2. Maintaining tranquillity 4:4-9Paul gave his readers five other brief positive exhortations, all of which are vitally important for individual and corporate Christian living. They all result in the maintenance of peace in the body so the saints can work together effectively as partners in the gospel even in the midst of opposing unbelievers. read more
4Final Charge. Acknowledgement of Philippian BountyVI. Closing Exhortations (Philippians 4:1-9)§ 15. Philippians 4:1-3. With heightened feeling St. Paul resumes the vein of exhortation commenced in Philippians 3:1: Wherefore (in view of the grand hope of our calling).. so stand fast in the Lord (see Philippians 1:27)—’so,’ i.e. in ’imitating’ the Apostle and ’marking those’ of like ’walk’ (Philippians 3:17); this appeal sums up the foregoing homily. For the endearing epithets accumulated here,... read more
(4) Rejoice in the Lord . . . and again I say, Rejoice.—The original word is the word always used in classical Greek (see the corresponding word in Latin) for “farewell” (i.e., “Joy be with you!”), and this verse is obviously a resumption of Philippians 3:1, after the digression of warning. But the emphasis laid on it here, coupled with the constant references to joy in the Epistle, show that St. Paul designed to call attention to its strict meaning, and to enforce, again and again, the... read more
(4-7) St. Paul returns once more to the exhortation to joy so characteristic of this Epistle. But it is a joy in the sense of the Lord’s being at hand. Hence it turns at once to thanksgiving and prayer, and finally is calmed and deepened into peace. read more
Euodia and Syntyche Philippians 4:2 This is a dual biography in a nutshell. These persons are nowhere else referred to. The outline is faint enough; yet on thoughtful consideration it reveals not a few interesting facts. I. The persons here mentioned were women. They were members of the Philippian Church, which is often spoken of as a 'woman's church'. It is frequently said by way of criticism that two-thirds of the members of the entire Christian Church are of the gentler sex. But shall the... read more
Chapter 17PEACE AND JOY.Philippians 4:2-7 (R.V.)DR. LIGHTFOOT has observed that the passages in the Acts of the Apostles which record the Macedonian experiences of Paul have a good deal to say about women. {Acts 16:1-40; Acts 17:1-34} They convey the impression that in Macedonia women had a position and exercised an influence, at least in religious matters, that was not usual in the Greek world. And he has appealed to the remains of ancient Macedonian inscriptions to support the general idea... read more
IV. CHRIST, THE BELIEVER’S STRENGTH, SUFFICIENT FOR ALL CIRCUMSTANCES CHAPTER 4 1. Stand fast and rejoice (Philippians 4:1-4 ) 2. Dependence on God and true heart occupation (Philippians 4:5-9 ) 3. I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:10-13 ) 4. The fellowship of the Philippians (Philippians 4:14-20 ) 5. The greeting (Philippians 4:21-23 ) Philippians 4:1-4 And now the final testimony of the prisoner of the Lord, telling us from his own experience that Christ is sufficient... read more
4:4 {3} Rejoice in the {d} Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.(3) He adds particular exhortations: and the first is, that the joy of the Philippians should not be hindered by any afflictions that the wicked imagine and work against them.(d) So is the joy of the world distinguished from our joy. read more
His heart overflowing at the contemplation of such an Object, the apostle in Ch.4 dwells upon the sufficiency of the Lord Jesus to supremely satisfy the soul. If in Ch.3 Christ is his Object in Glory, in this chapter Christ is his Strength for the wilderness pathway; and in contrast to Israel's constant murmuring in the wilderness, he tells us with a full heart, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, to be content." Sweet testimony to the fulness of love and grace in his adorable Saviour! ... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philippians 4:4
Rejoicing in Christ is something the apostle had commanded earlier (Philippians 3:1) and had illustrated abundantly for his readers throughout this epistle. He must have felt that there was a great need for this attitude in Philippi. There were many reasons why the Philippian saints could have felt discouraged. Paul’s imprisonment and the possibility of his death, Epaphroditus’ illness, and the antagonism of unbelievers were a few. The attacks from legalists on the one hand and libertines on... read more