Philippians 4

Instructions

4So then, my brothers and sisters, how dear you are to me and how I miss you! How happy you make me, and how proud I am of you! This then, dear brothers and sisters, is how you should stand firm in your life in the Lord.

²Euodia and Syntyche, please, I beg you, try to agree as sisters in the Lord. ³And you too, my faithful partner, I want you to help these women; for they have worked hard with me to spread the gospel, together with Clement and all my other fellow-workers, whose names are in God’s book of the living.

⁴May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!

⁵Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon. ⁶Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. ⁷And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

⁸In conclusion, my brothers and sisters, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable. ⁹Put into practice what you learnt and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.

Thanks for the Gift

¹⁰In my life in union with the Lord it is a great joy to me that after so long a time you once more had the chance of showing that you care for me. I don’t mean that you had stopped caring for me—you just had no chance to show it. ¹¹And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learnt to be satisfied with what I have. ¹²I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learnt this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. ¹³I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

¹⁴But it was very good of you to help me in my troubles. ^15*You Philippians know very well that when I left Macedonia in the early days of preaching the Good News, you were the only church to help me; you were the only ones who shared my profits and losses. ^16*More than once when I needed help in Thessalonica, you sent it to me. ¹⁷It is not that I just want to receive gifts; rather, I want to see profit added to your account. ^18*Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me—and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him. ¹⁹And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs. ²⁰To our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever! Amen.

Final Greetings

²¹Greetings to each one of God’s people who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters here with me send you their greetings. ²²All God’s people here send greetings, especially those who belong to the Emperor’s palace.

²³May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.