Philippians 4:4–9

4:4 Two of Paul’s seven commands appear in this one verse. Paul sounds an emphatic note by repeating the call to rejoice. What is even more striking is the addition of “always.” The command is always in season. It is always the right time to rejoice. This focus on always means the Philippians can have joy in something that is always true and does not depend upon pleasant circumstances (Paul is an obvious example: he is writing about joy while in prison facing possible death). The Philippians can always rejoice “in the Lord” because what they have in Christ cannot fade, spoil, or expire. No one can steal their joy, for no one can take away their victory in Christ.

4:5 The third command can be translated two different ways. The ESV translation renders it, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” Other translations read, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.” The case for “gentleness” is perhaps stronger, given its wider usage in the NT (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 3:2; James 3:17; 1 Pet. 2:18). In any case, this command fits with Paul’s call to emulate Christ instead of looking out for one’s own self-centered interests. Paul elsewhere uses a noun form of “gentleness” in highlighting the “meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:1). This disposition should mark the way the Philippians interact with “everyone,” including opponents.

It is exceedingly difficult to know how to take the next phrase, “The Lord is at hand.” One could read it in two senses: (1) near in a temporal sense (Jesus is coming back soon), or (2) near in a geographical sense (Jesus is near in personal proximity right now). Both are theologically true, but the sustained emphasis in Philippians on the day of Christ probably favors the first sense. The Philippians can be kind and peaceful even to their opponents because they know Jesus is coming back soon to set all things right.

4:6 Next come the fourth and fifth commands. The Philippians should not be anxious but should pray. The all-inclusive scope of these commands stands out once again: do not be anxious about anything, but pray in everything. The contrast between anxiety and praying is instructive, because we can either carry our cares (i.e., anxiety) or remove our cares by giving them to God in prayer. We do not make our requests known to God because God lacks knowledge of them; we make our requests known so that we may be free from anxiety. We make these requests “by prayer and supplication.” The first word, “prayer,” is a general term for communicating with God, while the second is more specific, describing “an urgent request to meet a need, exclusively addressed to God.”¹ Paul cares not only about the act of praying but also about the proper attitude for praying: “thanksgiving.” Gratitude is the right attitude for prayer because the believer approaches a throne of grace, not judgment. God is not stingy with his grace, so believers can come boldly because they know God is for them, not against them, in Christ.

4:7 The way this verse interrupts the pattern of commands suggests that we should read the conjunction “and” as an overflow or result of what happens when we make our requests known to God: the peace of God guards our hearts and minds. God’s peace is the opposite of anxiety (v. 6). The peace the world offers depends upon peaceful circumstances, which must constantly be preserved and guarded from countless dangers. God’s peace is different. Worldly peace must be guarded; God’s peace guards us.

Paul’s reference to peace recalls the blessing he pronounced on those who are in Christ Jesus: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:2). God’s peace is a gospel gift, and thus it is experienced only “in Christ Jesus” (4:7). Paul is zealous to keep pointing to the benefits of being in Christ (1:13, 14; 2:1, 19, 24, 29; 3:1; 4:1, 2, 4, 10). This divine peace transcends earthly circumstances; thus it “surpasses all understanding.” Rejoicing and resting peacefully while in prison cannot be adequately explained by the categories common to natural man. I once heard American preacher Adrian Rogers sum this principle up in a sermon: “We have no right to be believed if we can be explained.” God’s peace does not depend upon peaceful circumstances, and thus it transcends natural explanations that take God out of the equation.

4:8 Paul tells the Philippians to “think about these things” after listing eight captivating graces they should ponder. They should dwell on whatever is (1) true, (2) honorable, (3) just, (4) pure, (5) lovely, (6) commendable, (7) excellent, or (8) worthy of praise. Fixing one’s gaze on Christ would fulfill all of these, for he perfectly lived out all of them. He is the fullness of goodness, truth, and beauty. Stated negatively, Christians should stay away from all that is false, dishonorable, unjust, impure, ugly, improper, inferior, or unworthy.

4:9 The seventh and final command in this section is to “practice these things,” a reference to four areas of focus: (1) what you have learned, (2) what you have received, (3) what you have heard, and (4) what you have seen in me. Paul directs the Philippians’ attention to the totality of all he has communicated to them in his teaching and living. The motivation for practicing these things is then stated: “The God of peace will be with you.” The peace that guards us is always with us because it is tied to the presence of God, the God of peace who is always with us.