57 Philippians

PHI LIPPIAN S

339 23 24 25

26

27

TH E L ET T ER OF PA UL

28

TO TH E CHURCH A T PHILI PPI

29 30

Address Rm 1:1 .j-

A c 9: 13 +

Fro m Pau l and T imothy, serva nts of Christ Jesus , to all the saints in C hrist Jesus, to gether with the ir presid ing elders a nd deacons." •We wish you the grace and peace of G od our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1

1:10 ; 2: 16 I Co I :X I

1:30 Ep 3:2 R m 1:9

Co l 1:9- 10 Ph m 6

1:6

H t'b 5: 14

)

J:9 1In 15: 1 ( feh 12: I t Jm 3: 18

Pa ul's own circumstances

E D .'\: 1

2 Till 2:

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2:20-2 1

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.1/1 13: 10 I. X X

A I.: 16:7 2 T m 4 ; 17 I rofi :!O

2 (\ , 1:5 (.'/11:20 C o l 3: .\f

Avoid anything in your everyday lives' that would be unworthy of the gospel of Christ, so tha t, whet her I come to you and see for myself, or stay at a distance a nd on ly hear about you, [ shall know that you are unani mous in meeting the attack with firm resistance, united by yo ur love for the faith of the gospel -and q uite unshake n by you r enem ies. This would be the sure sign that they will lose and you will be saved . It would be a sign from God -t hat he has given you the pr ivilege not on ly of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well. • You and I are toge the r in the same fight as yo u saw me fighting before a nd, as you will have heard , [ a m fighting st ill. m

If our life in Chris! means anything to yo u, if love ca n persuade at all,· or the Spirit" that we have in co mmon, or any tenderness and sympathy, -t hen be uni ted in your co nvictions and united in yo ur love, with a co mmon pu rpose and a co mmo n mind. T hat is the one thing wh ich would make me completely happy . c • T here must be no competition amo ng yo u, no co nceit; but every body is to be self-effacing. Always co nsider the o ther perso n to be better than yo urself, so th at nobo dy thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of othe r peop le's interests instead. - In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus:"

2

[thank my God whenever [think ofyo u;and -every time [pray for al l of you , [ ~ pray with joy, b • remember ing how yo u have helped to spread the Good News ' 5 from the day you first heard it" right up to the present. -I am qu ite certain that 6 the One who began th is good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day o f C hrist Jesus co mes. - It is on ly natura l that ( should feel like this towards you all, since you have sha red the pr ivileges which have been mine: both my chain s and my wo rk defe nd ing and establishing the gospel. You have a permanent place in my heart, -a nd G od know s how much I miss you all, loving you as C hrist Jesus loves you. • My pra yer is that yo ur love for each ot her may incre ase more a nd more a nd never stop improving your kno wledge and deepening your percep tion -so that yo u can always recognise what is best.' T his will help you to 10 beco me pure and blameless, a nd prepare yo u for the Da y of Christ, •when you II will reach the perfect good ness which Jesus Christ prod uces in us for the glory and praise of G od.

I am glad to tell you , brothers, that the th ings that happened to me! ha ve act ually been a help to the G ood News. My chain s, in C hrist, have becom e famous not o nly all over the Praetorium " but everyw here, -and most of the brothers have taken courage in the Lord from these cha ins of min e and are getti ng mor e a nd more da ring in an nou ncing the Message " wit hout a ny fear. • It is true that some of them are doing it just out of riva lry an d comp etit ion, but the rest preach Christ with the right intenti on, -o ut of not hing but love, as they know that this is my invariable way of defending the gospel. -Thc others, who proclaim Ch rist for jea lous or selfish motives , do not mind if th ey make my chains heavier to bear. • But does it matter? Whether from disho nest motives or in sincerity, Ch rist is proclaimed ; and that make s me happy; -a nd I shall co ntinue being happy, because I know this will help to save me, thanks to your prayers a nd to the help which will be given to me by the Sp irit of Jes us. • My one ho pe a nd trust is that I shall never have to admit defea t, but that now as always I sha ll have the co ur age for Christ to be glorified in my body,' whether by my life o r by my dea th. - Life to me, of cour se, is Chris t, but the n death wou ld bring me something more ; - but then again, if living in this body means doing work which is havi ng good results-s-I do not know what

