Philippians 4

This is the final chapter of Philippians. In Philippians 3, Paul warned against teaching that puts confidence in the flesh and declared that the believer's citizenship is in heaven. Chapter 4 opens with "Therefore" and draws exhortations from that conclusion, then closes the letter with thanksgiving and greetings.

Outline

• Verse 1 Paul calls the Philippian believers "my joy and crown" and urges them to stand fast in the Lord.
• Verses 2–3 He exhorts Euodias and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. He asks his "true yokefellow" to help these women, who labored with him in the gospel, along with Clement and his other fellow workers, and says that their names are in the book of life.
• Verses 4–7 He urges them to rejoice in the Lord always and to let their moderation be known unto all men. He tells them not to be anxious but to pray with thanksgiving, and says that the peace of God will keep their hearts and minds.
• Verses 8–9 He urges them to think on whatsoever things are true, honest, just, and pure, and to do what they have learned from Paul and seen in him.
• Verses 10–13 He rejoices that the Philippian church's care for him has flourished again and says that he has learned the secret of contentment in every circumstance, whether abased or abounding.
• Verses 14–20 He recalls that when he departed from Macedonia and while he was in Thessalonica, the Philippian church alone supported him. He calls the gift received through Epaphroditus "an odour of a sweet smell," says that God will supply all their need, and offers a doxology.
• Verses 21–23 He asks them to greet one another, conveys greetings in particular from some of Caesar's household, and closes with a benediction of grace.

Key Verses

• Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord alway" — the theme of joy that runs throughout this letter written from prison reaches its climax.
• Philippians 4:6–7 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" — a representative passage on the relationship between prayer and peace.
• Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" — a confession of the contentment enjoyed in Christ.

People and Places

• Paul: The apostle who wrote the letter.
• Euodias and Syntyche: Two women of the Philippian church who labored with Paul in the gospel.
• The true yokefellow: The person Paul asks to mediate. The text does not give his name.
• Clement: A fellow worker of Paul. He is mentioned only here in Scripture.
• Epaphroditus: The worker the Philippian church sent to Paul.
• Philippi: A city in Macedonia, home to the church that received this letter.
• Macedonia: The Roman province (an administrative region governed by the Roman Empire) that included Philippi and Thessalonica.
• Caesar's household: The people attached to the Roman emperor's family and residence, mostly slaves or freedmen.

Points for Reflection

• There is no settled answer as to who the "true yokefellow" is. Some take the original Greek word as the personal name Syzygus, while others identify the person as Luke, Silas, Timothy, or someone else.
• One tradition identifies this Clement with Clement of Rome, the late first-century bishop of Rome. This is unconfirmed, however, and is not something the text itself states.
• The words "The Lord is at hand" in verse 5 are read by some as meaning that the Second Coming is near in time, and by others as meaning that the Lord is always near.
• Verse 13 is often quoted as a statement that one can accomplish anything. The context, however, speaks of a contentment that endures hunger and abundance alike, a point commentators frequently make.
• The "odour of a sweet smell" in verse 18 borrows the language of Old Testament sacrifices to describe the believers' support as an offering to God.
• Verses 15–16 connect with the account in Acts 16, where the Philippian church was founded. The support of the Macedonian churches is also mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11.
• "Caesar's household" in verse 22 is used as a clue in determining where the letter was written. Traditionally the place is identified as Rome, though some scholars propose Ephesus or Caesarea.

In the Korean Church

Verses 4, 6–7, 13, and 19 are frequently memorized in Korean churches. They are also widely used as church mottoes and as inscriptions on cards and framed wall hangings.