What the Christians Are to Do

4 [^LTherefore; So then] My brothers and sisters, ·I love you and want to see you [^Lmy beloved and longed-for ones]. ·You bring me joy and make me proud of you [^L…my joy and crown; 1 Thess. 2:19; ^Ca wreath bestowed for victory or honor], so stand ·strong [firm] in the Lord as I have told you, ·dear friends [beloved].

² I ·ask [urge; encourage; exhort] Euodia and Syntyche [^Ctwo women in the Philippian congregation] to agree in the Lord. ³ And I ask you, my ·faithful [true; genuine] ·friend [companion; ^Lyoke-partner; ^Cpossibly a proper name: Syzygos], to help these women. They ·served [struggled; labored] with me in telling the ·Good News [Gospel], together with Clement and ·others who worked with me [^Lthe rest of my coworkers], whose names are written in the book of life [Rev. 3:5; 21:27].

⁴ ·Be full of joy [Rejoice] in the Lord always. I will say again, ·be full of joy [rejoice].

⁵ Let everyone see that you are ·gentle [kind; considerate; patient]. The Lord is ·coming soon [or close at hand; ^Lnear]. ⁶ Do not ·worry [be anxious] about anything, but pray and ·ask God for everything you need [or make your requests known to God], always giving thanks. ⁷ And God’s peace, which ·is so great we cannot understand it [transcends/surpasses all comprehension], will ·keep [guard] your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ [^LFinally; In conclusion; or Now then] Brothers and sisters, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] things that are true and honorable and ·right [just] and pure and ·beautiful [lovely] and ·respected [commendable]. If there is anything that is ·good [morally excellent] and worthy of praise, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] these things. ⁹ Do what you learned and received and heard ·from [^Lin] me, and what you saw ·me do [^Lin me]. And the God ·who gives [^Lof] peace will be with you.

Paul Thanks the Christians

¹⁰ I ·am very happy [^Lrejoiced greatly] in the Lord that you have ·shown [renewed; revived] your ·care [concern] for me again. You continued to ·care [be concerned] about me, but ·there was no way for you [you had no opportunity] to show it. ¹¹ I am not telling you this because I need anything. [^LFor] I have learned to be ·satisfied [content] ·whatever the circumstances [or with whatever I have]. ¹² I know how to live when I am ·poor [in humble circumstances], and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the ·secret of being happy [^Lsecret] ·at any time in everything that happens [or in any and all circumstances], when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have ·more than I need [plenty; an abundance] and when I do not have enough. ¹³ I can do all things through ·Christ, because he [^Lthe one who] gives me strength.

¹⁴ ·But [However; Nevertheless] it was good that you ·helped [shared/partnered with] me ·when I needed it [^Lin my trouble/trial]. ¹⁵ You Philippians remember ·when I first preached the Good News there [or when you first believed the Good News/Gospel; ^Lin the beginning of the Good News/Gospel; Acts 16:11–40]. When I left Macedonia [^Cthe northern part of present-day Greece; Acts 17:14–15], ·you were the only church that [^Lno church except you alone] ·gave me help [^Lshared/partnered with me in matters of giving and receiving; ^Cbusiness terminology; the Philippians “invested” in Paul’s ministry and received back spiritual blessings]. ¹⁶ [^LFor] Even when I was in Thessalonica [^Cshortly after leaving Philippi; Thessalonica is southwest of Philippi; Acts 17:1–9] ·several times [^Lboth once and twice] you sent me things I needed. ¹⁷ Really, it is not that I ·want to receive gifts from you [^Lseek the gift], but I ·want you to have the good that comes from giving [^Lseek the profit/fruit that increases to your account; ^Cmore business terminology; v. 15]. ¹⁸ And now I have ·everything [or received full payment], and more. I ·have all I need [or am fully supplied/filled up], because Epaphroditus [2:25] brought your gifts to me. They are ·like a sweet-smelling offering to God [^La fragrant aroma], a sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to him. ¹⁹ [^LAnd] My God will ·meet [supply; fulfill] all of your needs ·from [^Laccording to] his ·wonderful riches [glorious riches; or riches in heaven/glory] in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Glory to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen.

²¹ Greet each ·of God’s people [^Tsaint] in Christ Jesus. ·Those [^LThe brothers (and sisters)] who are with me send greetings to you. ²² All of ·God’s people [^Tthe saints] greet you, particularly those from ·the palace of Caesar [^LCaesar’s household; ^Cthe soldiers, slaves, and freedmen engaged in imperial service].

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with ·you all [your spirit].