2 Co 5:6-9

2:24

1:4 + '; 2:16 1 Co 15:31 2Co 1:14 ; 5: 12 1 Th2: 19

Eo4: 1 Co l 1:10 1 Th 2:12 Col 2:5 Ac 4:32

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M I5:11 2Th 1:4-7 1: 7 Co l 1:24 + I T h 2:2

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Preserve unity in humility

Thanksgiving and prayer I T h 1:2 1: 18 ,25 : 2:2, 29 ; 3: 1: 4: 1, 4 ,10 I T h 5: 16

I shou ld choose, • I am caught in this dilemma: I want to be gone and be with Christ,' which wou ld be very much the better, •but for me to stay alive in this body is a more urgent need for your sake .• Th is weighs with me so much that I feel sure I shall sur vive a nd stay with yo u all," and help you to prog ress in the fait h and even increase your joy in it ; -and so you will have another reason to give praise to Chris! Jesus on my accou nt when I am with you again , Fight for the faith

PHILI PPIANS

Ac 16: I -j

2:6

12

13 14

15 16

17 18

19

20

21 22

4

H is state was d ivine: yet he did not cling to his equality with G od!

2Co 10:1 ; 13:13 + Ga 5:10

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R m 15::5 1:4 + Ac 20:19 R m 12:3.10 1 Co 1: IOf G a 5:26

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1 Co 10:24 ]013 :15

I: l f ; 17:5 Co l 1: 15· 20 Heb 1:3

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a . The wo rd 'eoiscaoos' Coverseer', 's uperv isor ' o r shephe rd' ) has not ye t acq uired t he sam e meaning as 'b isho p ' . d. Tt 1:5f. The 'deaco ns ' a re the ir assista nts, Ac 6: 1-6. b. Joy is o ne of th e ch ief c haract eris tics of thi s lett e r ; d . 1:I H,25 ; 2:2, 17,28,29; 3:1; 4: 1.4 , 10. c . NO l on ly by sen d ing money. 4 : 14· 16, but by su ffer-ing for t he Good Ne ws . 1:29-30 . d. Sin ce th e d a y th ey were co nvert ed , cr. Ac 16: 12-40. e . T he abilltv to sec what is morally Rood is o ne o f th e con seq ue nces of mu tu a l lo ve. r. l.e . Pau l' s arrest a nd im p rison ment a waiti ng tr ia l. e . If Paul is wr hi na from his hou se-arrest in Rom e, t hi s m us t refer to members of the Pr ae to ria n G uard (wh o were Qua rtered just outside the cit y wa lt). If Paul is wri ting from E phes us o r Caesa rea, he is refe rrin g to th e s ta ff of the Prae torium whic h was the nam e of th e oflkia l res iden ce o f t he go vernor in ea ch of t ho se cities. h. Ad d. o f God ' (Vu IR.) or 'o f the Lord '. i. By bap tis m and Euchar ist a C hri stia n is so clos ely uni ted to Ch rist , cf. I Co 6:15; 10:17 ; 12: 12f,27; G n 2:20: ED 5:30, tha t h is life, suffe rings a nd dea th ca n be a u r lbu ted m ysticall y to Ch ris t liVIOR in h im and bein g xlor tflcd in hi m, cf. I C o 6:20; Rm 14:8. Th is u nion woul d be particul ar ly close in the cas e o f an ap ostl e like Pa ul. cf. C ol 1:24; 2 C o 4: tor,

