Philippians 4
1 So then, my Family whom I love and miss, my crown and joy,a stand this way concerning the Lord, my loved ones.
2 I call aside Euodiab and I call aside Syntychec to the same way of thinking as Christ. 3 Yes, I also ask you, genuine partner,d to support them, who have strived along with me and Clemente and the rest of my fellow workers for the triumphant message. 4 Rejoicef with the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! 5 Let your considerateness be experiencedg by all people. The Lord is near!
6 Do not be stressedh about anything; instead, make your requests about everything known to God with prayer and asking with gratitude. 7 And God’s peace that exceeds every mind will protect and guidei your motivationsj and thoughts according to the standard of Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, Family, whatever is true, whatever is admirable, whatever is just, whatever is sacred,k whatever is pleasant, whatever is spoken well of—if anything is a source of life and if anything is an affirmation—take these things into account. 9 And what you learned and receivedl and heard and saw from me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 I have been overjoyed with the Lord because the thoughtfulness you used to show for me has now sprouted again (and you were thinking about it but did not have an opportunity). 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content with however things are. 12 I have seen both humble circumstances and more than enough.m With regard to any and all things, I have been taught the secret, both when satisfied and hungry and both having more than enoughn and being in need. 13 I have the strength for all things through the one who empowers me. 14 Nevertheless, you did beautifully when you participated along with me while I was being oppressed.
15 You Philippians have seen for yourselves when I was beginning to spread the triumphant message, when I departed from Macedonia, not one assembly participated with me in giving and receiving except only you 16 since specifically in Thessalonica—and more than once—you sent something for my need. 17 Not that I am requesting the gift, but rather I am requesting the produce to yield a surpluso to your account. 18 I have received all I need, and I have more than enough.p I have been filled, being handed by Epaphroditus the things from you, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God. 19 My God will fulfill your every need proportionately to his renowned wealth in connection with Christ Jesus. 20 May our God and Father be celebratedq for the ages of the ages, amen.
21 Greet all those who are sacred like Christ Jesus. The members of the Family who are with me greet you. 22 All those who are sacred greet you, but especially the ones from Caesar’s household. 23 May the generosity of Lord Jesus Christ be with your life-breath.r
FOOTNOTES:
a Literally, ‘joy and crown’ in Greek.
b Euodia is a woman’s name meaning ‘fragrant.’
c Syntyche is a woman’s name meaning ‘coincidence’ or ‘shared fate.’
d Some believe the word ‘partner’ here is actually someone’s name, Syzygos. Either a specific individual by that name is being addressed, or the whole church in Philippi is being addressed as Paul’s partner.
e Clement is a man’s name meaning ‘compassionate’ or ‘gentle.’
f The word ‘rejoice’ is also the same word used to greet people and is elsewhere translated as ‘greetings’ or ‘hello.’
g Literally, ‘known’
h This word is the same as is used Philippians 2:20 about Epaphras being ‘concerned for’ the people of Philippi. It seems to lean on a positive sense of caring about something or someone in that verse. It is also used several times in Matthew 6:25-34 and is translated there as ‘be distressed/stressed.’ In that context it seems to be caring about something—even a need—to the point of overwhelm and compulsion to assuage the overwhelm, which both in Matthew 6 and Philippians seems if left unbalanced to be a motivation to abandon the Path of Christ, of justice and love.
i The word here for ‘protect and guide’ is the same as in Galatians 3:23 often translated as ‘held in custody’ or ‘kept under guard’ or ‘being guarded.’ The word can mean contained to protect others, as a prisoner held because of crimes, or it can be contained to protect the one being contained, as a child is ‘watched’ by a nanny. Galatians seems to use the latter, and this verse in Philippians certainly does. There is a sense of a childcare provider keeping a child safe by guiding their behavior in appropriate directions, enacting healthy boundaries that maintain values and security.
j Literally, ‘hearts.’ While American culture uses ‘heart’ to represent a wide range of emotional experience, the culture of the time used it to represent desires and motivations.
k Or ‘pure’ or ‘uncontaminated’
l This is a more active word than simply being the recipient of something. They ‘welcomed’ or ‘took to themselves’ these things.
m Or ‘abundance/excess/surplus’
n Or ‘abundance/excess/surplus’
o Or ‘to abound/increase’
p Or ‘abundance/excess/surplus’
q Traditionally ‘glory to our God and Father’
r ‘You’ and ‘your’ in this book and in this paragraph are always plural, but ‘life-breath’ (traditionally, ‘spirit’) is singular here.