339 PHI LIPPIAN S 2:6

23 I shou ld choose, • I am caught in this dilemma: I want to be gone and be with 2 Co 5:6-9

24 Christ,' which wou ld be very much the better, •but for me to stay alive in this
25 body is a more urgent need for your sake .• Th is weighs with me so much that I feel 2:24

sure I shall sur vive a nd stay with yo u all," and help you to prog ress in the fait h
26 and even increase your joy in it ; -and so you will have another reason to give 1:4 + '; 2:16
1 Co 15:31
praise to Chris! Jesus on my accou nt when I am with you again , 2Co 1:14 ;
5: 12
1 Th2: 19
Fight for the faith
PHILI PPIANS 27 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
Eo4: 1
Co l 1:10
1 Th 2:12
Col 2:5
a nd on ly hear about you, [ shall know that you are unani mous in meeting the
TH E L ET T ER OF PA UL 28 attack with firm resistance, united by yo ur love for the faith of the gospel -and Ac 4:32
...J
q uite unshake n by you r enem ies. This would be the sure sign that they will lose :f
Q.
TO TH E CHURCH A T PHILI PPI 29 and you will be saved . It would be a sign from God -t hat he has given you the
30 pr ivilege not on ly of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well. • You and M I5:11
2Th 1:4-7
I are toge the r in the same fight as yo u saw me fighting before a nd, as you will 1: 7
Co l 1:24 + ...J
have heard , [ a m fighting st ill. m I T h 2:2 0
Address U
Ac 16: I -j
Fro m Pau l and T imothy, serva nts of Christ Jesus , to all the saints in C hrist
Rm 1:1 .j-
A c 9: 13 +
1 Jesus, to gether with the ir presid ing elders a nd deacons." •We wish you the
Preserve unity in humility
If our life in Chris! means anything to yo u, if love ca n persuade at all,·
2 2Co 10:1 ; (/)
grace and peace of G od our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. 13:13 + N W
":I:
or the Spirit" that we have in co mmon, or any tenderness and sympathy, -t hen Ga 5:10 f-
Thanksgiving and prayer be uni ted in your co nvictions and united in yo ur love, with a co mmon pu rpose R m 15::5

I T h 1:2 [thank my God whenever [think ofyo u;and -every time [pray for al l of you , [ ~ and a co mmo n mind. T hat is the one thing wh ich would make me completely 1:4 +
1: 18 ,25 :
2:2, 29 ; pray with joy, b • remember ing how yo u have helped to spread the Good News ' 5 happy . c • T here must be no competition amo ng yo u, no co nceit; but every body Ac 20:19
R m 12:3.10
N ::;;
3: 1: 4: 1, " i=
4 ,10 from the day you first heard it" right up to the present. -I am qu ite certain that 6 is to be self-effacing. Always co nsider the o ther perso n to be better than yo urself, 1 Co 1: IOf
G a 5:26
I T h 5: 16
1:10 ; 2: 16 the One who began th is good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day 4 so th at nobo dy thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of othe r 1 Co 10:24
I Co I :X I
o f C hrist Jesus co mes. - It is on ly natura l that ( should feel like this towards peop le's interests instead. - In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus:" ]013 :15

1:30 f-
you all, since you have sha red the pr ivileges which have been mine: both my H is state was d ivine: ]0 I: l f ; 17:5 ;::
Ep 3:2 Co l 1: 15· 20
chain s and my wo rk defe nd ing and establishing the gospel. You have a permanent yet he did not cling Heb 1:3
R m 1:9 place in my heart, -a nd G od know s how much I miss you all, loving you as C hrist to his equality with G od!
Co l 1:9- 10 Jesus loves you. • My pra yer is that yo ur love for each ot her may incre ase more ::;;
Ph m 6
1 a . The wo rd 'eoiscaoos' Coverseer', 's uperv isor ' o r I. Lit. ' Li ve you r ci ty-l ife (i.e . o rdi nary soc ia l life) :I:
a nd more a nd never stop improving your kno wledge and deepening your shephe rd' ) has not ye t acq uired t he sam e meaning as wor thi ly of the eo snet' . T he New C ity of God's ki ngdom Q.

