Philippians 4:8-23

Philippians 4:8-23

8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

10 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. 11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.

15 You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. 16 For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account. 18 I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

In these verses are three of the most well know of the whole Bible.

I want to take a look at them to see if we have been understanding them correctly.

The first one is Philippians 4:8

8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

If you remember last week we talked about how our thinking plays an important role in our outlook and attitude toward life.

We talked about always rejoicing in the Lord, and how we should present our requests to God which brings us “the peace of God.”

Paul continues that thought in vs 8. There has been a lot of discussion on why Paul chose these words instead of other ones.

The Letter to the Philippians B. Rejoice in the Lord (4:4–9)

Paul’s list of eight virtues bears a striking resemblance to lists of virtues in Greek literature. “It is almost as if he had taken a current list from a textbook of ethical instructions, and made it his own.” The term excellence (aretē), a term not found elsewhere in Paul’s letters, means “excellence of character, exceptional civic virtue.” “The term is a favorite subject in Stoic thought relating to morality.” By the use of this term, usually translated virtue in Greek literature, Paul seems to signal that he is developing a list of virtues roughly parallel to virtue lists in Greek literature

The Greek word for “pleasing and commendable” or lovely and admirable in other translations, is not found anywhere else in the NT.

He also only uses the greek word for honorable (or noble in some translations) in the pastoral letters.

While I don’t think it would be wrong to study the words he uses here, for he chose them for a purpose, we need to make sure we don’t miss the underlying reason for writing the verse in the first place. Vs 9 is a clarifier, think on these types of things but also think on any type of excellence and all things worthy of praise.

The big idea is you choose what you think about!

Romans 12:1–2 “1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Ephesians 4:23 “23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”

I want to highlight the fact that these things that we are to think about does not get defined by the world or ourselves but God.

God gets to define what is true,

Truth never changes, opinions do. We are living in a world where truth is constantly being redefined.

God gets to define what is just,

Our idea of just is often faulty because we interpret things from insufficient information.

Illustration: If you see a man running and another man running after him with a gun, what would you think?

God gets to define what is pure.

Motive is important:

Everyone would agree that if someone joins the military to keep America free they have pure motives

but if someone joins the military because they might get a chance to shoot people, their motives are impure.

It is also important to note that in vs 9 Paul tells them to follow what they have; leaned, recieved, heard and seen in him! He lived what he is telling them to do!

The next verse is one that gets mis-quoted a lot. You see it on mugs, pictures, plaques, shirts. People use it to motivate themselves and others to greatness. But the real meaning behind this verse is quite different that what many understand.

Phil 4:13 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

First, lets look at how people use this verse and why their use of it is wrong.

Most absolutes are almost always wrong!

“I would never do that!” how do you know?

Paul is not using “all things” as an absolute but as an absolute within a certain category.

Illustration: If someone says Micheal Jordan is the GOAT, greatest of all time. We all understand that reference is within the category of basketball. For we know he is not the greatest soccer player of all time or the greatest golfer of all time, or even the greatest high school basketball player of all time.

Likewise, Paul’s readers understand that when Paul says he has strength to do all things, it is not all things, but all things within a certain category. For we know that God would not give us strength to sin!

So, what category is Paul talking about when he says he can do all things?

Well, lets look at the context.

Philippians 4:10–12 10 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. 11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.

He comments about how he has learned to be content with whatever he has, a little, plenty! The key to understanding how Paul could do all things through the strength of God is to put it in the category of contentment.

Understand it this way, “God is the one who strengthens me to be content in EVERY situation, whether having plenty or being in need, being well fed, or going hungry!”

It is important to remember that God does give us the strength to do all the things he has called us to do, but this verse isn’t a promise that God makes to you to motivate you but to encourage you when things your mind goes sideways in it’s thinking.

The final verse I want to look at is

Phil 4:19 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

There are several ways this verse is misunderstood.

The word “your” is telling the readers about what they can expect. This is not a claim Paul is making for himself, but for those who are supporting him. Their faithful gift will be rewarded with God fully supplying their needs. Look at Vs 15-18

The words “every need” is an idea Americans don’t truly understand. There are three basic needs on needs to survive; water, food, shelter. People in prosperous countries think need is flavored water, good tasting food, and fancy shelters.

The words “his riches” shows us the value point of meeting their needs. He will meet their needs according the his value system, not theirs. He then ends this idea with Praising God, Philippians 4:20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The final three vs are the closing of the letter.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.