") after its establishment by Thasian colon ...
. This chapter contains Paul's final exhortation, thanks for support and conclusion of the epistle.
Text
The original text was written in
Koine Greek
Koine Greek (; Koine el, ἡ κοινὴ διάλεκτος, hē koinè diálektos, the common dialect; ), also known as Hellenistic Greek, common Attic, the Alexandrian dialect, Biblical Greek or New Testament Greek, was the common supra-reg ...
.
This chapter is divided into 23 verses.
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
*
Papyrus 16 (3rd century; extant verses 2–8)
*
Codex Vaticanus
The Codex Vaticanus ( The Vatican, Bibl. Vat., Vat. gr. 1209), designated by siglum B or 03 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), δ 1 ( von Soden), is a fourth-century Christian manuscript of a Greek Bible, containing the majority of the Greek Old ...
(325–350)
*
Codex Sinaiticus
The Codex Sinaiticus (Shelfmark: London, British Library, Add MS 43725), designated by siglum [Aleph] or 01 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts), δ 2 (in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts) ...
(330–360)
*
Codex Alexandrinus
The Codex Alexandrinus (London, British Library, Royal MS 1. D. V-VIII), designated by the siglum A or 02 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts), δ 4 (in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts), is a manu ...
(400–440)
*
Codex Freerianus
Codex Freerianus, designated by I or 016 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), α 1041 ( von Soden), also called the ''Washington Manuscript of the Pauline Epistles'', is a 5th-century manuscript in an uncial hand on vellum in Greek.
It is named afte ...
(~450; extant verses 3–6, 13–15)
*
Codex Claromontanus
Codex Claromontanus, symbolized by Dp, D2 or 06 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), δ 1026 ( von Soden), is a Greek-Latin diglot uncial manuscript of the New Testament, written in an uncial hand on vellum. The Greek and Latin texts are on facing p ...
(~550)
Citizens of earth and heaven (3:17–4:1)
Translator
J. B. Phillips, commentator Robert Murray, the
New Revised Standard Version
The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) is an English translation of the Bible published in 1989 by the National Council of Churches.[Jerusalem Bible
''The Jerusalem Bible'' (JB or TJB) is an English translation of the Bible published in 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd. As a Catholic Bible, it includes 73 books: the 39 books shared with the Hebrew Bible, along with the seven deuterocanonical ...](_blank)
connect verse 1 with
the final section of the previous chapter, as the conclusion of Paul's main exhortations in
chapters 2 –3. Commentator
Joseph Benson
Joseph Benson (26 January 1749 – 16 February 1821) was an early English Methodist minister, one of the leaders of the movement during the time of Methodism's founder John Wesley.
Life
The son of John Benson and Isabella Robinson, his wife, he ...
says "certainly it should not have been separated" from chapter 3.
[Benson, J.]
Benson Commentary
on Philippians 1, accessed 14 June 2020
Verse 1
:''Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.''
This verse is "overflows with words of love and joy", with the word 'beloved' (''epipothetoi'') "echoes
Epaphroditus
Epaphroditus ( el, Ἐπαφρόδιτος) is a New Testament figure appearing as an envoy of the Philippian church to assist the Apostle Paul (Philippians 2:25-30). He is regarded as a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Churc ...
' yearning" in
chapter 2 Chapter Two, Chapter 2, or Chapter II may refer to:
Film, television, and theatre
* ''Chapter Two'' (play), a 1977 play by Neil Simon
* ''Chapter Two'' (film), a 1979 adaptation of Neil Simon's play
Television episodes
* "Chapter 2" (''American H ...
().
Last Appeal for Harmony (4:2–3)
Paul asks the two ''diakonoi'',
Euodia and Syntyche Euodia (Greek , meaning unclear, but possibly "sweet fragrance" or "prosperous journey") and Syntyche (, "fortunate," literally "with fate") are people mentioned in the New Testament. They were female members of the church in Philippi, and according ...
, female leaders of different house-groups in
Philippi
Philippi (; grc-gre, Φίλιπποι, ''Philippoi'') was a major Greek city northwest of the nearby island, Thasos. Its original name was Crenides ( grc-gre, Κρηνῖδες, ''Krenides'' "Fountains") after its establishment by Thasian colon ...
, "to be of the same mind" (to think, ''phronein'', "the same").
Verse 3
:''And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who laboured with me in the gospel, with
Clement
Clement or Clément may refer to:
People
* Clement (name), a given name and surname
* Saint Clement (disambiguation)#People
Places
* Clément, French Guiana, a town
* Clement, Missouri, U.S.
* Clement Township, Michigan, U.S.
Other uses
* ...
also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.''
Paul addresses one of the leaders responsible for the church. Benson suggests he is probably addressing
Silas
Silas or Silvanus (; Greek: Σίλας/Σιλουανός; fl. 1st century AD) was a leading member of the Early Christian community, who according to the New Testament accompanied Paul the Apostle on his second missionary journey.
Name and et ...
, "for Silas had been his yoke-fellow at the very place".
Last Call to Joy, Peace, and Right Thinking in Christ (4:4–9)
According to Paul, the cure of the troubles in the church is to recall "the charismatic joy of their first coming to faith", just as he told the
Thessalonian
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...
church that "in spite of persecutions you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit" ().
Verse 4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
* "Rejoice in the Lord always": a repetition of the exhortation in , with the addition "always", because in Christ there is always cause and matter for rejoicing, even in harsh times.
* "
ndagain, I say, rejoice": Paul continues to suggest this, because it is very important for the comfort of believers, and the honor of Christ.
[''John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible'', "Philippians 4:4"](_blank)
/ref>
Verse 6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Verse 7
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Paul's Attitude to Gifts Received and Last Greetings (4:10–23)
Paul acknowledges the support from the church in Philippi, describing it as "a sacrifice pleasing to God", and prays that God will take care of their needs, before closing the epistle with a mention of "Caesar's household" ("emperor's household") in verse 22, probably as a hint (cf. ) of the success Paul in obtaining Praetorian contacts.
Verse 13
:'' I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.''
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