Philippians Chapter 4

In the light of the fact that our conversation is in heaven and it is from there that we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. When he appears he will change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. In the light of all that, Paul writes "Therefore..."

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

To stand fast means just that. Having done all, to stand. Standing with the whole armour of God, as in Ephesians 6:13-18.

Philippians 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

To be of the same mind would mean to speak the same things rather than having contentions, like the Corinthians did:

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

The only way to be of the same mind and in the same judgment is to be "on the same page," doctrinally speaking. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:3 to charge some that they teach no other doctrine. A reference to doctrine other than that committed to Paul by the risen Lord Jesus Christ. He also wrote to Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

According to Amos two must agree before they can "walk together."

Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Paul did not identify the true yokefellow. But we know that it is an individual because he says "I intreat thee." Thee is a singular word in the King James Bible. The rule is: "T" words are singular and "Y" words are plural.

It is not a matter of "olde archaic Elizabethan English" as some would say. The use of words like "thee" and "ye" to indicate singular and plural pronouns had long went out of use by the time the King James Bible was translated into English. But, the translators recognized that the Greek language, in which the new testament was written, and the Hebrew language of the old testmant both had specific words to indicate singular and plural personal pronouns. Therefore, that is the reason they are in the King James Bible. It is to greatly help "thee" in understanding.

So whoever this "yokefellow" is, he is told to help "those women which laboured with me in the gospel." Who they are, or who he is, it just simply does not say. But he goes on to name "Clement also" and with "other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life."

In other words the women labored with, or helped Paul, and Clement, and the others who he says are in the book of life. And that brings up the question: Do the members of the church, the body of Christ, have their names written in the book of life?

There are many places in the bible where books are mentioned and names are mentioned as being written in them. In Psalm 69:28 there is "the book of the living." In Malachi 3:16 there is a "book of remembrance" for those that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. Notice in the gospel of Luke:

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

There are references to names written and names blotted out. But this is the only instance in Paul's epistles where you see a reference to names written in the book of life. In the book of Revelation there are seven references to the book of life. The last one, in Revelation 21:27 refers to the "Lamb's book of life." The book of life will be one of the books opened at the great white throne of Revelation 20:12 and 15.

In Revelation 3:5 the "overcomer" will not have his name blotted out of the book of life, and in Revelation 13:8 those whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world will worship the beast. In Revelation 17:8 they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, concerning the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.

The question then would be: Did the book of life being referred to have it's origin "from the foundation of the world?" Or, could it have been there before the foundation of the world? Paul says this to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Are the "fellowlabourers" Paul referred to the same type of people as the "fellowworkers" in Colossians? They include Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, as well as:

Colossians 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

Those men are "fellowworkers" but they are of the circumcision. The work is unto the kingdom of God. Now it is interesting to note that Philip's work was unto the kingdom of God in the book of Acts:

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

But so was Paul's:

Acts 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

But we know that Philip was "stedfast in the apostle's docrine," meaning the doctrine of the gospel of the kingdom. But Paul was stedfast in the doctrine of the gospel of the grace of God. That is two totally different gospels pertaining to two totally different groups of people. Yet both are in the kingdom of God.

So the question is again: Are the names of the members of the church, the body of Christ, written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world? Some believe so. But if that is the case, Philippians 4:3 is the only reference by Paul to the book of life. There is no other doctrine pertaining to the book of life any where else in Paul's 13 epistles. The seven times that the book of life is referred to in the bible, other than this, is in the book of Revelation and we know that those of the book of Revelation are not members of the church, the body of Christ.

Peter, James and John gave Paul the "right hand of fellowship" in the meeting in Acts 15, described in Galatians chapter two, but their two gospels were different. Peter refers to "our beloved brother Paul" in 2 Peter 3:15 but Peter's message in 1 and 2 Peter is decidedly different than Paul's in Romans through Philemon.

One sure thing that Paul does say is this:

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Paul told the Ephesians that after they believed they were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise:

Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

So, are we sealed in Christ, and also written in the book of life? If that be the case then praise the Lord. If not, then praise the Lord. We positively know that "The Lord knoweth them that are his." If you are saved then God knows it. God can never say to a saved person, "Depart from me, I never knew you," because he DOES know them that are his. Them that are his in the church, the body of Christ have been sealed IN CHRIST by that holy Spirit of promise. It is the ernest, the certainty, of our inheritance.

