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The closing chapter of Paul's letter to the Philippians is warm and personal. He pleads with two women, Euodia and Syntyche, who had worked alongside him in the gospel, to come to agreement, and asks a trusted partner to help them. Then come some of the best-loved lines in his letters: rejoice, be gentle, bring every anxiety to God in prayer, and fill your mind with what is good. He ends by thanking the church for a gift sent through Epaphroditus. Watch for the word content in verse 11, written by a man in custody.
1Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
2I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord.
3Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9Do the things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
10But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.
11Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.
12I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.
13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14However you did well that you shared in my affliction.
15You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.
16For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.
17Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
18But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.
19My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.
22All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Meditate
Instead of carrying worry alone, turn each anxious thought into a request with thanks attached. Then dwell for a while on whatever is lovely, and let peace stand guard.
Read it slowly, then sit with the prompt. Free: stillingwaves.com/bible/philippians/4/
Scripture: World English Bible (public domain).Scripture: King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom; in the United Kingdom under Crown patent.
The famous lines about worry come straight after a quarrel between two co-workers. The peace offered here is not for people with tidy lives; it arrives in the middle of friction, and Paul asks others to help. Verse 13, often quoted on its own, sits inside a passage about going hungry and being well fed. The strength it names is the strength to be content either way, not the power to get whatever you want. Linger there. What would you need in order to be at rest today, and is that need as large as it feels? Is there a relationship, like the one between Euodia and Syntyche, waiting for someone to help mend it? Who has stood with you in hard times, as the Philippians stood with Paul? Tell God what is on your mind, and thank him for one person by name.
A journal for this chapter
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