Philippians 4:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

NIV: Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

NASB: Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

CSB: So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.

NLT: Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

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

NKJV: Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Chapter and verse divisions were not part of the original biblical writings. These were added much later, to make it easier to find specific passages in the text. This verse is an example of the quirks which modern chapters and verses can create. Philippians 4:1 actually concludes the thoughts from the last verses of chapter 3.

Here, Paul offers several encouragements to his readers. First, he notes his love for them. Love is a topic mentioned many times in this letter (Philippians 1:9, 16; 2:1, 2; 4:8). Second, Paul mentions his sincere desire to visit them. He had lived among them in the past, and missed them now while he was under house arrest in Rome. Third, he calls them "my joy," another theme common in this message (Philippians 1:4, 25; 2:2, 29). Fourth, Paul refers to the Philippian believers as his "crown." These believers were a reward and blessing to Paul.

He concludes this section from chapter 3 by teaching them to "stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved." He did not want to see his friends fall away from faithful service to Christ. Paul often taught his readers to "stand firm" (1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 6:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:15). His goal was for them to stay strong and continue to grow, even during difficult times.

Philippians 3:12—4:1 explains the proper attitude Christians ought to have on the process of ''sanctification.'' This is the gradual, lifelong path of becoming more and more like Jesus. Our place in eternity is secure from the moment we trust in Christ, but it takes time to see our actions and attitudes change to be like His. Paul notes that he is not perfect, but encourages Christians to mimic his singular focus on pursuing Jesus. Paul also weeps for those who reject the gospel, a choice that will result in their destruction.

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.

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.

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.