SO THEN, MY BROTHERS. This _burst of praise_ for the Philippian Christians forms the link between the closing verses of chapter 3, and the instructions he is about to give. YOU SHOULD STAND FIRM. _Robert Rainy_ says: "How the Apostle longed to see this victory achieved in the case of all these Phili... [ Continue Reading ]
EUODIA AND SYNTYCHE. Macedonian women were given an unusual amount of freedom. Women were more than usually active in the Philippian church. Lydia was the first convert, and her house became a meeting place (_Acts ch 16_). These two Philippian women had a difference of opinion, and we see in them th... [ Continue Reading ]
MY FAITHFUL PARTNER. Paul asks a third party to help these two settle their differences. Who this faithful partner was, we have no way of knowing. HAVE WORKED HARD. Paul certainly refers to Euodia and Syntyche. TOGETHER WITH CLEMENT. These together had worked hard to spread the gospel. Some connect... [ Continue Reading ]
ALWAYS BE JOYFUL! _Rejoice!_ expresses the mood of this Letter. "Instead of being sad about the evils to which you are exposed, may you always be joyful in your life in the Lord. And because this attitude is very important to Christians, I say it again: rejoice!... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOW A GENTLE ATTITUDE. Gentleness and kindness are characteristics of Christ! See 2 Corinthians 10:1 and note. COMING SOON. Christians live in a "last hour" situation. See 1 John 2:18 and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING. See Matthew 6:25-34 and notes. ASK GOD. "Instead of worrying, you should put yourselves in God's hands! Let your prayer grow out of a thankful heart! Ask God for everything you need, and he will either give it to you, or give you the strength to be patient and endure what... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GOD'S PEACE. Paul describes this _peace which God gives_ in terms of "one who stands guard duty to secure the area." IN UNION. God's peace is available only to those who are united with Christ and are in his fellowship.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN CONCLUSION. Philippians 4:6 shows that the Christian must actively reach out to God to receive God's peace. Paul's conclusion further explains this reaching out. FILL YOUR MINDS. The Christian is constantly faced with choices, and because he is new (2 Corinthians 5:17), he must purposely fill his... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT INTO PRACTICE. Paul is saying for them to imitate the complete example which he set for them by following Christ! Compare Philippians 3:17 and note. AND THE GOD. Faith becomes perfect through action (James 2:22). As you reach out through faith, both _God's peace_ and the _God who gives us peace_... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW GREAT IS THE JOY! "I praise God as the source of all blessings, and I want you to know how happy I was when Epaphroditus came to me with your gift!" Paul was always very sensitive about money, because of the slander against him (1 Thessalonians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 9:3-18; 2 Corinthians 11:8-9). N... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I AM NOT. _Neglected_ is probably the better translation. Would Paul be in actual need, when there were so many Christians in Rome ??? If he was, it would be due to the influence of the _circumcision party_ (Philippians 1:17). Probably it is not the gift itself, but the fact that they used this... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW WHAT IT IS. This explains the "I have learned to be satisfied" of Philippians 4:11. Compare 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE POWER. This sums it all up: _by the power that Christ gives me._ The Stoics taught that a man ought to be self-sufficient and completely independent! Paul knows he has not done it alone! Compare 2 Corinthians 9:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IT WAS VERY GOOD OF YOU. "Even though I could have survived, by the power that Christ gives me, I want you to know how much I appreciate what you did! It was very good of you to help me in my troubles!... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU PHILIPPIANS. Paul looks back to their actions in the past. _Kennedy_ has Paul say: "But this is no new thing, for you have always been generous. You know this as well as I do." PROFITS AND LOSSES. Paul had given them priceless spiritual gifts! It was only _squaring the account_ for them to share... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE THAN ONCE. Even though Thessalonica was a larger and richer city, Paul would not allow the people there to support him (1 Thessalonians 2:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:8). Some think the "more than once" also includes other places, such as Corinth.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT. Again Paul's sensitivity about money shows through. "I mention all this about your great help in the past, not because I just want to receive gifts, but I want to see your good actions credited to your account." See Acts 20:35 and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
HERE, THEN. "I write _paid in full_ on any obligation you might have to me! Your generous gift through Epaphroditus has more than paid any debt you might have to me! I have all I need!" A SWEET SMELLING OFFERING. Compare Romans 12:1-2 and notes. Their good actions are praise to God (compare James 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MY GOD. "Since you did not forget my needs, God will not forget yours!" Compare 2 Corinthians 9:8 and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO OUR GOD AND FATHER. "Let us join in praise to our God and Father who has given us this abundant wealth in Christ Jesus, so that everything belongs to us (1 Corinthians 3:21-23) through his great love!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
GREETINGS. "Greetings to all in your city who are now God's people because they belong to Christ!" THE BROTHERS HERE. This shows that Paul was not completely alone.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL GOD'S PEOPLE HERE. He expands this greeting to include all the Christians at Rome. [_Saints:_ see note on 1 Corinthians 6:11.] THE EMPEROR'S PALACE. The _Expositor's Greek Testament_ says: "SH. point out that a number of the names mentioned for salutation in _Romans 16_ occur in the _Corpus_ of... [ Continue Reading ]
MAY THE GRACE. This is his benediction as an apostle. Spirit = human spirit = you all (as persons).... [ Continue Reading ]