It is not even that they are to rejoice through gritted teeth, but rather than they rejoice in all the goodness that is found in God and in his blessing. It makes us think. Thus, then, he prays for them, and to this end, not that they might become more intelligent merely not that they might grow more able to discourse of divine things, though I doubt not that there would be growth in these respects also; but all here has an eminently practical form, "that ye may approve things that are more excellent; that ye may be pure and without offence till the day of Christ." The world has its impurities and its degradations but it has also its nobilities and its chivalries, and it is of the high things that the Christian must think. That's what is really important to me. Now we all know that when a man is carried on the top of the wave, when the winds fill the sails and all goes prosperously, when hearts are gladdened in sorrow, when one witnesses the joy of fresh deliverance from day to day, it is a comparatively easy thing. His thoughts will be quite literally in a groove out of which he cannot jerk them. It is not love growing less but more, and this abounding in intelligence and knowledge, which could not be looked for in saints just beginning their career. The odd fact is that, although arete ( G703) was one of the great classical words, Paul usually seems deliberately to avoid it and this is the only time it occurs in his writings. It is interesting to me that God has this book in heaven, the Book of Life, and the names of those who are heirs of the heavenly kingdom, ordained of God to share, and He has inscribed their names in the Book of Life. Paul is actually saying that even if he is suffering, or in need, his joy doesn't come from solving those problems. there is no small tendency whenever people know the gospel well, if this be all, to settle down, thinking they have nothing more to do with the matter. The following verses are in the NIV translation. They helped them, and in that sense "laboured" if you will. A wife erects a tomb for herself and for her husband out of their joint earnings, so she must have been in business. This verse is not a promise that God will enable believers to do whatever they want whenever they want it. How cheerfully should we engage in our duties, and meet the trials that are before us, leaning on the arm of our Almighty Redeemer! Is this the life that is practically exercised? It is not with any design to draw more from you, but to encourage you to such an exercise of beneficence as will meet with a glorious reward hereafter. Elsewhere it is God's or divine righteousness. In all circumstances, Christ, our unchanging Friend, can uphold us. Men can never really love each other until they love Christ. Contentment, and the joy that comes with it, is not something you are born with, or granted automatically. In Him, we, know, who was the perfect model in the same warfare, which He fought single-handed, conquering for God's glory and for us, the prince of this world came, and had nothing in Him, absolutely nothing. No saints are outside the danger. It is as if Paul said that the Philippians were the crown of all his toil; it is as if he said that at the final banquet of God they were his festal crown. Creating a supportive and welcoming community with beautiful, high quality Christian gifts. It is ignorance and absurdity to answer such scriptures by the text, that in Christ there is neither male nor female. Hes in a bad spot and he cant rely on his own strength. Hence he at once begins, not with a doctrinal preparation after the introduction, but the introduction brings us as usual into the general spirit if not special object of the epistle. Jul 28, 2021 - A free print and color page for Philippians 4:13. Message. Enhance your schools traditional and online education programs by easily integrating online courses developed from the scholars and textbooks you trust. He appreciates the help he has received from the Philippians, but he knows that none of them can give him the strength to overcome hardships. the love of Christ everywhere! The verb "to strengthen" is used in other places to denote the work of Christ in the lives of Christians (Ephesians 6:10; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:1). Unfortunately, those people do exist. Philippians 4:13 is not a war cry to go and conquer. Hello lordsguidance.com admin, Your posts are always informative. Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who infuses his strength into me." Its in our own weakness when Gods power is strongest. What is it that brings us into the blessed fellowship that we enjoy? Then he found himself a dead man condemned and powerless. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians (MmC; G), R. P. Martin, The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians (TC; E), J. H. Michael, The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians (MC; E), M. R. Vincent, Philippians and Philemon (ICC; G). Careful where you invest. Now who can measure that kind of riches? Amen. He now returned from his concerns for the Philippians (Philippians 1:27 to Philippians 4:9) to his own circumstances (Philippians 4:10-20). He is regarded as the true adversary, working, of course, by human means; but none the less is it his power. Song: "If You But Trust in God to Guide You" PH 282, PsH 446, RL 151, TH 670, TWC 636, UMH 142. . He has thanked God for their generosity, that they will be rewarded for their selfless act toward him. All rights reserved worldwide. But the weakest of saints (how much more this greatest of the apostles!) 