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Philippians 4:4-8
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Geneva Study Bible
4:4 3 Rejoice in the d Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.
Explanatory Notes (Jamieson Fausse Brown)
v4. ( Isaiah 61:10 .)
v5. moderation--from a Greek root, "to yield," whence yieldingness [TRENCH]; or from a root, "it is fitting," whence "reasonableness of dealing" [ALFORD], that considerateness for others, not urging one's own rights to the uttermost, but waiving a part, and thereby rectifying the injustices of justice. The archetype of this grace is God, who presses not the strictness of His law against us as we deserve ( Psalms 130:3 Psalms 130:4 ); though having exacted the fullest payment for us from our Divine Surety. There are included in "moderation," candor and kindliness. Joy in the Lord raises us above rigorism towards others ( Philippians 4:5 ), and carefulness ( Philippians 4:6 ) as to one's own affairs. Sadness produces morose harshness towards others, and a troublesome spirit in ourselves.
v6. Translate, "Be anxious about nothing." Care and prayer are as mutually opposed as fire and water [BENGEL].
v7. And--The inseparable consequence of thus laying everything before God in "prayer with thanksgiving."
v8. Summary of all his exhortations as to relative duties, whether as children or parents, husbands or wives, friends, neighbors, men in the intercourse of the world, &c.
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Geneva Study Bible
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.
4:5 4 Let your e moderation be known unto all men. 5 The Lord [is] at hand. (d) So is the joy of the world distinguished from our joy.
(4) The second is, that taking all things in good part, they behave themselves moderately with all men.
(e) Your quiet and settled mind. (5) The taking away of an objection: we must not be anxious because of impatience, seeing that God is at hand to give us help in time for all our miseries.
4:6 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with f thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (e) Your quiet and settled mind. (5) The taking away of an objection: we must not be anxious because of impatience, seeing that God is at hand to give us help in time for all our miseries.
(6) The third is, that we are not too anxious for anything, but with sure confidence give God thanks, and desire from him whatever we have need of, that with a quiet conscience we may wholly and with all our hearts submit ourselves to him.
(f) So David began very often with tears, but ended with thanksgiving.
4:7 And the g peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your h hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (f) So David began very often with tears, but ended with thanksgiving.
(g) That great quietness of mind, which God alone gives in Christ.
(h) He divides the mind into the heart, that is, into that part which is the seat of the will and affections, and into the higher part, by which we understand and reason about matters.
4:8 7 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things i [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. (h) He divides the mind into the heart, that is, into that part which is the seat of the will and affections, and into the higher part, by which we understand and reason about matters.
(7) A general conclusion, that as they have been taught both in word and example, so they build their lives to the rule of all holiness and righteousness.
(i) Whatever things are such that they beautify and set you apart with a holy gravity.
(i) Whatever things are such that they beautify and set you apart with a holy gravity.
Explanatory Notes (Jamieson Fausse Brown)
v4. ( Isaiah 61:10 .)
alway--even amidst the afflictions now distressing you ( Philippians 1:28-30 ).
again--as he had already said, "Rejoice" ( Philippians 3:1 ). Joy is the predominant feature of the Epistle.
I say--Greek, rather, "I will say."
again--as he had already said, "Rejoice" ( Philippians 3:1 ). Joy is the predominant feature of the Epistle.
I say--Greek, rather, "I will say."
v5. moderation--from a Greek root, "to yield," whence yieldingness [TRENCH]; or from a root, "it is fitting," whence "reasonableness of dealing" [ALFORD], that considerateness for others, not urging one's own rights to the uttermost, but waiving a part, and thereby rectifying the injustices of justice. The archetype of this grace is God, who presses not the strictness of His law against us as we deserve ( Psalms 130:3 Psalms 130:4 ); though having exacted the fullest payment for us from our Divine Surety. There are included in "moderation," candor and kindliness. Joy in the Lord raises us above rigorism towards others ( Philippians 4:5 ), and carefulness ( Philippians 4:6 ) as to one's own affairs. Sadness produces morose harshness towards others, and a troublesome spirit in ourselves.
Let . . . be known--that is, in your conduct to others, let nothing inconsistent with "moderation" be seen. Not a precept to make a display of moderation. Let this grace "be known" to men in acts; let "your requests be made to God" in word ( Philippians 4:6 ).
unto all men--even to the "perverse" ( Philippians 2:15 ), that so ye may win them. Exercise "forbearance" even to your persecutors. None is so ungracious as not to be kindly to someone, from some motive or another, on some occasion; the believer is to be so "unto all men" at all times.
The Lord is at hand--The Lord's coming again speedily is the grand motive to every Christian grace ( james 5:8 james 5:9 ). Harshness to others (the opposite of "moderation") would be taking into our own hands prematurely the prerogatives of judging, which belongs to the Lord alone ( 1 Corinthians 4:5 ); and so provoking God to judge us by the strict letter of the law ( james 2:12 james 2:13 ).
unto all men--even to the "perverse" ( Philippians 2:15 ), that so ye may win them. Exercise "forbearance" even to your persecutors. None is so ungracious as not to be kindly to someone, from some motive or another, on some occasion; the believer is to be so "unto all men" at all times.