I. Lit. ' Li ve you r ci ty-l ife (i.e . o rdi nary soc ia l life) wor thi ly of the eo snet' . T he New C ity of God's ki ngdom has C hri st for its ru ler , th e go spel fo r it s la w, and th e C h ristians as it s free cit izens , cf. 3:20 : En 2: 19. m . The llrSl refe rence is l O the persecu tion Pa u l had to p u t up with when he wa s wit h them in Ph ilipp i, Ac 16:1 9f : I Th 2:2: the seco nd is to his p rese nt imprisonmen t awaiti ng tr ial. 2 a. Li t. ' If there is any ex hor ta tion in Christ , if the re is a ny in cen tive in lo ve"; th is is a very friendly b ut a very pow erf u l ap pea l. in th e name of a ll th at is holies t. b. A lmos t ce r tainly mea nt to be taken a s a trin itar ian refe rence: in th is cas e ' lo ve' is a pp ro pr ia ted [0 th e Fa the r, cf. 2 Co 13:13 +. c. Thi s ur gen t p lea for unity sugges ts that internal divi sion s threat ened the peace o f the chu rc h of Ph ilippi. cr. 1:27 ; 2:14 ; 4:2. Note ho w Pau l kee p s ins is ting that he is ad d ressing all of them, 1: 1.4",7,25 : 2:17,26 ; 4:21. d. Vv. 6- 11 a re a hymn, though wh ether co m pos ed o r o nl y qu o ted b y Pau l is un ce rtain . Eac h sta nza dea ls with o ne sta ge of the m ystery o f C hr is t: d ivine preex istence, k enosts in th e Incarnation. hi s fur t her kenosi s in death , h is gto riflca u o n. adoration by th e cosmos, new title of Lo rd. T his hym n is co nce rned so lely with the h isto ric al C hris t in w hose personali ty god head and man ho od are not d ivided : Pau l no wh ere d ivo rce s th e hum anit y and divi ni ty of Jesu s, tho ugh he does dis tl ngul sb hi s various sta ges of exis tence, cr . Co i l; 13f. c . Li t. 'W ho subs isting in the fo rm o f G od ': her e 'for m ' mean s all the att r ibu tes tha t expr ess and reveal I. As in 2 Co r 5:8 i- , th is supposes th a t th e (go od) th e essential ' na ture' of Go d: C hr ist, be ing God, had a ll C hr ist ia n who d ies is wit h C hr is t at o nce wit hou t th e d ivine prerogativ es by r ight. a ny temporal gap betw ee n dea th a nd ' las t jud gem ent' . f. Li t. 'd id not d eem bei ng o n a n eq ua lity wit h God k . This pre seru ime n r (it wa s no m or e th a n t hat , as so me t hi ng h) gras p o r 'h ol d o n to ' . T his re fers not cr . 2: 17) was not m istak e n . cr." A c 20; 1-6 a nd th e to hi s eq uality by nature ' subs is ting in t he fo rm of G od ', Pas to ra l Le tters, unlike wh at he ha d thou gh t was a last an d wh ich Chris t co uld not ha ve s ur rende red , bu t to farewell to t he Ep hesia ns , Ac 20 :25. his oetna pu blicly treated an d hon oured as eq ua l to God

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2:7 2 Co 8:9 Rv 5:12 M /20 :28

Is 49 :4 I P 5:6 M126:39f R mS:19 Heb5:8 ; 12:2

Is 52:13

M123 :12 In 10:171 Ep 1:2Q.23

E p4: 10 +

Is 45:23 Rm 14 :11 Ac 2:36 + R m 1:4; 10:9 I Co 12:3

I C02:3 + A c 17:28 Ep2:10; 3:20 Hcb 13:2 1

0 132:5

M I 5: 14-16 1:26 + I Co 1:8 t Go 2: 2: 4: II ; 5:7 lRm 1:9 + 2 Tm 4:6 1:4 +

Ac 16:1 +

1:15-17

1:25-26 Hob 13:19 4 :18

1:4 + 1 Co 16: 16

1:4 + 2 Co 13:11

Ga 5: 12 2: 17 + J r4:4+

34 /

34°

but emptied himselfto assume the condition of a slave,' and became as men are ;' and being as all men are,' he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But G od raised him high" and gave him the name' which is a bove all other narnes> so th at all beings in the heavens, on ea rth and in the underworld ,s should bend the kn ee at the name of-J esus and that every to ngue should acclaim> Jesus Christ as Lord,> to th e glory of God the Father. q