2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." . Indeed "our sufficiency is from God" ( 2 Corinthians 3:5). Winning is fun but losing is hard. What is the True Meaning of Easter? For even in Thessalonica [when I was there] ye sent once and again unto my necessity [to take care of my needs]. Prayer itself is very broad term that describes communion with God. What a wonderful thing. "Be anxious [or be careful] for nothing; but in everything" this is the resource "in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Impossible that anything done by other saints should turn to one's acceptance any more than what is done by himself The apostle uses salvation throughout his letter to the Philippians (nor is it confined to this scripture only) in the sense of the complete and final triumph over all the power of Satan. And Lord, even the devils were subject unto us." Philippians 4:10, 14. Why go in the way of crowds of soldiers or civil officers? If, then, they really loved him, "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if there be any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies," he would venture to seek another proof of it. He rejoiced greatly in it (Philippians 4:10; Philippians 4:10), because it was an evidence of their affection to him and the success of his ministry among them. Impossible that He could be made Jehovah. No! This is what he calls "salvation." He knew that he had always been much in their thoughts, but circumstances had up till now given them no opportunity to show their mindfulness of him. "Let your requests," whatever they may be, "be made known unto God;" and not only so, but "with thanksgiving." I. Oh, it is a blessed thing, that in the midst of the sorrows of this world, the Holy Spirit knows how thus to blend the name of Christ, as the sweetest balm, with the sorrow, however bitter, and to make the very memory of the grief pleasant because of Christ, who deigns to let Himself into it all. There are many excellent study guides on the Philippians for those interested in gaining a wider knowledge of the context of this verse. Again, notice the rejoicing is in the Lord. There was but one spring of power even Christ. But the Philippians sent once and again; they often relieved and refreshed him in his necessities. Better not make them known to men; it is a dangerous snare. Thats between them and God. The Reading of Philippians 4:4-9. They use it to show others they can fulfill any desire they please through Christ and by faith. It is the apostle giving us what his heart was occupied with when he could not go forth in the activities of work, and when it seemed as if he had nothing to do. Philippians 4:13 is not about winning a football game. At the same time he intimates his value for their love, and takes care that his was independence founded on dependence, an independence of circumstances which finds its strength in simple and absolute dependence upon God. The brotherhood of man is impossible without the lordship of Christ. Accordingly he prays for them, that as they had shown this true and unabated love for himself as Christ's servant, so their love might abound yet more and more, and this too in knowledge and in all judgment. So the apostle lets them know that he owned their hearty love; "not," he says, "because I desire a gift." Is he telling us to believe in ourselves? Far from him was the vanity of being the man first to preach Christ in the great metropolis. In this passage Paul lays down the way of true teaching. As far as he was concerned, therefore, why could he choose? Verse-. This is not true because God only fulfills the desires in our hearts that align with His Word. The most common interpretations of this verse miss this important distinction. This required the strength of Christ because moving disrupted his life. C. Kingsley Williams has whatever has a good name. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. And they came back and they said, "Lord, it was fantastic. There are. I had a dream about a situation and my friend showed me the scripture in that dream :Philipians. The book of Colossians, one that will enrich us so completely as we study it together.And now may God cause you to abound in love and in your walk in the Spirit. Thus he anticipates the removal of the last trace of the first Adam; he looks for our being brought fully, even as to the body, into the likeness of the Second Man, the last Adam. Have rather that spirit which counts nothing as a right to be claimed, but all one has as gifts of grace to be freely used in this world, because one has Christ in view. No one denies this, which is, or ought to be, no new thing for a Christian. We are not to suppose that, because we are men, we monopolise all the gifts of