LESSON 29

Classroom Goals of this time together:
* here to see and meet and learn of Jesus; 
* to grow TOGETHER in our own personal lives/relationships with Jesus
* to grow in our daily day-to-day JOY IN Him
* to grow in our vision /understanding of Jesus as our SAVIOR and REDEEMER everyday in the midst of our lives in a pagan world

ROE: 
* all questions are encouraged all the time
* TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER THROUGHOUT OUR TIME TOGETHER, WHETHER WE AGREE OR NOT ON ISSUES OF VARIOUS THEOLOGICAL THOUGHT, WE MOST CERTAINLY MUST AGREE ON THIS: THAT WE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF A MOST LOVING SAVIOR AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE MUST LOVE EACH OTHER

SUMMARY:
We're studying the final section of Pauls letter: 
4:1-23  The Peace of the Christian Life: The Presence of Christ
4:1-3  Peace with Others
4:4-9  Peace with Ourselves
4:10-23  Peace with Circumstances

4:4-9  And now we begin the section where Paul yearns for us to learn how to have peace with circumstances; 

[HAVE THEM READ VSS 14-23]

In the previous sections Paul has just finished addressing his precious spiritual children about seeking peace through their Saviour first with each other (mentioning the personal conflicts and struggles that can arise even between close sisters in the Lord and in Pauls ministry), and then with ourselves (talking to their burden of fears and nagging dragging worries, showing them how a living loving God hears our deepest needs and guards us with HIS peace, both heart and minds held safe in His care)
The previous lesson on 10-13 showed Paul demonstrating the CRUCIAL gift of gratitude to his precious Philippians for their support; AND YET ALSO trying to help them understand that the REAL issue was NOT financial desperation on HIS part; that IN CHRIST he had COMPLETE SUFFICIENCY to be able to accept ANYTHING that happened to him; 

4:14  Ok, Paul had given them his secret on HOW to live RICHLY amid the deepest need and privation and persecution; So where does that leave the Phil's? Lest they think Paul is poo-pooing their gift to him, that he is some how implying that he doesn't really need THEM since HE has Jesus, he brings the letter back to the REAL point: it's NOT an issue of BUCKS, it's one of LOVE and FELLOWSHIP!! 
[READ THE WHOLE VS IN KJV]
(KJV) "Notwithstanding..."; Paul is saying "Nevertheless", (KJV) "ye have well done...", the GR implying better read in the AMP: "it was right and commendable and noble of you..."; 
(KJV) "...that ye did communicate with..."; the Gr word trans as "communicate with" is sunkoinonesantes; it Lit means "you had fellowship with me, you identified with me and shared intimately with me"; These Philippians did MORE than just send some cash; Their involvement went WAY beyond a mere passing interest in where their cash went to; They were DEEPLY and profoundly caught up in what was happening in Pauls life and in his ministry; They CARED for him, they were BURDENED for his welfare and FELT COMPELLED TO SEEK GOD'S GRACE FOR PAUL ON THEIR KNEES ALL THE TIME; 
How often do you think about the ones you love during the day? I will dare to say that the MORE you care for someone the MORE your thoughts will CONSTANTLY drift in their direction; THIS was the level of their involvement in Pauls LIFE, NOT just his "ministry"; 
And WHAT was it they "shared IN"?? (KJV) "...my affliction"; the Gr word for this is thlipsis; this is a term going far beyond a sense of just "personal problems"; it is a technical term refering to the affliction or tribulation to come at the end of the age as seen by its use in 2Thes1:6 and Mark 13:19; 
HOW did they "share" in these "afflictions"? They shared EMOTIONALLY by the closeness of their love and fellowship with Paul; When HE hurt, THEY did too; They shared SPIRITUALLY in that THEIR involvement in HIS ministry made THEM targets for the same SPIRITUAL warfare that PAUL experienced; They shared PHYSICALLY in that they gave to Paul out of their OWN needs; they ALSO were suffering physically and financially, AND YET THEY GAVE TO HIM; 

4:15  Paul is reminding them of the first time they heard the Gospel (re: Acts 16); And of their support in his subsequent travels to Athens, Corinth, and beyond; 
(KJV) "...no church communicated with me..."; There's that word again: ekoinonesen; They "shared and fellowshiped" with him; As one commentator put it: The bond of christian affection between them showed itself in the practical expression of their gifts. 
(KJV) "...as concerning giving and receiving..."; It's a TWO way street; By "sharing WITH" Paul in their support of him, they not only gave, THEY RECEIVED! 
WHAT was it they recieved? MONEY? NOT hardly; The blessings they received were more than likely SPIRITUAL; See 1Co 9:11; Rom15:27; 
(KJV) "...but ye only." At the time of his departure from Macedonia, no other church had fellowship with his ministry by their gifts; 

4:16  "..even..." this word recalls with gratitude the speed with which their financial help came so soon after his leaving Philippi; 
(KJV) "...once and again..."; better implies "more than once"; there is even a possible sense implied from this word useage that they sent gifts NOT ONLY at Thessalonica but ALSO ELSEWHERE as well; 