The Lord is at hand--The Lord's coming again speedily is the grand motive to every Christian grace ( james 5:8 james 5:9 ). Harshness to others (the opposite of "moderation") would be taking into our own hands prematurely the prerogatives of judging, which belongs to the Lord alone ( 1 Corinthians 4:5 ); and so provoking God to judge us by the strict letter of the law ( james 2:12 james 2:13 ).
v6. Translate, "Be anxious about nothing." Care and prayer are as mutually opposed as fire and water [BENGEL].
by prayer and supplication--Greek, "by the prayer and the supplication" appropriate to each case [ALFORD]. Prayer for blessings; and the general term. Supplication, to avert ills; a special term, suppliant entreaty
thanksgiving--for every event, prosperity and affliction alike ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18 , 5:13 ). The Philippians might remember Paul's example at Philippi when in the innermost prison ( Acts 16:25 ). Thanksgiving gives effect to prayer ( 2 Chronicles 20:21 ), and frees from anxious carefulness by making all God's dealings matter for praise, not merely for resignation, much less murmuring. "Peace" is the companion of "thanksgiving" ( Philippians 4:7 , Colossians 3:15 ).
let your requests be made known unto God--with generous, filial, unreserved confidence; not keeping aught back, as too great, or else too small, to bring before God, though you might feel so as to your fellow men. So Jacob, when fearing Esau ( Genesis 32:9-12 ); Hezekiah fearing Sennacherib ( 2 Kings 19:14 , Psalms 37:5 ).
thanksgiving--for every event, prosperity and affliction alike ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18 , 5:13 ). The Philippians might remember Paul's example at Philippi when in the innermost prison ( Acts 16:25 ). Thanksgiving gives effect to prayer ( 2 Chronicles 20:21 ), and frees from anxious carefulness by making all God's dealings matter for praise, not merely for resignation, much less murmuring. "Peace" is the companion of "thanksgiving" ( Philippians 4:7 , Colossians 3:15 ).
let your requests be made known unto God--with generous, filial, unreserved confidence; not keeping aught back, as too great, or else too small, to bring before God, though you might feel so as to your fellow men. So Jacob, when fearing Esau ( Genesis 32:9-12 ); Hezekiah fearing Sennacherib ( 2 Kings 19:14 , Psalms 37:5 ).
v7. And--The inseparable consequence of thus laying everything before God in "prayer with thanksgiving."
peace--the dispeller of "anxious care" ( Philippians 4:6 ).
of God--coming from God, and resting in God ( John 14:27 , 16:33 , Colossians 3:15 ).
passeth--surpasseth, or exceedeth, all man's notional powers of understanding its full blessedness ( 1 Corinthians 2:9 1 Corinthians 2:10 , Ephesians 3:20 ; compare Proverbs 3:17 ).
shall keep--rather, "shall guard"; shall keep as a well-garrisoned stronghold ( Isaiah 26:1 Isaiah 26:3 ). The same Greek verb is used in 1 Peter 1:5 . There shall be peace secure within, whatever outward troubles may besiege.
hearts and minds--rather, "hearts (the seat of the thoughts) and thoughts" or purposes.
through--rather as Greek, "in Christ Jesus." It is in Christ that we are "kept" or "guarded" secure.
of God--coming from God, and resting in God ( John 14:27 , 16:33 , Colossians 3:15 ).
passeth--surpasseth, or exceedeth, all man's notional powers of understanding its full blessedness ( 1 Corinthians 2:9 1 Corinthians 2:10 , Ephesians 3:20 ; compare Proverbs 3:17 ).
shall keep--rather, "shall guard"; shall keep as a well-garrisoned stronghold ( Isaiah 26:1 Isaiah 26:3 ). The same Greek verb is used in 1 Peter 1:5 . There shall be peace secure within, whatever outward troubles may besiege.
hearts and minds--rather, "hearts (the seat of the thoughts) and thoughts" or purposes.
through--rather as Greek, "in Christ Jesus." It is in Christ that we are "kept" or "guarded" secure.
v8. Summary of all his exhortations as to relative duties, whether as children or parents, husbands or wives, friends, neighbors, men in the intercourse of the world, &c.
true--sincere, in words.
honest--Old English for "seemly," namely, in action; literally, grave, dignified.
just--towards others.
pure--"chaste," in relation to ourselves.
lovely--lovable (compare 10:21 , Luke 7:4 Luke 7:5 ).
of good report--referring to the absent ( Philippians 1:27 ); as "lovely" refers to what is lovable face to face.
if there be any virtue--"whatever virtue there is" [ALFORD]. "Virtue," the standing word in heathen ethics, is found once only in Paul's Epistles, and once in Peter's ( 2 Peter 1:5 ); and this in uses different from those in heathen authors. It is a term rather earthly and human, as compared with the names of the spiritual graces which Christianity imparts; hence the rarity of its occurrence in the New Testament. Piety and true morality are inseparable. Piety is love with its face towards God; morality is love with its face towards man. Despise not anything that is good in itself; only let it keep its due place.
praise--whatever is praiseworthy; not that Christians should make man's praise their aim (compare John 12:43 ); but they should live so as to deserve men's praise.
think on--have a continual regard to, so as to "do" these things ( Philippians 4:9 ) whenever the occasion arises.
honest--Old English for "seemly," namely, in action; literally, grave, dignified.
just--towards others.
pure--"chaste," in relation to ourselves.
lovely--lovable (compare 10:21 , Luke 7:4 Luke 7:5 ).
of good report--referring to the absent ( Philippians 1:27 ); as "lovely" refers to what is lovable face to face.
if there be any virtue--"whatever virtue there is" [ALFORD]. "Virtue," the standing word in heathen ethics, is found once only in Paul's Epistles, and once in Peter's ( 2 Peter 1:5 ); and this in uses different from those in heathen authors. It is a term rather earthly and human, as compared with the names of the spiritual graces which Christianity imparts; hence the rarity of its occurrence in the New Testament. Piety and true morality are inseparable. Piety is love with its face towards God; morality is love with its face towards man. Despise not anything that is good in itself; only let it keep its due place.
praise--whatever is praiseworthy; not that Christians should make man's praise their aim (compare John 12:43 ); but they should live so as to deserve men's praise.
think on--have a continual regard to, so as to "do" these things ( Philippians 4:9 ) whenever the occasion arises.