Christ. This is something of the utmost importance, because it is a law of life that, if a man thinks of something often enough, he will come to the stage when he cannot stop thinking about it. This is the only allusion, as far as I know, to flesh in this epistle, but it is flesh in its religious form, and not as a source of evil lusts and passions. Thus fervour of desire for others is the happy index of this whenever coupled with adequate knowledge of ourselves. Philippians 4:14 Context. "He shall do it, not only as your God, but as my God, who takes what is done to me as done to himself. There is always cause for rejoicing in the Lord. They had him in their heart, as he says, "Inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace," or "of my grace." And having shared with the women, the following week they told their friends, and a big crowd of people gathered to hear Paul share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though he wist not to choose what between the two before, when the need of souls rises before him, he says that he shall live, and is not yet going to die. I want to support that kind of work.And so Paul said, "Not that I desire a gift. This is a wonderful exposition. There is great reason to think that the arose from those who thought it necessary to the sense, and did not see that it could be fetched from the in . As long as the thought and desire are aligned in Gods way and for His Glory. "Let your moderation be known unto all men," strengthened by this consolatory truth, "the Lord is at hand. Decorate your laptops, water bottles, notebooks and windows. body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself." The Greek word panta means "all things"; but, in this context, Paul is speaking specifically of the points mentioned in the preceding verse. At its core, this verse is talking about a different sort of victory. Aren't you glad? Start your free trial today! Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse Next Verse > View Chapter Philippians 4:13 Context I have been reading thus verse with wrong interpretation now i understand even more.Thank you for the explanatio. It redounded so much the more to their honour that they were the only church who were thus just and generous. "For my part," says he, "I have all, and abound,Philippians 4:18; Philippians 4:18. Not a sacrifice of atonement, for none makes atonement for sin but Christ; but a sacrifice of acknowledgment, and well-pleasing to God. Here we see One who is in glory, and on whom the eye of the believer is set; and accordingly the judgment of evil is from the side of heaven. Thats what got him through. "My joy and crown," "my dearly beloved." Only in the friendship of God can a man find life as it was meant to be. Amen, Thanks for your time and explaining to me, Clear and easy to comprehend explanation keep it up, God bless! Habitually, indeed throughout this epistle, we find the word " me," and a very different "me" from the "me" of Romans 7:1-25. Philippians 4:13 Greek Study Bible ( Apostolic / Interlinear) . What a privilege it is, therefore, to be a Christian - to feel, in the trials of life, that we have one friend, unchanging and most mighty, who can always help us! Our whole nation is being polluted by the television industry and by the movie industry. Notwithstanding, it has been already explained that the man has a relative place as the image and glory of God, being set in a remarkable position between God and the woman in matters of outward decorum. He had put all, as it were, into the hands of Christ, who had Himself given him His own comfort about it. But this is not the character of Christian joy. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell [Probably some cologne, I guess], a sacrifice acceptable, [and] well-pleasing to God. "Whose names were written in the Book of Life," from the foundations of the earth. The father is the only Philippians 4:13 is one of the most well-known New Testament verses, but it's also notoriously misused. Maybe a guy at the gym quoted it or maybe your wife has it written in cursive on a cute chalkboard she got at Hobby Lobby. It is not sentiment, but a genuine feeling, thus "looking not each at his own things, but each also at the things of others." Prayer is not a monologue; it is a dialogue. We see at once the difference between the Stoics and Paul. He associates Timothy with himself, not merely, as elsewhere, himself apostle and Timothy in some other relation, but here conjointly "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ." He can persevere, share the gospel, and be content in any situation. Isolating scripture verse(s) can be very misleading. The preeminence of Jesus Christ. He is exalting Christ. This, carefully remember, does not mean forgetting sins. Such is the sense of it here. Firstly thank you for the clarification and the bringing out the beauty of such a motivating passage. Not only was an utterly wrong spirit indulged in the work itself, and toward others engaged actually in it; but even as to the apostle, shut out from such service, a desire to pain and wound was not wanting. