Immanuel - Mankato Bible Class
Study of Philippians – Lesson 16
May 6, 2001
Philippians 4:2-7

Introduction:

In the last section, Paul spoke of our heavenly citizenship and the glory our bodies will receive when Christ raises us on the last day. Paul then exhorted his readers to stand fast in the Lord. Paul is now bringing his letter quickly to a close.

Verses 2-3: I am appealing (calling to my side) to Eudia; I am appealing to Syntyche to have the same mind in connection with the Lord. I am also asking you genuine yoke-fellow to help these women who have come with me in connection with the Gospel also with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life.

• In chapter two, Paul urged the congregation to be "of one mind." As he now draws his letter to a close, he makes that admonition personally to two women. Paul emphasizes them both by repeating his admonition to each one. Paul did not say, "I am appealing to Eudia and Syntyche…" He said, "I am appealing to Eudia, I am appealing to Syntyche…" Not only does Paul urge the two women to settle the dispute but calls upon his "genuine yoke-fellow/true companion to help them in the matter. These women had worked together with Paul and Clement and other fellow workers whose names were in the Book of Life, i.e. believers. Paul repeats his desire that the Philippians work together for the work of the Gospel by urging his companion to help restore peace among the fellow workers. Who was Paul’s "true companion"? We don’t know, but the readers of the epistle surely knew to whom Paul was speaking.
• READ: Romans 15:5

Verse 4: Keep on rejoicing in connection with the Lord at all times. Again, I am saying it: Keep on rejoicing!

• Paul reaches the climax of his letter. His theme throughout has been "keep on rejoicing" and now before he closes, overflowing with emotion for the Philippians and his Lord, he again emphasizes: "Keep on rejoicing!"
• Paul doesn’t suggest to the Philippians that they should keep on rejoicing, he uses imperatives…DO IT! Rejoicing in connection with man is only temporary and often ends in sorrow and disappointment. Rejoicing in the Lord is always possible and never ends in sadness. There are many reasons for rejoicing in connection with the Lord and Paul has spent his letter discussing some of them: Fruits of the Gospel, spread of the Gospel, blessings from the Gospel (ex: citizenship in heaven, united in Christ, light-bearers).
• READ: James 1:2-4, Romans 5:1-5, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
• READ: Proverbs 15:16; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Hebrews 13:5

Verses 5-6: Let your graciousness be known to all men. The Lord is near be anxious for nothing, but rather in connection with all things by prayer and by requests with thanksgiving, make the (your) petitions known to God.

• GRACIOUSNESS/GENTLENESS: "equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing, not insisting on the letter of the law." It is in contrast to contentiousness.
• Paul had praised the Philippians for the fruits of the Gospel which they had shown and now urges them to produce even more. These fruits in their lives made them lights shining into the dark world (2:!5). Once such fruit is "letting your graciousness/gentleness" be known to all." For motivation in showing such gentleness (see above) toward others we need only think of Jesus parable of the servant whose large debt was forgiven but could not forgive the small debt which was owed to him.

  The Lord is at hand: The Lord is coming soon, be ready!
  (James 5:8, Hebrews 10:25,37)

  vs.

  The Lord is at hand: The Lord is always with you, therefore be not anxious
  (Psalm 145:18-19, Psalm 119:151, Matthew 28:20, etc.)

• The biggest threat to our continual rejoicing is anxiety. Anxiety is a distracting care based on apprehension about possible danger, misfortune, or disadvantage. Prayer is a cure for anxiety. Keep on rejoicing in the Lord and there is no need for anxiety. When troubles rise up cast your cares on the Lord and then keep on rejoicing! (cf: Matthew 6:25-31)
• Prayer ACTS!
  Adoration
  Confession
  Thanksgiving
  Supplication
  

Verse 7: And the peace of God which super-exceeds all understanding (everything of the mind; Luther: "soars above all the senses") will hold your hearts and minds/thoughts in custody (guard/keep) in connection with Christ Jesus.

• super-exceeds all understanding: The "peace of God" far exceeds everything of the mind. There is no human comprehension that can understand this peace. Only the heart of a believer can understand it by having it through faith. Luther called it the peace which "soars above the senses."
• Hold your hearts and minds in custody: A military term, "to keep under guard." An intense and thorough guarding is what Paul had in mind. The peace of God creates in us the ability to rejoice and gives us our "staying power."
• Hearts & minds: The "heart" describes the center of a person’s being—the central place for emotion, planning, etc. When our hearts are guarded so too are our thoughts, schemes, purposes, and thus, also how we carry out those purposes.
• READ: John 14:27 (cf: Colossians 3:15)

LUTHER SAYS….

• The repetition strengthens the apostle’s exhortation, and I dare say this is necessary. For since we are living in the midst of sins and evils, both of which drive us to sadness, the apostle wants us to rise against them; and although we at times fall into sin, yet we should let our joy in God be stronger than our sadness in sin. It is, of course, true that sin naturally brings sadness and trembling of conscience in its train and that we cannot always be without sin, but yet we should let joy rule and Christ be greater than our sin, as John says…(1 John 3:20): "If our heart condemns us, God is grater than our heart." {WLS 2148}
• He also says that the rejoicing should go on all the time. Here he hits those who rejoice in God, who praise and thank Him half the time, that is, when matters go well with them; but when matters go badly with them, the rejoicing is at an end…but not so David in Psalm 34:1: "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (cf: Job 2:10 –WE). He had a good reason to say this, for who can hurt or harm the man who has a gracious God? Sin does nothing to him, nor death, nor hell, as David sings (Psalm 23:4): "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." {WLS, 2155}
• Reason knows of no peace except that which comes after evil has been removed. This peace does not transcend reason but is compatible with it. Therefore, men furiously exert themselves and strive according to their reason to obtain this peace by the removal of the evil through force or fraud. Just so the man who has a wound appreciates and seeks health.

  But those who rejoice in God are satisfied with their peace in Him. They manfully endure tribulation and do not desire the peace which reason calls for: the removal of the evil. They stand firm and await internal strength through faith. They do not care whether the evil will be short, long, of temporal or eternal duration. Neither do they think and worry what the end will be but always place the matter in the hands of God. They are not fretting to know when, how, where, or by whom their trouble will be ended. This is why God, in turn, grants them grace and prepares an end for their evil—an end which shows benefits so great as to exceed all human expectations and desires. Behold, this is the peace of the Cross, the peace of God, the peace of conscience, Christian peace. This peace makes us calm also externally, makes us satisfied with everyone and unwilling to disturb anyone. For reason cannot comprehend how we can have joy under the cross and peace in the midst of strife. Nor can reason accomplish this. It is a work of God that is known to no one but the person who has experienced it. Concerning this it is said above, in the Epistle for the Second Sunday in Advent, "The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing" (Romans 15:13). What he there calls peace in believing, he here calls peace of God." [WLS #3279}

• We have no reason to worry; for we have Him as our Father and Manager who has all things in His hands, also those people, together with all their possessions, who deprive us of things and injure us. Therefore we should be happy in Him and gentle toward all people, certain that we shall have enough for body and soul and certain above all that we have gracious God. Those who do not have Him must indeed worry. Therefore, our only care should be not to be full of care on any account. {WLS, 5011}

{WCE}