R m 8:3 G a 4:4 Heb 2:17

2 C o 7: 15

PHILIPPIANS

10

II

Work for salvation So then, my dear frie nds, continue to do as I tell you, as you always have ; 12 not on ly as you did when I was there with you, but even more now th at I am no longer there; an d work for your salvation ' in fear and trembling'. - It is G od, 13 for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you. Do all tha t has to be done witho ut complaining or arg uing -a nd then you will : ~ be innoce nt and genuine, perf ect children of God among a deceitfu l and underhand brood, and you will shine in the world like br ight stars • because you are offering 16 it the word of life. T his would give me so mething to be proud of for the Day of Christ, and would mean that I had not run in the race a nd exhausted myself for not hing. -And then, if my blood has to be shed as part of yo ur own sacr ifice 17 and offering - which is your faith "-I shall still be happy and rejo ice with all of you, -and you must be just as happy and rejoice with me. 18 The mission of Timothy and Epaphroditus I hope, in th e Lord Jesus, to send Timo th y to you soo n, and I sha ll be reassure d by having news of you . • I have nobody else like him here, as wholeheartedly concern ed for your welfare: -a ll the rest seem more interes ted in themse lves than in Jes us C hrist. • But you kno w ho w he has pr oved himself by worki ng with me o n behalf of the Good News like a son helping his fat her. T hat is why he is the o ne t hat I am hoping to send you , as soo n as I know something definite about my fate . -But I co ntinue to trust, in the Lord, that I shall be coming soon myself. It is essential, I th ink , to send brother Epaphroditus back to you. He was sent as your representative to help me when I needed someone to be my companion in working and battling, • but he misses you all and is worried becau se you heard about his illness . • It is true that he has been ill, and almost died, but God took pity on him, and on me as well as him, and spared me what would have been one grief on top of an ot her . -So I shall send him back as promptly as I can ; you will be happy to see him aga in, and that will make me less sorry. ·Give him a most hearty welcome, in the Lord; peop le like him are to be honoured. -It was for Christ's work' that he came so near to dying, and he risked his life to give me the help tha t you were not able to give me you rselves. Finally, my brothers, rejoi ce in the Lord.«

3

The true way of Christian salvation It is no trouble to me to repeat what I have already written to you , and as far as you are concerned, it will make for safety. •Beware of dogs!" Watch out for the people who are making mischief. Wat ch out for the cutters." -We are the

19 20 21 22

23 24

25

PHI L I P PIA N S

real peop le of the circu mcision , we who worsh ip in accord ance with the Spirit of Go d;" we have our own glor y from C hrist Jesus witho ut hav ing to rely on a 4 physical operatio n," • If it ca me to relying on physical evidence, I should be fully qua lified myself. Take any man who thin ks he can rely on what is physical: I am even bett er q ualified . - I was born of the race of Israel and of the tr ibe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrew parent s," a nd I was circumcised when I was eight days " old. As for the Law, I was a Pharisee; -as for wor king for religion, I was a persecutor of the Ch urch ; as far as the Law can mak e you perfect, I was faultless. But because of C hrist, I have co me to consider all these advantages that I had as disad vant ages, • Not o nly that, but I believe nothing can hap pen that will outweigh the supreme ad vant age 0 1' know ing C hrist Jesus my Lo rd. Fo r him I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish " if o nly I can have Christ -a nd be given a place in him. I am no longer trying for perfection by Illy ow n effor ts, the perfection that comes from the Law, but I want on ly the perfection th at co mes through faith in C hrist, and is from G od an d III based o n fa ith " -All I want is to know C hrist and the power of his resu rrection I I a nd to share his sufferin gs by reproducing the pattern of his death. •T hat is the 12 way I ca n hope to tak e my place in the resurrectio n of the dead." • Not that I have become perfect yet: I have not yet wo n. but I am still run ning, trying to capture IJ the prize for which Chr ist Jesus ca ptured me.' .J can assure you my brothers, I am far from th ink ing that I have already won . Ail I can say is that I forget the ' ,1 past and I stra in ahead for what is still to come ; - I am racing for the finish, for IS the prize to which Go d cal ls us upwa rds to receive in Chri st Jesu s. -We who are called 'perfect? mu st all th ink in th is way. If there is some point on which you 16 see things different ly, G od will make it clear to you; -rneanw hile, let us go forward on the roa d that has brought us to where we arc.' 17 My brot hers, be un ited in following my rule of life. Take as your models everybody who is a lready do ing this and study them as you used to study us. whi ch was a th inJ.: t ha t Jesus (u n lik e Ada m. Gn 3:5.22. w ho wa n ted to be see n to be like (hll,J) cou ld and d id ~h'c up in his h uma n life. g. ' lie e mp tie d h imself' : thi s is no t so m uch a refere nce to the fac t o f th e in ca rn a tio n. a s to the wa y it ro ok place. W hat Jesu s free ly eav e up wa s not his div ine natu re. but the glo ry to wh ich hi s d ivin e na tu re en tit led h im, and whic h had bee n hi s be fore th e

