Philippians Part 18, Chapter 4:9-4:23
I. Do what you have seen in me. (4:9)
A. That is, what you have witnessed in me, and what you have learned of me, and what you
have heard about me, practice yourselves. Paul refers them to his uniform conduct - to
all that they had seen, and known, and heard of him, as that which it was proper for
them to imitate. (Barnes’ Notes)
B. It could have been only the consciousness of a pure and upright life which would make
such counsel proper. How few are the people at this day who can urge others to imitate
all that they have seen in them, and learned from them, and heard of them. (Barnes’)
1. I Corinthians 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
2. I Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
C. You have seen in me Now, the main thing in a public speaker should be, that
he may speak, not with his mouth merely, but by his life, and procure authority
for his doctrine by rectitude of life. Paul, accordingly, procures authority for his
exhortation on this ground, that he had, by his life no less than by his mouth,
been a leader and master of virtues. (Calvin’s Commentary)
II. Your care of me. (4:10)
A. Rejoiced – 5463 chairó (khah'-ee-ro) -- to rejoice, be glad Usage: I rejoice, am glad;
also a salutation: Hail.
1. In the last (16th) rejoicing of Philippians, Paul gives thanks for their giving,
remembering the gift sent by Epaphroditus in Chapter 2.
2. Paul says they “lacked opportunity”. It is not known why, but they had not
sent Paul an offering for 10-12 years.
3. Many Christians today have opportunities, but they lack the concern. (WW)
B. Care -- 5426 phroneó (fron-eh'-o) -- to have understanding, to think Usage: (a)
I think, (b) I think, judge, (c) I direct the mind to, seek for, (d) I observe, (e) I care for.
III. I don’t speak in want (4:11)
A. Paul must say, “I am not ministering for gifts”, to silence his critics.
B. Paul is quick to let them know his contentment was not tied to the gift but to
Jesus Christ.
C. Content – 714 arkeó (ar-keh'-o) -- to assist, suffice Usage: I keep off, assist;
I suffice; pass: I am satisfied.
1. Contentment is not complacency, nor is it a false peace based on ignorance.
The complacent believer is unconcerned about others, while the
contented Christian wants to share his blessings. Contentment is not
escape from the battle. (WW pg 134)
2. The verb “learned” means “learned by experience.” Paul had learned and
that through Christ.
3. Paul was quick to add that they must not for a moment suppose that he was
dependent upon outward gifts for contentment and peace. His secret of
happiness was not in circumstances, but in his peace of heart; he would not
admit that his joy was lessened when his circumstances were more straitened,
and enhanced when they brimmed with comfort. His serenity lay beyond the
range of storms, in Christ. (F. B. Meyer pg 239)
IV. How to be abased and abound (4:12-4:13)
A. Abased – 5013 tapeinoó (tap-i-no'-o) -- to make low, to humble Usage: I make or
bring low, humble, humiliate; pass: I am humbled.
1. metaphorically, to bring into it humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances;
i. e. to assign a lower rank or place to
2. Whatever our need, we must turn for its supply to the fullness of God in
Christ. As we keep open the avenue of our soul to our Lord, He will
pour His strength into our nerveless and helpless nature. (F. B. Meyer
pg 245)
3. Abound – 4121 pleonazó (pleh-on-ad'-zo) to superabound, to make to
Abound Usage: I have more than enough; I abound, increase.
4. That is, he had learned to have an ample supply of his needs, and yet to
observe the laws of temperance and soberness, and to cherish gratitude
for the mercies which he had enjoyed. (Barnes’ Notes)
B. I can do all things.
He could bear any trial, perform any duty, subdue any evil propensity of his
nature, and meet all the temptations incident to any condition of prosperity or
adversity. His own experience in the various changes of life had warranted him
in arriving at this conclusion; and he now expresses the firm confidence that
nothing would be required of him which he would not be able to perform. In Paul,
this declaration was not a vain self-reliance, nor was it the mere result of his
former experience. He knew well where the strength was to be obtained by
which to do all things, and on that arm that was able to uphold him he confidently
relied. (Barnes’ Notes)
V. Well Done -- Communication (4:14-4:18)
A. Communication – 2842 koinónia (koy-nohn-ee'-ah) fellowship Usage: (lit: partnership)
(a) contributory help, participation, (b) sharing in, communion, (c) spiritual
fellowship, a fellowship in the spirit.
B. 4:15 A. V. “entered into partnership with me and opened up an account in giving
and receiving except you only.”
C. Scriptures:
1. Romans 12:13
2. Romans 15:26-27
3. Galations 6:6-10
4. 1 Corinthians 9:6-16
5. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
D. In sending the gift, the Philippian Christians had shared in Paul’s affliction. They had
made his distress theirs. They had sympathized with him in his affliction and had
assisted him in bearing it. The word “share” is a form of the word for fellowship.
The church entered into a fellowship of giving and receiving. The church gave
materially to Paul and received spiritually from the Lord. In this sharing, Paul’s
friends received the greater blessing. He received the lesser blessing and rejoiced
that it was so.