4:17  This verse is LOADED with financial terms; See how careful and particular Paul is to MAINTAIN their attention on what REALLY is the point here: NOT HIS LOOKING FOR MORE BUCKS!! BUT RATHER HIS LOOKING FOR MORE BLESSINGS FOR THEM!! (KJV) I desire fruit that may abound to your account." Key words are all current commercial terms: karpos - fruit; pleonazonta-abound, increase; logos-account; [READ THE NASV:] "...I seek for the profit which increases to your account"; 

4:18  Paul continues to use financial terms here; (KJV) "...I have all, and abound..." uses financial terms: "I have" is trans form the Gr apecho which was used to describe the drawing up of a business receipt, SO a better trans is the NIV: I have received full payment and even more..." 
WHAT did Paul call their gift?? (KJV) "...an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice, wellpleasing to God"; This is taken from the OT and reminds them (AND US) that all sincere Christian service, sacrifice and selfless giving NOT ONLY promotes the cause of Christ and strengthens the hands of His servants, BUT IT IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP IN WHICH GOD TAKES PLEASURE; 
Paul wanted them to see PAST the simple financial issues of their giving to the REAL HEART of the issue: OBEDIANCE TO GOD IN GIVING TO HIM IS A NECESSARY AND BLESSED ACT OF WORSHIP; WE GIVE NOT TO HONOR OTHER MEN OR OURSELVES, BUT TO HONOR GOD!! 

4:19  Some commentators feel that this letter was written in a context described on 2Cor8:1-4, where Paul wrote of the extreme poverty of the Macedonian churches who STILL contributed to the other churches in need; If so , then Paul knew that their support of him REALLY COST THEM ALOT!! And so he wants to reassure them that God will NOT fail to meet their needs even as they have been faithful in meeting his; Even as God has been faithful to Paul, so will He ALSO be faithful to THEM; 
The word trans as "...shall supply..." in the KJV, is the SAME Gr word trans as "I am full" in vs 18; it LIT trans "will liberally supply, FILL TO THE FULL"; 
And He will fill ALL their needs, BOTH financial AND spiritual! 
And HOW WILL HE DO THIS?? (KJV) "...according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."; The Gr trans "according to" is kata, which means MORE than merely FROM or OUT OF His wealth, it further implies that the supplying will be done in a manner that is WORTHY of His wealth, in a manner that befits His wealth; In other words, when the KING gives a gift, YOU KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A REAL WHOPPER!! GOD IS NOT A CHEAPSKATE!!
The use of the phrase "in glory" is open to several interpretations; It could have been meant to imply that God's supplying was going to be done in a "glorious manner"; or perhaps it's meant to point to our ULTIMATE riches IN Glory on our going to be with Him in heaven; I prefer to think that it is describing the "riches" themselves, as in "glorius riches", again refering to the INFINATELY and INDESCRIBABLE WAY that God will bless us and meet our needs; 
WHY did Paul add "...by Christ Jesus" to the end of this verse?? A better tans of this is "IN Christ Jesus"; As if to again emphasize to them what one commentator put it: In Him God's full wealth of revelation and redemption is contained (Col 1:27, 2:3), so that we are "rich" in Him (2 Cor 8:9)...[that is] in union with Him by faith...[we are] thereby linked to the source and supply of all true wealth.

4:20  Even though it certainly wasn't new to Paul, EVERYTIME he considers WHO and WHAT God is and has done for us, he can't stop from breaking out in praise to God; Note that he says to OUR God and Father; 
Then he finishes his little doxology with "Amen", which LIT means "confirmed" as if to say "SO BE IT" or "IT IS CERTAINLY SO"; it's derived from the Hebrew verb "to be firm"; 

4:21-22  (KJV) "...every saint..."; Paul even now is careful to include ALL of the fellowship at Philippi; wanting them to understand that ALL Christians have ALL these blessings and riches in Christ Jesus available to them; He wasn't jsut writing to the "heros" there, the "super Christians", BUT TO EVERYONE!! 
Whats the criteria to be a "saint"?? It is to be 'IN CHRIST JESUS"!!
The word trans "salute" in the KJV, is better trans as "greet"; 
Besides those generally mentioned as "those...with me" and "all the saints..." in vs 22, Paul makes a point to mention specifically (KJV) "...they that are of Caesar's household"; This does NOT indirectly imply that members of Caesars FAMILY were saved, nor does ANY extra-biblical historical evidence support that either; However, there IS historical evidence that members of the Civil Service (ie Government Officials, BOTH slaves and Freemen) refered to themselves as members of "Caesar's House"; 
Some think that Paul went out of his way to specifically mention THESE believers to the Philippians since Philippi was a Roman Governmental center and that there were ALSO such believing Civil servants in the Philippian church as well; 

4:23  This is a typical finish for Paul, wanting ONE LAST SHOT at them to remind them from whence comes their hope: FROM JESUS OUR LORD, OUR GIVER OF GRACE; 
The KJV says "...be with you all", but a better trans of the Gr text is "...be with your spirit." 
Again is that final and trimphant "AMEN"; Paul wanted to make the last words they had from him be a final and total affirmation of his confidence in his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.