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4:2 Paul again urges the Christian community to live in peace with each other, calling on two prominent women leaders and urging them to be reconciled. Read this appeal as if Paul were speaking directly to you. Who do you need to be reconciled with at this moment?
4:4 Each year, the Church proclaims this passage during the season of Advent, a time for re ecting on the two comings of Christ—his rst coming at Christmas, his second coming at the end of time. As we await Jesus’ coming, our attitude is to be joy, peace, unity.
PHILIPPIANS 
VI. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY*
4Live in Concord.
1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and
crown, in this way stand rm in the Lord, beloved.
2I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche* to come to a mutual under- standing in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you also, my true yokemate,* to help them, for they have struggled at my side in promoting the gospel, along with Clement and my other co-workers, whose names
are in the book of life.b
Joy and Peace. 4Rejoice* in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!c 5Your kindness* should be known to all. The Lord is near.d 6Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.e 7Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.f
8g Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.* 9Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.h Then the God of peace will be with you.*
VII. GRATITUDE FOR
THE PHILIPPIANS’ GENEROSITY*
10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity.i 11Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I nd myself, to be self-su cient.j 12I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. 13I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.k 14Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.
a
* [4:1–9] This series of ethical admonitions rests especially on the view of Christ and his coming (cf. Phil 4:5) in Phil 3:20–21. Paul’s instructions touch on unity within the congregation, joy, prayer, and the Christian outlook on life.
* [4:2] Euodia...Syntyche: two otherwise unknown women in the Philippian congregation; on the advice to them, cf. Phil 2:2–4.
* [4:3] Yokemate: or “comrade,” although the Greek syzygos could also be a proper name. Clement: otherwise unknown, although later writers sought to identify him with Clement, bishop of Rome (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.15.1).
* [4:4] Rejoice: see note on Phil 3:1.
* [4:5] Kindness: considerateness, forbearance, fairness. The
Lord is near: most likely a reference to Christ’s parousia (Phil 1:6, 10; 3:20–21; 1 Cor 16:22), although some sense an echo of Ps 119:151 and the perpetual presence of the Lord.
a. [4:1] 1 Thes 2:19–20.
b. [4:3] Ex 32:32–33; Ps 69:29; Dn 12:1; Lk 10:20;
Rev 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27.
c. [4:4] 2:18; 3:1.
d. [4:5] Ti 3:2 / Ps 145:18; Heb 10:37; Jas 5:8–9.
* [4:8] The language employs terms from Roman Stoic thought. * [4:9] Cf. note on Phil 3:17.
* [4:10–20] Paul, more directly than anywhere else in the letter
(cf. Phil 1:3–5), here thanks the Philippians for their gift of money sent through Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25). Paul’s own policy was to be self-su cient as a missionary, supporting himself by his own labor (1 Thes 2:5–9; 1 Cor 9:15–18; cf. Acts 18:2–3). In spite of this reliance on self and on God to provide (Phil 4:11– 13) Paul accepted gifts from the Philippians not only once but more than once (Phil 4:16) when he was in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1–9), as he does now, in prison (my distress, Phil 4:14). While commercial terms appear in the passage, like an account of giving and receiving (Phil 4:15) and received full payment (Phil 4:18), Paul is most concerned about the spiritual growth of the Philippians (Phil 4:10, 17, 19); he emphasizes that God will care for their needs, through Christ.
f. [4:7] Jn 14:27; Col 3:15.
g. [4:8] Rom 12:17.
h. [4:9] 1 Thes 4:1 / Rom 15:33; 16:20; 1 Cor 14:33; 1 Thes 5:23.
i. [4:10] 1:18; 2:25; 1 Cor 9:11; 2 Cor 11:9.
j. [4:11–12] 1 Cor 4:11; 2 Cor 6:10; 11:27 / 2 Cor 12:9–10.
428 e.
[4:6] Mt 6:25–34; 1 Pt 5:7 / Col 4:2.