In days gone by people would take fresh fruits and vegetables and prepare and store them by a process called "canning." In canning, the fruit or vegetable would be packed into a glass jar after being washed and "blanched" and a two part lid would be loosely screwed onto the jar. The jars would then be placed in a large pot of water and heated until the water began to simmer. At a point, the flat part of the two part lid would "pop" and at that moment the jars were sealed, protecting the fruit or vegetables for a long time to come.

The food was in the jar and "sealed." It didn't come out of the jar until the lady broke that seal by unscrewing and popping the lid. Believers who have trusted Christ as their Saviour are sealed UNTO the day of redemption. That sealing is an "event," like the "pop" of the fruit jar. It is not a process. Once sealed, always saved.

The day of redemption is bodily salvation. We are already saved from the penality of sin. We are being saved from the power of sin in our life, and one day we will be saved from the very presence of sin.

Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

What he is saying is that a believer shouldn't go around worrying and fretting about things. But IN everything pray. We know from Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose. So although we don't know how to pray as we ought, we ought to pray.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

And finally, some practical things:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Paul speaks of joy and of rejoicing numerous times in Philippians. He says the fruit of his labour is rejoicing. But here we see he rejoices because of thier care for him:

Philippians 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Not too many in religion could make a statement like that today could they?

Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

When he says "I can do all things" it is a reference to the context. Obviously, there are many things that Paul, as well as believers today, cannot do. Paul couldn't live above sin. He said instead that he was "carnal, sold unto sin." He also couldn't keep the Law. And by this time he no longer has the power to heal people as he did during the book of Acts. He prayed for healing and didn't get it. He left Trophimus behind, too sick to travel. He even gave Timothy medical advice because of his oft infirmities. From the time of Acts 16 and onward God provided Paul with a Doctor, the beloved physician Luke. So he says:

Philippians 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Now notice carefully what he says next:

Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

Notice the phrase "the beginning of the gospel." That literally means a commencement. So something BEGAN. It commenced. Not when Paul came to Macedonia but when he DEPARTED, as in this verse:

Acts 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

Paul has received a new ministry at this time. There is a huge turning which takes place here. From this point they travel until they reach a coastal city named Miletus. From there Paul sent for the elders of the church at Ephesus. In talking to them he rehearses what he HAS done and then what he is GOING to do. Notice:

Acts 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

Acts 20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Up to this point, in all of Paul's epistles you see references to "the gospel of Christ." The message Paul preached up to this time was preached to the JEW FIRST, and also to the Greek. In Corinth back in verse two and three, Paul wrote the Roman letter. Look what he says in Romans:

Romans 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

So Paul says that he has fully preached the gospel of Christ. Then further down:

Romans 15:29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Paul had had a vision in the temple in Jerusalem, apparently at the time of Acts 18:22 in which the Lord had said:

Acts 22:21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

Not to the Jew first and also the Greek, which was the focus of Paul's ministry up to this point, but FAR HENCE unto the Gentiles. This is the turning point here. From this point, Paul goes to Jerusalem, he is arrested, and from then forward he becomes the prisoner of Jesus Christ for YOU Gentiles, as in Ephesians chapter three.

The Philippians are the only ones who are "communicating with Paul's necessity." In other words they are supporting Paul. They are "partakers of his grace." Notice the verse again:

Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

His reference to being in Thessalonica is clearly not referring to the time he first went there in Acts Chapter 17. Paul had no "necessity" at that time. Notice what he said at the time of Acts 18 when he wrote the Thessalonian letters:

1 Thessalonians 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

And again notice:

2 Thessalonians 3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

But here, Paul had necessity, and the Philippians had helped him, both in Thessalonica and later here in Rome. What we see here is the "beginning of" the gospel of the grace of God. It is associated with the time that Paul DEPARTED from Macedonia. As a matter of fact, notice what he told the Jews when he met with them in Rome:

Acts 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

So the salvation of God is the gospel of the grace of God in the dispensation of the grace of God. It had a beginning. The verses make it clear. The Philippians then are partakers of Paul's grace and they are supporting Paul in prison in Rome.

Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

Philippians 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

It doesn't say "wants" but rather "all your need." God knows what you need and the assurance here is that he WILL supply it.

Philippians 4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

Philippians 4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

Philippians 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.