i n carn uno n. I n 17:5. and

w h ich ' no r m all y ' spcuk l n x

wo u ld ha ve bee n ob se rvab le in h is hum a n bod y (d. th e trunstlz ura rio n. Mt 17:1-8>. He vo lu nta ri ly deprived him self o f th is so that i t co u ld be returned to him by th c fa ther , d . I n R:50.54, after h is sac ri fice VY. 9- 11. h. 'sla ve ' as op posed to 'Kvr ios' v , I I . d . CIa 4: I : C o l 3:22 f. C hr is t as man led a life o f sub m iss ion a nd humbl e o bed ience, v. 8. T h is is p robably a ref e ren ce to th e ' ser va nt ' (If Is 52 :13-5 3: 12, cf. Is 42 :1 ! I. Not JUSt 'a h uman be ing ' b u t a hum a n being ' like ot he rs' , s h a ri n ~ a ll t he weak nesses of the human co n di t ion aour t from sin .

26 27

28 29 30

3:17

i, Lit. 'A nd in fa sh ion found a s a man' . k. Lit. 'super-raised him' : by the resu rrection a nd uscen sto n . I. N, II11eJ him ' Lord '. v, II : or , ut a d ee per leve l. aa vc him th e ineffab le an d di vine n ame which , thr ou gh th e tr iu mp h o f th e risen C hris t, can now he ex presse d by lh e titt c K vrtos. Lord : cr. Ac 2:2 1 I· : 3: 1fi 1-. Ill. Grea ter eve n t ha n th e angels. d . Ep 1:21 : lI e ll 1:4 : 1 P ]: 22. II , lhe thr cc cos mic divisions t ha t co ver th e ent ire crcu tion ....r. Rv 5:.\. lJ. II . Var . ';m d evcrv to n gue w i ll a cc laim' , n . Om . ' ('h ri'\t' . Th is n roc ta m ari o n is the ess e nce (If t he C hrist ia n c reed. Rm I():I): I Co 12:3 : cf . Co l 2:fi. I he uvc (I f h -I5:.:U (in wh i...: h t hi s homuae is ad d ress ed to Ya hwe h hi tll 'il'lf) i-, a c teur indi curlon of the d ivine c harnc tc r ih.u i-, mc.uu In he IInd l.~r " II)l HJ by the thlc }; .!'I'I, 'I', c f .111 ;;O::!X; Ac 2 :.\h . II . Vulg . uuc r prct ation is 'procluim t h at Jesus Chrtst is in the g l( IIY of ( il H.l the Fu t hcr-'.