percep tion -so that yo u can always recognise what is best.' T his will help you to 10 'b isho p ' . d. Tt 1:5f. The 'deaco ns ' a re the ir assista nts,
has C hri st for its ru ler , th e go spel fo r it s la w, and th e
1:6 Ac 6: 1-6. C h ristians as it s free cit izens , cf. 3:20 : En 2: 19.
H t'b 5: 14
beco me pure and blameless, a nd prepare yo u for the Da y of Christ, •when you II b. Joy is o ne of th e ch ief c haract eris tics of thi s m . The llrSl refe rence is l O the persecu tion Pa u l had
J:9 1- will reach the perfect good ness which Jesus Christ prod uces in us for the glory lett e r ; d . 1:I H,25 ; 2:2, 17,28,29; 3:1; 4: 1.4 , 10. to p u t up with when he wa s wit h them in Ph ilipp i, m
In 15: 1 W
) ( feh 12: I t
Jm 3: 18
and praise of G od. 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 .
Ac 16:1 9f : I Th 2:2: the seco nd is to his p rese nt
imprisonmen t awaiti ng tr ial.
:I:

Pa ul's own circumstances
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.
E D .'\: 1
2 Till 2: 1) 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
2:20-2 1 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
i J.4 ~.
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
r .1/1 13: 10
I. X X
me, thanks to your prayers a nd to the help which will be given to me by the
A I.: 16:7 Sp irit of Jes us. • My one ho pe a nd trust is that I shall never have to admit defea t,
2 T m 4 ; 17
I rofi :!O but that now as always I sha ll have the co ur age for Christ to be glorified in my
2 (\ , 1:5
(.'/11:20 body,' whether by my life o r by my dea th. - Life to me, of cour se, is Chris t, but
C o l 3: .\f
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
d. Sin ce th e d a y th ey were co nvert ed , cr. Ac 16: 2 a. Li t. ' If there is any ex hor ta tion in Christ , if the re
12-40. is a ny in cen tive in lo ve"; th is is a very friendly b ut a very
e . T he abilltv to sec what is morally Rood is o ne o f pow erf u l ap pea l. in th e name of a ll th at is holies t.
12 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
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 ~
tr ia l. [0 th e Fa the r, cf. 2 Co 13:13 +.
13 e . If Paul is wr hi na from his hou se-arrest in Rom e, c. Thi s ur gen t p lea for unity sugges ts that internal
14 t hi s m us t refer to members of the Pr ae to ria n G uard divi sion s threat ened the peace o f the chu rc h of Ph ilippi.
(wh o were Qua rtered just outside the cit y wa lt). If Paul cr. 1:27 ; 2:14 ; 4:2. Note ho w Pau l kee p s ins is ting that
15
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
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 ~
th e oflkia l res iden ce o f t he go vernor in ea ch of t ho se o r o nl y qu o ted b y Pau l is un ce rtain . Eac h sta nza dea ls
16 cities. with o ne sta ge of the m ystery o f C hr is t: d ivine pre-
