What does Philippians 4:23 mean?
ESV: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
NIV: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
NASB: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
CSB: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
NLT: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
KJV: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen
NKJV: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Verse Commentary:
Paul concludes with a statement similar to some of his other letters: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." The closest parallel is found in Philemon 1:25. That verse uses the same exact phrase, as the conclusion to another of the Prison Epistles. In 2 Corinthians 13:14, Paul also uses the phrase "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 16:20 ends with, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." Other Pauline letters use very similar words in end remarks (Galatians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18).

Why this emphasis on grace to end his letters? Perhaps Paul, a man trained to follow the law in the strictest way, had been so transformed by the grace of Jesus that he could not help but emphasize it repeatedly. We are saved by grace and live by God's grace each step of each day. Paul's repeated emphasis on God's work in our lives, rather than our own human accomplishments, serves as a reminder of the true source of our changed lives and spiritual strength.
Verse Context:
Philippians 4:21–23 concludes Paul's letter to the church at Philippi. As with many of his other writings, Paul emphasizes brotherhood and the grace of God. In several of his epistles, Paul closes out his remarks with an appeal to the grace of God, through Jesus Christ. As a man drastically transformed by that grace, Paul had good reasons to remind others of it often.
Chapter Summary:
Paul specifically asks two Christian women, Euodia and Syntyche, to settle their personal dispute. Other Christians are encouraged to act as reasonable, Christ-filled people. Paul notes that his experiences have taught him to be content with whatever material blessings he has. This reliance on the power of Christ not only allows believers to be content, it produces peace in our relationships to other Christians. This also requires a deliberate choice to set our attention on positive things. Paul extends sincere thanks to the Philippians for their generous support.
Chapter Context:
After putting suffering and hardship into perspective in the previous three chapters, Paul now gives specific thanks to the Philippians for their support and generosity. Prior passages in this letter have explained concepts like humility and hope, as well as a focus on Christ. Positive attitudes, and beneficial thinking, are especially important. In this concluding section, Paul calls on the Philippians to act with ''reasonableness,'' especially as they handle disagreements within the church. Paul is confident that God will bless these faithful Christians for their generous support.
Book Summary:
Philippians is Paul's discussion of living the Christian life. In this letter to the church of Philippi, Paul highlights themes such as joy and glory. He also puts great emphasis on how a Christian's thinking—their attitude—affects the way they live out their faith. Paul is very thankful for the support of the Philippian church, but is also concerned about the influence of various false teachers. This letter is less theological than most of his other writings, and more practical.
Accessed 11/25/2024 1:12:16 AM
© Copyright 2002-2024 Got Questions Ministries. All rights reserved.
Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.
www.BibleRef.com