r , Li ba tio ns we re co m mon to bo th G ree k and jew is h sac r ifices: Pa ul mere ly applie s t h is custom mctanho ricallv to the s p ir it u a l wor sh ip of (he new cre at io n, cf. 3:3: 4 :18 : R m 1:9 r- , s , Va r. 't he Lord ' s wo rk ' , o r . ' t he work ' . 3 a, P au l interrup t", t he co ncl us io n of t h e leu er to add a l ong p ostscrip t. b. Term o f abu se a pp lied by Je ws to pagan s . M t 15:26 an d pos s ib ly 7:6, and whi ch Pau l iro nic a ll y ap pli es to no n-C hri st ian Jew s, c . Li t. "for th e lol;a'i h' , Paul u ses t his ter m tkata tome l

as a co nte m p tuous Dun o n 'ci rc u mci sio n' ( fl er i(fl m e). im p! yin R a co m par iso n between p hysica l ci rc umcis io n a nd the se lf-i n flicted sas hes in pa gan c ults . cf. I K 18:28, cf'. Ga 5: 12, d . V al', (Vu lg .) ' we wh o wors hip G oJ in spirit ' , c . Lit ' with o ut tru sti ng in the flesh ', whi ch cove r s all those o uter observances of t h e o ld Law, of w h ich circ u mcis io n is t h e mOSI typ ical exa m p le, d. Rm 7:5 t· . r. H is narents we re Phar tsces . Ac 23 :fi, of th e tribe of Benjamin. Rm 11:1. Pau l spo ke A rama ic, Ac 2 1:40, u nlike t h e hellenist Je ws, Ac 11: I :-, R:. T he diff e ren ce s be twee n the se t wo SO riS o f pe r fec tio n form the e nt ire s ub ject o f Pa u l' s le tt er s to t he C h r is t ia ns of Galatia an d Ro m e. h. Pa u l is not refe rr -i ng t tl the ze ner ul res urr ec t io n o f bot h saved and damned , In 5:2 9, hut 10 the tr ue res u rrect io n of (he saints who arc senuru tcd Iro rn t he ' sriirlt u a lty' dead to life w i t h C hri st , Lk 20 :35 t· , i . Lit. ' but [ foll ov... (10 see ) if i n deed I m a y zr asn . ina smuch a s I was gras ped by C hr ist Jesu s', i.e. the p ri/_C whi ch he not onl v s u-ives 10 a rasn b ut for wh ich a lso he was gr a sped on t he road 10 D amascus . l. C h ris tia ns who are m a ture , cf. I Co 2:6 + , but wh o a re not tt l( a ll~' pe rfe ct. v, 12. k . ' m us t al t t ht n k" : va t. 'all t hink ". I. Va r. ( Vu lg .) ' Je t us be u n ited in ou r co nvic tions (d. 2:2 ) a nd le i us f ollow the sa m e ru le of life", d .Oa 6: 16.

R m2:25-2 9 " 2 Co 11: 21 +..

Col 2:11 ... R m 7:5+ Ac 22:3

G n 17:10 +

MI3 :7+ Ac 23:6 Ac 8 :1,3+

Rm 10:3 R m 1:16 + Ga 2:16 Rm l :4 -1-

Rm6:4 t· : 8: 11' 1- 17

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1:4 + I T h 2: 19-20

PHILIP PIA N S

34 2

I have told you oft en , an d I repeat it tod ay with tea rs, there are many who a re behavin g as t he enemies of the cross o f Christ. -They a re desti ned to be lost. T hey ma ke food s into t heir god m a nd they ar e proudes t of so mething they o ught to think sha meful ;" the th ings they thi nk imp or ta nt are eart hly th ings. • F o r us, our hom ela nd is in heaven, a nd from hea ven comes the sav io ur we a re wait ing for , the Lo rd Jesus C hr ist, · an d he will transfigure these wretched bod ies of o urs into cop ies of his glor iou s bo dy . He will do that by the sam e power wit h wh ich he ca n sub due the whol e un iverse. So then , my brot hers a nd dea r frie nd s, do not give way but rem a in fa ithful in t he Lor d. L miss you very much, dear friends; you ar e my j oy a nd my cr ow n.

4

343

PHILIPPIANS

4.23

18 19

20

21

I

Last advice

Dn 12: 1

1:4 + I Co 16:22 + T t 3:2

Mt 6:25-34

In 14:27 C ol 3:1.'

