Philippians – Part 6

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Concluding Thoughts

In your daily interactions at work or in the community, negativity can often overshadow positive dialogue. Philippians 4:8 encourages you to focus on what is true and praiseworthy. Make a deliberate effort to recognize and celebrate the achievements of your colleagues. Whether it’s a shout-out during a meeting or a simple message of appreciation, uplifting those around you helps cultivate a more encouraging atmosphere, reflecting Yeshua in your public life.

Women to Reconcile

4 ² I beg Evodia and I beg Syntyche to agree with each other in union with the Lord. ³ I also request you, loyal Syzygus, to help these women; for they have worked hard proclaiming the Good News with me, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers whose names are in the Book of Life.

Evodia and Syntyche were influential, like many women in the Philippian kehilah (Acts 16). There is no evidence that they held offices. Beg occurs twice, once with each name, avoiding favoritism. Agree translates the Greek word phroneō, found so often in this epistle (esp. 2:1–11). This disunity may not have been a significant problem since Sha’ul saved his exhortation for the end of the letter. It was not moral or theological. Syzygus means “yokefellow” and thus may not be a proper name. Clement attempts have been made to show that this was Clement of Rome who wrote one of the first Messianic documents outside the Brit Hadashah, the Letter to the Corinthians, confidently dated at 96 CE. However, the identification has no support, and Clement was a common name. The Book of Life is a Jewish concept familiar from the High Holy Days liturgy; see Revelation 20:12b.

To Seek Peacefulness

⁴ Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice!

The injunction to rejoice (Philippians 1:18; 2:17–18, 28; 3:1; 4:10) is not to indulge in casual pleasure or to bathe in a superficial gladness dependent on transient feelings, but to experience the abiding joy (Philippians 1:4, 25; 2:2, 29; 4:1) that comes from trust in and commitment to Yeshua the Messiah.

⁵ Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.

Wise instruction for prayer, which is the remedy (v. 7) for worry. God cares about even the little things in life. Sometimes, people are taught not to “bother” God with small or self-oriented requests. This is false humility.

 

 

⁷Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua.

 

Think On Things Spiritual

⁸ In conclusion, broters, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable, or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.

The object is not to retreat from an evil world, but sanity in it.

⁹ Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you. [1]

Sha’ul again makes himself an example (compare 3:17).

In our next post, we conclude our examination of Sha’ul’s Letter to the Philippians.

 

^[1] Philippians 4:2–9.