Philippians 4:4-7

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 4:6

A DIVINE PRESCRIPTION‘Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests he made known unto God.’ Php_4:6 What a simple prescription it is—prayer, supplication, thanksgiving; just those three ingredients and nothing more. I. There is the first ingredient, prayer.—We have often heard the advice given to the anxious and careworn: ‘You must forget yourself; you must not think of your affairs, but occupy your mind with something that will... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 4:7

GOD’S PEACE IN THE HEART‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ Php_4:7 A quietness of soul, a tranquil habit of mind, is the only safe condition for a man. I. This calm and balanced state is exactly what that man has who feels that God loves him; that He has undertaken for him; that he carries about with him an indwelling presence; that he is in a state of acceptance; that he has a mind at leisure, which can throw itself... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 4:1-9

Final Words Of Admonition And Guidance (Philippians 4:1-9 ). Approaching the end of his letter on the glorious note found in the previous verses Paul now takes them back in Philippians 4:1 to that revelation, and also at the same time to his admonition in Philippians 1:27 to ‘stand fast in one Spirit’, although now wording the admonition as to ‘stand fast in the Lord’. Thus the urge to ‘stand fast’, and the basis on which to do so, can be seen as one underlying theme of the letter. Indeed we... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 4:4

‘Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice.’ The first exhortation is a call to ‘rejoice in the Lord’. It is addressed to the whole church, being repeated from Philippians 3:1. It is not a call just to sing a few hymns, but one that calls on them to face the hardships of the future with confident joy (compare Acts 13:52). Note especially the dual emphasis. Paul did not want to be seen as giving simply an idle exhortation, but desired rather to emphasise the perseverance in rejoicing... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 4:4-7

Paul Now Gives Final Instructions To His Beloved Philippians (Philippians 4:4-7 ). Paul now commences a series of injunctions in staccato form which are not directly connected in the Greek. In a sense each is separate so as to give it emphasis, although we should recognise that that does not necessarily mean that Paul wanted them to be seen as totally independent of each other. The first is ‘upward’, looking towards the Lord (Philippians 4:4), the second is outward, looking towards the world... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 4:5

‘Let your forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.’ The second exhortation is that their forbearance and neighbourliness and unjudgmental attitude in the face of persecution should be demonstrated towards the whole world. In one sense this command stands by itself as the equivalent of the command to love their neighbours as themselves, but there is also a very real sense in which it connects up with their rejoicing in the Lord. It will be their rejoicing in the Lord, and their... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 4:6

‘In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’ The third exhortation is that they should not be filled with anxiety about anything. That too would go with rejoicing in the Lord, and with the recognition that He was coming. Note the contrast, ‘in nothing be anxious -- in everything by prayer’. Thus freedom from anxiety was to be on the basis of dependence ‘God’, that is on their Heavenly Father Who had promised to... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 4:7

‘And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.’ This may well be intended to apply to all three exhortations. By continually rejoicing in the Lord and His nearness to them, by living rightly before the world, and by making their requests known to God with all prayer, supplication and thanksgiving, they could avoid anxiety and let the peace of God possess their lives. Take away one pillar and the situation might well be different.... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 4:4-7

Php_4:4-7 . Joy and Peace.— Once again Paul sounds his dominant note of joy. For the fifth and last time he refers to the return of Christ ( cf. Php_1:6 ; Php_1:10, Php_2:16 , Php_3:20 ). He deprecates anxiety and commends his readers to prayer, a consequence of which will be that a peace given by God will guard their hearts and thoughts in Christ, secure from the invasion of anxiety. [The peace passes all human contrivance or ingenuity, not “ all understanding.”— A. J. G.] read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Philippians 4:4

He doth here, considering the importance of Christian cheerfulness, which he had twice before put them upon, Philippians 2:18; Philippians 3:1, stir them up to true rejoicing, not only by repetition of the injunction, but by extending the duty to all times, and under all conditions. For though there be woe to the enemies of Christ’s cross, who laugh at his followers, Luke 6:25; yet they who are really found in him, have evermore ground of rejoicing, for all the benefits of God they have through... read more

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