Chapter four begins with the final greeting for his friends, but Paul had to make a side note first. It seems that there was a particular example of disunity that was hurting the Philippian church, so Paul called out the two women involved (Philippians 4:2-7). They may have been fear mongers, leading others to worry about something, because Paul told them to not worry but rejoice instead, giving thanks, with the promise that God would guard their hearts and minds with his supernatural peace. Instead of worry and anxiety, there are specific areas believers can focus our minds, and we should “think about these things” (Philippians 4:8-9).
Paul closed his letter with a specific word of thanks for the financial support they had sent him (Philippians 4:10-20). Although he had come to learn to fully trust God whether he had much or had nothing, he was always grateful to not have nothing. Over time, as God placed him in various situations, Paul had learned to be content. In one of the often-misused verses of the New Testament, Paul declared his faith that, regardless of his financial situation at any given time, God would strengthen him to get through it. 1 He also noted that God would reward the Philippians because of their continued faithfulness in supporting his ministry, even from the very beginning of the church. He promised that their faithfulness was well-pleasing to God. A final comment, connecting back to his report in Philippians 1:13, revealed that even some of Caesar’s own household (either family or servants) had also come to faith, something the Philippians could rejoice over in Paul’s continued work.
Notes:
- Verse 13 does not mean that a Christian can do anything. Rather, a Christian can face any situation when standing in the strength Christ gives. ↩