Final Words Of Admonition And Guidance (Philippians 4:1-9).
Approaching the end of his letter on the glorious note found in the previous verses Paul now takes them back in Philippians 4:1 to that revelation, and also at the same time to his admonition in Philippians 1:27 to ‘stand fast in one Spirit', although now wording the admonition as to ‘stand fast in the Lord'. Thus the urge to ‘stand fast', and the basis on which to do so, can be seen as one underlying theme of the letter. Indeed we have been given every reason for standing fast in that way based on the power available to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The paralleling of ‘the Spirit' with ‘the Lord' in this way is similarly prominent also in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, which warns us against making too separate a distinction between Their activities. Indeed Jesus Himself makes clear that we make a grave error if we distinguish the Spirit from the Lord too decisively or vice versa, for in John 14:16-17, where He promises the coming of the Holy Spirit as ‘the Helper (Paraclete)' Jesus also promised that, ‘I will not leave you without help, I will come to you' (John 14:18). And He then went on to point out that ‘he who loves Me will be loved of My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him' (John 14:21), immediately adding, ‘and WE (the Father and the Son) will come to him and make our abode with him' (John 14:23). This should cause us to recognise with joy that while the Spirit has come, and we have all been united together in one Spirit, Jesus Christ Himself is not an absent landlord. In His own words both He and the Father also dwell within us (the plurality emphasised by the ‘we') and live through us. And in Matthew 28:20 He emphasises, ‘Lo, I am with you always'.Thus we are not only the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19), but also the temple of the Triune God. This is emphasised in 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 where we are told that we are ‘the temple of the living God, as God has said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they will be by My People” --- and I will receive you and will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and My daughters, says the Lord God Almighty.' Thus while there are certainly personal distinctions within the Godhead, there is also a unity of action, with all acting together.
Meanwhile we should note again that, while certainly looking back to Philippians 1:27 and what follows, Philippians 4:1 also specifically connects back with Philippians 3:10-21, indicating that one reason why they can stand fast in the Lord with the utmost confidence is because they are empowered by His resurrection and are citizens of Heaven, looking for their Lord and Saviour to come visibly from Heaven to transform them beyond their dreams.
Furthermore, we may see the whole of this passage in Philippians 4:1-9 as a kind of summing up of the letter, for it very much has in mind many of the things that have been said in it. Consider, for example, the following:
· The call to ‘stand fast' has in mind Philippians 1:27, which as we saw was preparation for the main body of the letter.
· ‘My brothers' parallels Philippians 1:12; Philippians 3:1; Philippians 3:13; Philippians 3:17.
· ‘Beloved', twice repeated, parallels Philippians 2:12, and all Paul's indications of affection for the Philippians (e.g. Philippians 1:4-5; Philippians 1:7-8).
· ‘Longed for' parallels Philippians 1:8, where Paul ‘longs for' their spiritual growth, and also to see them again.
· ‘My joy and crown' parallels the idea in Philippians 2:16 where Paul expected ‘in the Day of Christ' that he would prove not to have ‘run and laboured in vain' because he was looking forward to ‘the prize' of the high calling of God (Philippians 3:14). See in this respect Corinthians Philippians 3:10-15 where he outlines what awaits the faithful servant of Christ, and compare also 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 3:9 where the Thessalonians were also his hope and joy and crown of rejoicing.
· ‘To be of the same mind in the Lord' parallels Philippians 2:2 where the Philippians were urged to ‘be of the same mind in everything'. Compare the references to mind in Philippians 1:7; Philippians 2:5; Philippians 3:15; Philippians 3:19.
· ‘For they laboured with me in the Gospel' parallels Philippians 1:5, ‘for you are all partakers with me of grace -- in my defence and confirmation of the Gospel' and 1. 27, ‘with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel'.
· For reference to ‘The Gospel' compare Philippians 1:5; Philippians 1:7; Philippians 1:12; Philippians 1:16; Philippians 1:22; Philippians 2:22.
· ‘Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice' (Philippians 4:4) parallels Philippians 2:17-18; Philippians 3:1 a, and the whole atmosphere of the letter (as described in the introduction).
· For ‘Let your forbearance (gentleness) be known to all men' (Philippians 4:5), compare ‘do all things without grumbling and questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent -- in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world' (Philippians 2:14-15).
· For ‘in nothing be anxious' (Philippians 4:6) compare ‘in nothing be frightened' in Philippians 1:28.
· For ‘whatever things are true, whatever things are honourable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, weigh up these things' (Philippians 4:8), compare ‘so that you may approve what is excellent' (Philippians 1:10).
· For ‘the things which you both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do', compare ‘brothers, join in imitating me' (Philippians 3:17).
· We should also note the use of ‘the Lord' as a designation of Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:1-2; Philippians 4:4-5; Philippians 4:10), a use apparent throughout the letter (see Philippians 1:14; Philippians 2:24; Philippians 2:29; Philippians 3:1).
With this in mind we can now consider the verses in more detail.
Analysis Of Philippians 4:1-9.
a For which reason, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved (Philippians 4:1).
b I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, I beseech you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life (Philippians 4:2-3).
c Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4).
d Let your forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is at hand (Philippians 4:5).
c In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
b Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honourable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, weigh up these things (Philippians 4:8).
a The things which you both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9).
Note that in ‘a' they are to have their attention fixed on the Lord as they stand fast in Him, while in the parallel in typical Pauline fashion they are to use Paul as a living example by which they can do this. In ‘b' they are to be of one mind and to help each other, and in the parallel their minds are to be on all that is good, while considering one another's praiseworthiness. In ‘c' they are to doubly rejoice in the Lord, and in the parallel they are to rely wholly on Him, avoiding anxiety by keeping in close touch with Him. Centrally in ‘d' they are to live remembering that that ‘the Lord is at hand'.