I T h2: 13 + 2 T h 3:7 -1-

I appeal to Evodia a nd I a ppea l to Syntyc he to come to agreement with each other , in t he Lo rd ; -and I ask yo u, Syzygus,> to be truly a 'c ompa nio n' and to help them in this. T hese women were a help to me when I was fighting to defen d the Good Ne ws-a nd so, at the sa me time, wer e Cleme nt a nd the ot hers who worked with me. T he ir names a re writte n in the bo ok of life. I wa nt yo u to be ha ppy, always happy in the Lo rd; I repeat , what I want is yo ur happiness. •Let your toleran ce be evident to everyo ne: the Lord is very near. •T here is no need to worry ; but if there is anything you need, pra y for it, asking G od for it with prayer an d tha nksgiving, -and that peace of G od , whic h is so much greater th an we ca n u ndersta nd , will guar d your hea rts and yo ur thoughts , " in C hrist Jesus. • F ina lly, brothers, fill your mind s with everyt hing that is tr ue, every thing that is no ble, everyth ing th at is good a nd pure, everyt hing that we love a nd hon ou r,« and eve rything that can be th ought virtuous or wor th y of praise . • Keep do ing a ll the things tha t you lea rnt from me a nd hav e been ta ugh t by me a nd have heard or see n that I do. Then th e G od o f peace will be wit h you .

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Thanks for help received It is a great joy to me, in the Lo rd, th a t a t last you have shown som e co nce rn for me aga in ; though of co urs e you wer e concerned before, and only lack ed an opportun ity . •I a m not tal king about shortage of mo ney: I ha ve lea rnt to manage on what ever I ha ve, • I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich to o. I have been through my ini tiatio n and now I am ready fo r an yt hi ng anywhere: fu ll stomac h or empty stomach, poverty or plenty. -There is no thi ng I cannot ma ster wit h the help of the O ne" who gives me strength. ·AIl the sa me, it was good of yo u to share with me in my hardsh ips. -In the early days of the G o od News, as yo u people of Ph ilippi well know, when I left Macedo nia, no ot her church helped me with gifts of mon ey.' Yo u were th e only ones; -a nd tw ice sinc e my stay in T hessa lo nika you have sent me what I needed. - It is no t you r gift that I va lue; what is valuable to me is the interest that is mo u nti ng up in your accou nt. • Now for the tim e being I have everything tha t I need a nd more: I am fully provided now that I ha ve receive d from Epaphroditus the offering that you sent, a sweet /i-agrance-the sacrifice tha t God accepts and finds pleasi ng. • In ret urn my God will fulfil! all your needs , in C hrist Jesu s, as lavishly as on ly G od can . · Glory to G od. ou r Father, fo r ever and ever. Amen .

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Greetings and final wish My greetings to every o ne of the sai nts in Ch rist Jesus. T he brothers who are with me send the ir gree tings.• All the sa ints. send the ir gree tings, espec ially tho se o f the imperial hou sehol d." • May the grace of the Lord Jes us Chr ist be with yo ur spi rit .'

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e. Pa ul a lways refused all pa yments ho wever legitimate : the o ne exception was what he received fro m his be loved Ch risti ans of PhUipp i, cf. Ac 16:15; 18:3 + : 2 Co 11:8.

pract ice of re ligion . LvII . cr. Rm 14: 16:18 ; Ga 2:12; Co I 2: 16. 20f ; M t 15:1Q-2Op; 23:25 -26; Ac 15:20. n. L it . ' they glory in their shame'. wh er e 's ha me' may be only the traditional eup hemism for the f . var . (V ul •. ) 'may m y God fulfil ' , circ umc ised member. I . A ll the C hristia ns of the place from which Pau l 4 a . 'SYzYa us' means YOke-fello w. m ate, seco nd of is wrtuna , a pai r. colle ague . companion. cr. Phm 10...1I. b. T he 'house ho ld' of Caesar wa s a wide teem that b. Var. ' you r bodie s' . covered anybo dy employed in the serv ice of the C'. Ad d . 'everyt hing the re is of knowled ge' , o r ' of emperor, eit her in Rome or in any of the chief town s d iscipline' (Vulg .). of t he em pire. d . ' the O ne' , var. 'C hri st'. I. Add. 'A me n'.

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