Philippians, Rightly Divided, Verse-by-Verse

Session 17 | Phillippians 4:10-13

Philippians 4:1-9 | Simple Instructions For Difficult Matters

Verses 1-7 -- see session 16
Verse 8 -- Blue
- These are some of the most beautiful and quoted words of all Pauline literature. The KJV uses the more emphatic and poetic whatsoever for the pronoun ὅσος [hosos], itself an emphatic, reduplicated word. One could argue that Paul's encouragement to think on these things that are good and positive is perhaps the best thinking habit that any person could establish.
Verse 9 -- Blue
- The connection with the peace of God (v. 7) and the God of peace in verse 9 should alert us that these verses go together as a unit concerning inner peace.
- Once again, as in 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul our apostle is unashamed to put himself forward as our example: that which has been learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do.

Philippians 4:10-20 | The Generous Philippian Church

Verse 10 --
- Paul turns his attention to the [presumably] financial care that the church at Philippi had given him, both in times past and now again. For whatever reason, the church had, for a time, lacked opportunity and been unable to care for Paul. Now that care has resumed. It is possible that the lack of service toward me of which Paul spoke in Philippians 2:30 is related to this lack of opportunity. “follow Paul" in his attitude. These ministries should not expect that their donors would suffer financially so that they may prosper. Individuals sometimes have opportunity and sometimes lack opportunity. This “fact of life" must be recognized so that the donors are not put on a “guilt trip."
Verse 11 --
- Paul clarifies that he was not speaking in respect of want, that is, out of poverty. It is worthy of note, however, to clarify that the reason he had no want is because he had learned...to be content. Chances are that Paul had experienced days of considerable wealth as Saul of Tarsus. But when he abruptly halted his life after his Damascus journey, he doubtless experienced financial difficulty. Perhaps one of the best lessons for practical living that we can learn from Paul is to be content.
Verse 12 --
- Paul expresses the extremes of life using several categories:
- He was able to handle these extremes because, he said, I am instructed“learned by experience." There are several words for instructed in the New Testament.
  - To be instructed by a rabbi as a disciple, as in Matthew 13:52.
  - To be induced or persuaded to action, as in Matthew 14:8.
  - To be informed with words, as in Luke 1:4 or Romans 2:18.
- But Paul uses a unique word that is set apart from the above manner of instruction. His word is μυέω [muyeo] which comes from musterion, from which we get mystery. It is a word that would be used for someone initiated into a secret society. Could it be that the revelation of the mystery included, for Paul, the instruction on how to be full and to be hungry?
Verse 13 --
- Could this be the mystery instruction? To rely on the strength that comes from Christ? In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it seems that Paul equates the strength of Christ with the revelation of the mystery. From the beginning, Saul seemed strengthened by Christ (compare Acts 9:22). Here, toward the end, he seems to rejoice in that strength.
- The manner of this “secret” does not seem to be taught by Paul. Perhaps it is not explained because “it is what it is.” We either rest in Christ strength or we rest in our own. Or, on the other hand, perhaps this strength of Christ is meant, as presented, as a testimony of Paul who alone had the unique role of apostleship.
- While we should endeavor to rest in the strength of Christ, we should be careful not to make this verse “say more than it says." It is Paul's testimony and not given as a promise to all. Can we learn from Paul's testimony? Surely we can. Can we gain strength from Paul's faith? Surely“name it and claim it" when it comes to Paul's strength in Christ? Here we must pause and simply allow the passage to be Paul's testimony alone.

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