h. Ad d. o f God ' (Vu IR.) or 'o f the Lord '. ex istence, k enosts in th e Incarnation. hi s fur t her kenosi s
i. By bap tis m and Euchar ist a C hri stia n is so in death , h is gto riflca u o n. adoration by th e cosmos,
17 clos ely uni ted to Ch rist , cf. I Co 6:15; 10:17 ; 12: 12f,27; new title of Lo rd. T his hym n is co nce rned so lely with
G n 2:20: ED 5:30, tha t h is life, suffe rings a nd dea th ca n the h isto ric al C hris t in w hose personali ty god head
18
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
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
u nion woul d be particul ar ly close in the cas e o f an dis tl ngul sb hi s various sta ges of exis tence, cr . Co i l; 13f.
19
ap ostl e like Pa ul. cf. C ol 1:24; 2 C o 4: tor, 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
20 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
21 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 ',
22 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
u
"
 2:7 PHILIPPIANS 34° 34 / PHI L I P PIA N S 3:17
2 Co 8:9 real peop le of the circu mcision , we who worsh ip in accord ance with the Spirit R m2:25-2 9 "
Rv 5:12 but emptied himself- 2 Co 11:
M /20 :28 of Go d;" we have our own glor y from C hrist Jesus witho ut hav ing to rely on a 21 +..
to assume the condition of a slave,' Col 2:11 ...
R m 8:3
and became as men are ;' 4 physical operatio n," • If it ca me to relying on physical evidence, I should be fully
G a 4:4 R m 7:5+
Heb 2:17 and being as all men are,' qua lified myself. Take any man who thin ks he can rely on what is physical: I am
Is 49 :4 even bett er q ualified . - I was born of the race of Israel and of the tr ibe of Benjamin, Ac 22:3
I P 5:6 he was humbler yet,
M126:39f
even to accepting death, a Hebrew born of Hebrew parent s," a nd I was circumcised when I was eight days G n 17:10 +
R mS:19
Heb5:8 ; 12:2
death on a cross. " old. As for the Law, I was a Pharisee; -as for wor king for religion, I was a MI3 :7+
Ac 23:6
Is 52:13
But G od raised him high" persecutor of the Ch urch ; as far as the Law can mak e you perfect, I was faultless. Ac 8 :1,3+
M123 :12
In 10:171
and gave him the name' But because of C hrist, I have co me to consider all these advantages that I had
Ep 1:2Q.23
which is a bove all other narnes> as disad vant ages, • Not o nly that, but I believe nothing can hap pen that will
so th at all beings 10 outweigh the supreme ad vant age 0 1' know ing C hrist Jesus my Lo rd. Fo r him I have
E p4: 10 +
in the heavens, on ea rth and in the underworld ,s accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish
Is 45:23
should bend the kn ee at the name of-J esus " if o nly I can have Christ -a nd be given a place in him. I am no longer trying for
Rm 14 :11
and that every to ngue should acclaim> II
perfection by Illy ow n effor ts, the perfection that comes from the Law, but I want Rm 10:3