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings, especially those of Caesar's household. I learned as a child that I can memorize any poem by reading it over three times before I went to sleep. To better understandPhilippians 4:13, we have to look at it in the context of the verse preceding it. Such did, such was, Christ. They can be designed a lot of different ways and each one is sure to be meaningful and symbolic for you. Yet the truth as to this abides, not only at the starting-point, but all the way through. Why? 1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. But so it is; and thus the food of faith becomes the poison of unbelief. At any rate they endured the conflicts of the gospel in its earlier days at Philippi. That Paul was able to rejoice while in prison is nothing short of a miraculous gift given supernaturally by the Holy Spirit. But how can this be unless the heart is perfectly at ease as to itself? Christ was Son of God in a sole and supreme sense. Because many of the women believed and were saved and baptized, and so the work of God really began with women, and they had a very important part in the ministry in the church in Philippi. He desired not so much for his own sake, but theirs: "I desire fruit that may abound to your account, that is, that you may be enabled to make such a good use of your worldly possessions that you may give an account of them with joy." I mean the t-shirt almost writes itself, doesnt it? But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Why, then, is it so in the next instance? Stoicism failed because it was inhuman; Christianity succeeded because it was rooted in the divine. It did not happen overnight or at his conversion. I want a bed of roses, Lord. Beware of doers." We shall see the importance of this elsewhere. Watch. Its from these humble means that he can have the peace of God. Many of us have seen some variation of these words in encouraging notes and cards, in art, on t-shirts, tattooed on peoples bodies, and even scrawled on the shoes of famous athletes or printed on their eye black. Verse- by-Verse Bible CommentaryPhilippians 4. See 1 Thessalonians 4:6-18.". A man has the quality of epieikeia ( G1932) if he knows when not to apply the strict letter of the law, when to relax justice and introduce mercy. Its not anyones place to decide what means what for someone else. Nevertheless, God will surely teach His own, and knows how to clear up what is hidden from them. It literally means fair-speaking, but it was specially connected with the holy silence at the beginning of a sacrifice in the presence of the gods. (Compare Ephesians 1:1-23 and Colossians 1:1-29) But all, even these in hell, must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "Finally," says he, "my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. Let us not shrink from duty; let us not dread persecution let us not fear the bed of death. But even then, victory was possible, because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.. "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed." Hers is a more delicate place than that which becomes the man, and one which a man attempting it would awkwardly fill. (A) 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. In Paul, this declaration was not a vain self-reliance, nor was it the mere result of his former experience. We have here an account of Paul's learning, not that which he got at the feet of Gamaliel, but that which he got at the feet of Christ. The word Paul uses for stand fast (stekete, G4739) is the word which would be used for a soldier standing fast in the shock of battle, with the enemy surging down upon him. It was such an one, truly the servant of Jesus Christ, and so much the more their servant because His, even their servant for Jesus' sake it was such an one that wrote from Rome to the tried saints at Philippi. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.". Sort of tragic, a lot of people watch television just before they go to sleep, because you plant that junk in your mind just before you drop off.You know, I have found that what I plant in my mind the last thing at night before I go to sleep is something that sticks with me. . But with the Philippians there was increased jealousy for Christ. Philippians 4:11-13. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. When you grow weary because of the challenges of life, God gives you His strength (Isaiah 40:29). To win that crown was the peak of the athlete's ambition. God bless everyone. I enjoy the truth and Doctrine of Book! Suppose we were to go down to history with one thing known about us, what would that one thing be? Suppose that, because we are not to suppose that, because we not. `` Yea doubtless, and be content in any situation from these humble means that he can have the of... ( Apostolic / Interlinear ) 3:5 ), our unchanging Friend, can uphold us. beautiful! Television industry and by faith known unto all men, '' says,. Christ was Son of God in a bad spot and he cant rely on his own strength for someone.! Are with me send you their greetings, especially those of Caesar 's.. And crown, '' `` my dearly beloved. great metropolis others they be... 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