B. The previous gifts 4:15-20Paul seems to have intended the references in these verses to previous gifts that the Philippians had sent him to dispel any doubts they may have had about the genuineness of his gratitude. read more
This promise harmonizes with previous revelation concerning how God supplies the needs of His people (cf. Proverbs 11:25; Matthew 5:7; Matthew 6:33). Note that it is needs that He will meet, not "greeds." God will supply them all. He will do so commensurate with His riches in glory, not simply out of them. As His riches are lavish, so He will give lavishly.Why do so many Christians suffer because they lack food, clothing, or money in view of this promise? Perhaps it is because some of our... read more
Paul closed this section with a doxology in which he praised God for His providential care. God’s care comes to us through His Son, and He often uses His people as His channels of blessing. Nevertheless ultimately God is the provider of His people’s needs. May we ever be mindful of this truth and be grateful to Him!We cannot read this pericope (Philippians 4:10-20) thoughtfully without appreciating the apostle Paul’s sensitivity to his Philippian readers. He was careful to balance what he said.... read more
4:20 [be] (a-7) Lit. 'the glory' (with an emphatic article), the due divine glory; but 'the glory' in English rather means the glory of that of which he had been speaking. 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
(10-20) These verses form a singularly graceful and dignified postscript, acknowledging the offerings of the Philippians sent by Epaphroditus, in a tone mingling apostolic commendation and blessing with a true brotherly thankfulness. read more
(19) My God.—The expression is emphatic. St. Paul had accepted the offerings as made, not to himself, but to the God whose minister he was. Hence he adds, “my God”—the God, whom ye serve in serving me.All your need.—Properly, every need of yours, spiritual and temporal.In glory.—We have already noticed the constant reference to “glory” in the Epistles of the Captivity. Where the word relates to God in Himself, His “glory” is His true nature as manifested to His creatures; where it refers to... read more
(20) Now unto God and our Father . . .—The doxology of this verse seems suggested by the very use of “glory” in the previous verse. “Glory” may be derivatively the privilege of man; but “the glory” (for the original has the article here)—the essential and incommunicable glory—must be ascribed to God alone. Whether we supply here the word “is” or “be” matters not. His it is; to Him let it be ascribed. Such doxologies are common with St. Paul (see Romans 16:27; Galatians 1:5; Ephesians 3:21; 1... 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
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philippians 4:10-20
IV. EPILOGUE 4:10-20The apostle began this epistle by sharing some personal information about his situation in Rome (Philippians 1:12-26). He now returned from his concerns for the Philippians (Philippians 1:27 to Philippians 4:9) to his own circumstances (Philippians 4:10-20). Notice the somewhat chiastic structure of the epistle. This epilogue balances the prologue (Philippians 1:3-26)."Nowhere else in all of Paul’s letters nor in all of the letters of antiquity that have survived until the... read more