Ac 2:36 +
Jesus Christ as Lord,> on ly the perfection th at co mes through faith in C hrist, and is from G od an d R m 1:16 +
Ga 2:16
R m 1:4; 10:9
I Co 12:3 III based o n fa ith " -All I want is to know C hrist and the power of his resu rrection Rm l :4 -1-
to th e glory of God the Father. q oJ
0
I I a nd to share his sufferin gs by reproducing the pattern of his death. •T hat is the Rm6:4 t· :
8: 11' 1- 17 U
Work for salvation 12 way I ca n hope to tak e my place in the resurrectio n of the dead." • Not that I have

2 C o 7: 15 So then, my dear frie nds, continue to do as I tell you, as you always have ; 12 become perfect yet: I have not yet wo n. but I am still run ning, trying to capture 2: 16
G a 5:7 +
IJ the prize for which Chr ist Jesus ca ptured me.' .J can assure you my brothers,

I C02:3 +
not on ly as you did when I was there with you, but even more now th at I am no
I am far from th ink ing that I have already won . Ail I can say is that I forget the Lk 9:62 '"
~~
longer there; an d work for your salvation ' in fear and trembling'. - It is G od, 13 f-
A c 17:28 ' ,1 past and I stra in ahead for what is still to come ; - I am racing for the finish, for 1 Co 9:25 -1-
Ep2:10; for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you. Heb 3:1
IS the prize to which Go d cal ls us upwa rds to receive in Chri st Jesu s. -We who are
3:20
Hcb 13:2 1 Do all tha t has to be done witho ut complaining or arg uing -a nd then you will : ~
0 132:5 be innoce nt and genuine, perf ect children of God among a deceitfu l and underhand called 'perfect? mu st all th ink in th is way. If there is some point on which you
~~
M I 5: 14-16 16 see things different ly, G od will make it clear to you; -rneanw hile, let us go forward - f-
brood, and you will shine in the world like br ight stars • because you are offering 16
1:26 + it the word of life. T his would give me so mething to be proud of for the Day on the roa d that has brought us to where we arc.'
I Co 1:8 t
Go 2: 2: 4: of Christ, and would mean that I had not run in the race a nd exhausted myself 17 My brot hers, be un ited in following my rule of life. Take as your models 2 T h 3:7 +
II ; 5:7 l-
Rm 1:9 + everybody who is a lready do ing this and study them as you used to study us.
2 Tm 4:6 for not hing. -And then, if my blood has to be shed as part of yo ur own sacr ifice 17 l=
and offering - which is your faith "-I shall still be happy and rejo ice with all of
1:4 + whi ch was a th inJ.: t ha t Jesus (u n lik e Ada m. Gn 3:5.22. r , Li ba tio ns we re co m mon to bo th G ree k and
you, -and you must be just as happy and rejoice with me. 18 w ho wa n ted to be see n to be like (hll,J) cou ld and d id jew is h sac r ifices: Pa ul mere ly applie s t h is custom
~h'c up in his h uma n life. mctanho ricallv to the s p ir it u a l wor sh ip of (he new ~
The mission of Timothy and Epaphroditus g. ' lie e mp tie d h imself' : thi s is no t so m uch cre at io n, cf. 3:3: 4 :18 : R m 1:9 r- , :t:
a refere nce to the fac t o f th e in ca rn a tio n. a s to the wa y s , Va r. 't he Lord ' s wo rk ' , o r . ' t he work ' . c..
Ac 16:1 + I hope, in th e Lord Jesus, to send Timo th y to you soo n, and I sha ll be 19 it ro ok place. W hat Jesu s free ly eav e up wa s not his 3 a, P au l interrup t", t he co ncl us io n of t h e leu er to
div ine natu re. but the glo ry to wh ich hi s d ivin e na tu re add a l ong p ostscrip t.
reassure d by having news of you . • I have nobody else like him here, as whole- 20 en tit led h im, and whic h had bee n hi s be fore th e b. Term o f abu se a pp lied by Je ws to pagan s .
1:15-17 heartedly concern ed for your welfare: -a ll the rest seem more interes ted in 21 i n carn uno n. I n 17:5. and w h ich ' no r m all y ' spcuk l n x M t 15:26 an d pos s ib ly 7:6, and whi ch Pau l iro nic a ll y OJ
wo u ld ha ve bee n ob se rvab le in h is hum a n bod y (d. th e UJ
ap pli es to no n-C hri st ian Jew s, J:
themse lves than in Jes us C hrist. • But you kno w ho w he has pr oved himself by 22 trunstlz ura rio n. Mt 17:1-8>. He vo lu nta ri ly deprived c . Li t. "for th e lol;a'i h' , Paul u ses t his ter m tkata tome l
worki ng with me o n behalf of the Good News like a son helping his fat her. him self o f th is so that i t co u ld be returned to him by as a co nte m p tuous Dun o n 'ci rc u mci sio n' ( fl er i(fl m e).
th c fa ther , d . I n R:50.54, after h is sac ri fice VY. 9- 11. im p! yin R a co m par iso n between p hysica l ci rc umcis io n
T hat is why he is the o ne t hat I am hoping to send you , as soo n as 23 h. 'sla ve ' as op posed to 'Kvr ios' v , I I . d . CIa 4: I : a nd the se lf-i n flicted sas hes in pa gan c ults . cf. I K 18:28,
1:25-26 I know something definite about my fate . -But I co ntinue to trust, in the Lord,
~
24 C o l 3:22 f. C hr is t as man led a life o f sub m iss ion a nd cf'. Ga 5: 12,
Hob 13:19

