Philippians 4
4
Some Things to Do
1My dear brothers and sisters, I love you and want to see you. You bring me joy and make me proud of you. Continue following the Lord as I have told you.
2Euodia and Syntyche, you both belong to the Lord, so please agree with each other. 3For this I make a special request to my friend who has served with me so faithfully: Help these women. They worked hard with me in telling people the Good News, together with Clement and others who worked with me. Their names are written in the book of life.#4:3 book of life God’s book that contains the names of his chosen people. See Rev. 3:5; 21:27.
4Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.
5Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. 6Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. 7And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.#4:7 can do … minds Literally, “surpasses (is better than) every mind,” which could also have the meaning “is beyond all understanding.”
8Brothers and sisters, continue to think about what is good and worthy of praise. Think about what is true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. 9And do what you learned and received from me—what I told you and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.
Paul Thanks the Philippian Believers
10I am so happy, and I thank the Lord that you have again shown your care for me. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it. 11I am telling you this, but not because I need something. I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with whatever happens. 12I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation—when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. 13Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.
14But it was good that you helped me when I needed help. 15You people in Philippi remember when I first told the Good News there. When I left Macedonia, you were the only church that gave me help. 16Several times you sent me things I needed when I was in Thessalonica. 17Really, it is not that I want to get gifts from you. But I want you to have the benefit that comes from giving. 18I have everything I need. I have even more than I need. I have all I need because Epaphroditus brought your gift to me. Your gift is like a sweet-smelling sacrifice offered to God. God accepts that sacrifice and it pleases him. 19My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus. 20Glory to our God and Father forever and ever. Amen.
21Give our greetings to God’s people there—to each one who belongs to Christ Jesus. Those in God’s family who are with me send you their greetings. 22And greetings to you from all of God’s people here, especially those who work in the service of the emperor.
23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Philippians 4
4
1Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters,#4:1 Greek brothers; also in 4:8. 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.
Words of Encouragement
2Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3And I ask you, my true partner,#4:3 Or loyal Syzygus. to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
4Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.#4:5 Greek the Lord is near.
6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Paul’s Thanks for Their Gifts
10How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13For I can do everything through Christ,#4:13 Greek through the one. who gives me strength. 14Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
20Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
Paul’s Final Greetings
21Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.
23May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.#4:23 Some manuscripts add Amen.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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