The Word Made Fresh
1So, stand firm in the Lord, my friends, whom I love and whom I miss. You are my joy and my crown. 2I beg Euodia and Syntyche to find a way in the Lord to agree with one another. 3And I also am asking you, my loyal friend Syzygus, to help these ladies who have struggled alongside me in the ministry of the gospel, and also Clement and my other coworkers whose names are printed in the book of life.
4Always be content in the Lord. Be content, 5and treat others gently, for the Lord is near. 6Don’t worry about anything. Present all your requests to God in prayer, and give thanks. 7Do that, and the peace of God that is beyond understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.
8From now on, friends, focus your thoughts on those things that are excellent and admirable – things that are true, and holy, and just, and pure, and lovely, and praiseworthy. 9Abide in those things you learned or received or heard or saw in us, and the peace of God will be with you.
10I was greatly pleased in the Lord because you have at last begun to worry about me. Of course, you were worried, but had no way to respond. 11But I’m not in need of anything. I’ve learned to be content with whatever I have. 12I know how it feels to have little, and to have more than enough. But I have learned how to be in need, or to have enough; to be well-fed, or to be hungry regardless of my circumstances. 13I can do whatever is needed through him who strengthens me. 14Whatever the situation, it was kind of you to share in my suffering.
15I’m sure that you folks in Philippi remember that you were the only ones who supported me in the task of giving and receiving. 16You sent me help for my expenses more than once when I was in Thessalonica. 17I didn’t seek your gift, but I do seek the profit that accumulates to your account. 18I have enough. I’ve been paid in full. I’m satisfied, especially now that I have received the gift you sent with Epaphroditus. It is a fragrant offering; a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And I’m sure that my God will provide everything you need through the glorious riches that are in Christ Jesus. 20To God the Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21Greet every believer in Christ Jesus. The friends with me greet you. 22All the believers greet you, especially those of you from the emperor’s household. 23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Commentary
1: Verse 1 really belongs to the previous paragraph in chapter 3. Paul re-echoes his call for them to “stand firm in the Lord,” meaning they should live according to Paul’s teachings, not according to the way of the circumcision party.
2-3: Perhaps these verses show the reason Paul has been emphasizing the importance of being of the same mind. Two women, Euodia and Syntyche, are apparently involved in a disagreement that threatens to spill over into the congregation. Paul acknowledges that they have been important contributors to the life of the congregation, and assures them that despite their differences their “names are printed in the book of life,” meaning that they belong to Christ and their conflict will not undo that bond. Neither Euodia, Syntyche, nor Clement are mentioned anywhere else in scripture. Other early Christian writings identify Clement as the bishop of Rome, a late first century leader in the church and the author of a letter to the church in Corinth known as 1 Clement. Scholars are not unanimous in this identification, however.
4-7: Rejoice, be gentle, have faith that the Lord is near, pray, and give thanks. That is the formula for lasting inner peace.
8-9: Set your mind on those things you learned or received or heard or saw in us, he says, and the peace of God will be with you. Easy enough, eh?
10-20: Paul is determined to make it understood that he needs no earthly thing and is content with whatever befalls him, but he does want to thank them for the gift they sent him by Epaphroditus. He remembers that they had supported him before, when he was laboring for the gospel in Thessalonica. He is certain that God will repay them for their kindness.
21-23: The closing of the letter reveals that among the Christians in Rome with Paul are certain members of “the emperor’s household.” This must certainly be a reference to none other than the royal entourage of Caesar himself, though perhaps not to his own family. Very early on the gospel message attracted men and women from every social stratum. Typically, Paul sends greetings from the others who are with him, although in this case none of them are named. “All the believers greet you” is often thought to be a reference to the other apostles, whose company Paul was proud to claim.
Takeaway
Rejoice, don’t let circumstances take joy away from you. Be gentle in speech and action. Have faith that the Lord is near because, well, the Lord is near. Pray. Give thanks for all things. That is the formula for peace of soul.