4 :18
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
1:4 +
1 Co 16: 16 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.
1:4 +
2 Co 13:11 3 Finally, my brothers, rejoi ce in the Lord.«
The true way of Christian salvation
It is no trouble to me to repeat what I have already written to you , and as far
Ga 5: 12 as you are concerned, it will make for safety. •Beware of dogs!" Watch out for
2: 17 +
J r4:4+ the people who are making mischief. Wat ch out for the cutters." -We are the
25
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 i, Lit. 'A nd in fa sh ion found a s a man' .
k. Lit. 'super-raised him' : by the resu rrection
27 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
28
th e tr iu mp h o f th e risen C hris t, can now he ex presse d
29 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 :
30 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-'.
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· .
o,
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~
 3:18 PHILIP PIA N S 34 2 343 PHILIPPIANS 4.23
Ac 20:19
I have told you oft en , an d I repeat it tod ay with tea rs, there are many who a re 18
behavin g as t he enemies of the cross o f Christ. -They a re desti ned to be lost. 19
R m 16: IR
T hey ma ke food s into t heir god m a nd they ar e proudes t of so mething they o ught
I n 3: 12 to think sha meful ;" the th ings they thi nk imp or ta nt are eart hly th ings. • F o r us, 20
He b 1 1 :13 ~ 1 6
1 Tm J: J + our hom ela nd is in heaven, a nd from hea ven comes the sav io ur we a re wait ing
Ac 3:20-2 /
Rm 8:23 for , the Lo rd Jesus C hr ist, · an d he will transfigure these wretched bod ies of o urs 21
I Co 15:23-
28.47- 49 into cop ies of his glor iou s bo dy . He will do that by the sam e power wit h wh ich
Co l 3:1-4 he ca n sub due the whol e un iverse.

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

Last advice
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 ..J
the Good Ne ws-a nd so, at the sa me time, wer e Cleme nt a nd the ot hers who oo
Dn 12: 1
worked with me. T he ir names a re writte n in the bo ok of life.
1:4 +
I wa nt yo u to be ha ppy, always happy in the Lo rd; I repeat , what I want is
I Co 16:22 +
T t 3:2 yo ur happiness. •Let your toleran ce be evident to everyo ne: the Lord is very Vl
Mt 6:25-34 ~~
In 14:27
near. •T here is no need to worry ; but if there is anything you need, pra y for it, 6 ...
C ol 3:1.' asking G od for it with prayer an d tha nksgiving, -and that peace of G od , whic h 7
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 R
N ::;;
is tr ue, every thing that is no ble, everyth ing th at is good a nd pure, everyt hing that ~ t=

we love a nd hon ou r,« and eve rything that can be th ought virtuous or wor th y
I T h2: 13 +
2 T h 3:7 -1- of praise . • Keep do ing a ll the things tha t you lea rnt from me a nd hav e been 9
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 t:
wit h you . ...
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 10 :r:
0..
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 II
on what ever I ha ve, • I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich to o. 12
00
I have been through my ini tiatio n and now I am ready fo r an yt hi ng anywhere: w
:r:
fu ll stomac h or empty stomach, poverty or plenty. -There is no thi ng I cannot 13
ma ster wit h the help of the O ne" who gives me strength. ·AIl the sa me, it was 14
good of yo u to share with me in my hardsh ips. -In the early days of the 15
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 16
sinc e my stay in T hessa lo nika you have sent me what I needed. - It is no t you r 17
gift that I va lue; what is valuable to me is the interest that is mo u nti ng up in 0..
your accou nt. • Now for the tim e being I have everything tha t I need a nd more: 18 ~
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 19
as on ly G od can . · Glory to G od. ou r Father, fo r ever and ever. Amen . 20
.-;. -'
m . T he diet ary la ws loomed large in th e Je wis h e. Pa ul a lways refused all pa yments ho wever
Greetings and final wish pract ice of re ligion . LvII . cr. Rm 14: 16:18 ; Ga 2:12; legitimate : the o ne exception was what he received
Co I 2: 16. 20f ; M t 15:1Q-2Op; 23:25 -26; Ac 15:20. fro m his be loved Ch risti ans of PhUipp i, cf. Ac 16:15;
My greetings to every o ne of the sai nts in Ch rist Jesus. T he brothers who are 21 n. L it . ' they glory in their shame'. wh er e 's ha me' 18:3 + : 2 Co 11:8.
with me send the ir gree tings.• All the sa ints. send the ir gree tings, espec ially tho se 22 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
o f the imperial hou sehol d." • May the grace of the Lord Jes us Chr ist be with 23 4 a . 'SYzYa us' means YOke-fello w. m ate, seco nd of is wrtuna ,
yo ur spi rit .' 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'. ,;