E. Paul compares their giving to three familiar things:
1. A budding tree (v. 10). The word “flourished” carries the idea of a flower or tree
budding or blossoming.
2. An investment (v. 14-17). Paul looked upon their missionary gift as an investment
that would pay them rich dividends. The Lord keeps the books and will never
fail to pay one spiritual dividend! The church is poor that fails to share materially
with others. The wealth of God is open to those who love Him and love their
fellow-men. He who gives makes himself richer, for his own gift opens to him
the gifts of God.
3. A sacrifice (v. 18). Paul looked upon their gift as a spiritual sacrifice, laid on the
altar to the glory of God. We obligate God when we give.
F. If you are not willing to give, you may not have a functioning religion.
VI. My God (v 4:19 – 4:20)
A. Shall Supply—2023 epichorégeó (ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh'-o) to supply Usage: I supply,
provide (perhaps lavishly), furnish
1. That is, "You have shown your regard for me as a friend of God, by sending
to me in my distress, and I have confidence that, in return for all this, God
will supply all your needs, when you are in circumstances of necessity."
Paul's confidence in this seems not to have been founded on any express
revelation; but on the general principle that God would regard their offering
with favor. Nothing is lost, even in the present life, by doing good. In
thousands of instances it is abundantly repaid. (Barnes’ Notes)
2. He will fully supply. [We may perceive that this act of kindness on the part of the
Philippians was indeed excellently laid out, if even it only produced this prayer
of the apostle.—V. g.]—??e?a?, need) As you have supplied and relieved my
need, what is empty of yours will not remain empty [it shall be filled, in glory) This should be referred to the whole sentence. There are riches in glory, glorious riches, immediately at hand; then besides, God will fully supply in glory, i.e. gloriously. (Bengel’s Gnomon)
3. He expressly makes mention of God as his, because he owns and
acknowledges as done to himself whatever kindness is shewn to his
servants. They had therefore been truly sowing in the Lord's field, from
which a sure and abundant harvest might be expected. Nor does he
promise them merely a reward in the future life, but even in respect of
the necessities of the present life: (Calvin’s Commentaries)
B. All your need according to His riches in glory need—5532 chreia (khri'-ah) need,
business Usage: need, necessity, business.
1. The word "riches" here means, His abundant fullness; His possessing all
things; His inexhaustible ability to supply their needs. The phrase "in
glory," is probably to he connected with the following phrase, "in Christ
Jesus;" and means that the method of imparting supplies to people was
through Jesus Christ, and was a glorious method; or, that it was done in
a glorious manner. (Barnes’ Notes)
2. "Do not think that you have impoverished yourselves; God, whom I serve,
will abundantly furnish you with everything necessary for you." The
phrase, in glory, ought to be taken in place of the adverb gloriously, as meaning magnificently, or splendidly. He adds, however, by Christ, in whose name everything that we do is acceptable to God. (Calvin’s Commentaries)
C. Glory to God (v 4:20)
1. Better, our God and Father; the ultimate Source of all faith, love, and hope in
the brethren and members of His Son.—“Our”:—“It is no longer [‘my’], for
the reference is now not to himself as distinguished from the Philippians,
but as united to them” (Lightfoot).
2. Now to our God and Father This may be taken as a general thanksgiving,
by which he closes the epistle; or it may be viewed as bearing more
particularly upon the last clause in reference to the liberality shewn to
Paul. [259] For in respect of the assistance which the Philippians had
afforded him, it became him to reckon himself indebted to them for it in
such a manner as to acknowledge, that this aid had been afforded to them
by the mercy of God. (Calvin’s Commentaries)
VII. Salutations (v. 4:21 – 4:23)
A. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus - It was usual for him also to close his epistles
with affectionate salutations to various members of the churches to which he
wrote. These salutations are generally specific, and mention the names,
particularly if prominent members of the churches; see the close of the Epistles
to the Romans; 1 Corinthians; Colossians, and 2 Timothy. this Epistle, however,
as in some others, the salutation in general. Why none are specified in particular
is not certainly known. (Calvin’s Commentary)
B. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus - It was usual for him also to close his epistles
with affectionate salutations to various members of the churches to which he
wrote. These salutations are generally specific, and mention the names,
particularly if prominent members of the churches; see the close of the Epistles
to the Romans; 1 Corinthians; Colossians, and 2 Timothy. this Epistle, however,
as in some others, the salutation in general. Why none are specified in particular
is not certainly known. (Barnes’ Notes)
C. Chiefly they that are of Caesar's household - That is, of Nero, who was at that time
the reigning emperor. The name Caesar was given to all the emperors after the
time of Julius Caesar, as the name Pharaoh was the common name of the kings
of Egypt. The phrase used here - "the household of Caesar" - may refer to the
relatives of the emperor; and it is certainly possible that some of them may have
been converted to Christianity. (Calvin’s Commentaries)
D. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
