2BC BIBLE STUDY NOTES
Wednesday in the Word
Second Baptist Church
January 22, 2025
Philippians 4:8-20
Recap: We are closing our study out on the book of Philippians. We recall that Paul wrote this letter (epistle) to reassure the saints that he was okay despite being imprisoned for preaching the gospel and instill a sense of joy. Paul was thankful that the church sent support and encouragement. He was not only grateful, but he was also determined that the church in Philippi would continue to serve God faithfully. Like any good pastor or bishop, Paul wanted the church to grow in their faith and understanding of Christ. The apostle also wanted the church to remain unified and not become fractured by divisions and selfish agendas. Paul encouraged the church to have the same servant mindset as Christ had. Paul also challenged those who would impose Old Testament requirements like circumcision on the gentiles. Paul called those people mutilators of the flesh. He taught that those folk were concerned about things that only gave the outward appearance of faith, but in reality, didn’t cause anyone to be righteous. Paul shares that he has a lengthy Jewish resume he could brag about, but that those things were nothing compared to Christ. The only bragging a person in Christ could do was brag about Christ and his works. Paul stated that he puts the past behind him and presses forward seeking to be more and more like Christ. That ended in chapter 3. The last time we met, we focused on Paul’s admonishing to pray about everything and be anxious about nothing in chapter 4.
Verse 8. Paul is wrapping up his letter with some final instructions. The apostle knows that many of the challenges and battles we deal with happen in our minds. What we think about and what we focus on can really determine how we act and respond to the challenges of life. Paul says that we should think on things that bring glory and honor to God. He uses terms like, pure, noble, lovely and excellent. These are terms that describe the kinds of things we need to focus on. These are things that remind us about God, help us focus on God, and lead us away from sin and destruction. We need to resist focusing on things that don’t please God and that lead us to focus on sin and being disobedient to God’s will and plan for our lives. This means we are careful what we digest mentally.
Verse 9. The apostle doesn’t have time to tell the church everything, so he says follow my example. Do the things you saw me doing and refrain from the things I would not get involved in. Sometimes people follow what you do and learn from what you don’t take part in. People need to see that our behavior resembles Christ.
Verses 10-13. Paul lets the church know how thankful he was that the church showed concern for his situation in jail. He knew they were concerned, but didn’t have the opportunity to demonstrate their concern up till that moment. Paul did not make his needs known to the Philippians. Paul strongly stresses in this letter that he is not seeking to solicit a gift from these very generous saints. If he was reluctant to “make his needs known” after receiving their gift, I would assume that he did not make his needs known in a way that would prompt the gift in the first place. I believe that the Philippians found out about Paul’s needs on their own, apart from any prompting by the apostle, whether directly or indirectly. It seems to me that in this instance, the Philippians cared enough to think through Paul’s circumstances and logically concluded that he did have a need. Paul says that he says he is grateful, but he wants the church to know he was content in Christ either way. He tells the church that he has learned the secret of being content in any and every circumstance. He informs the church that the cheat code to this was being empowered by Christ. Christ gave him the strength to be content in all circumstances. He could endure hunger through strength that Christ gives. He is not sharing his circumstances to solicit further funds. In chapter 1, Paul shares his circumstances to comfort and to encourage the Philippians in their circumstances, not to generate funds. Paul tells us that he does not share these things to solicit funds, so that his circumstances can be changed. He believes that his circumstances are God’s will for him. Thus, he is content and can rejoice in them. He makes his needs known to God (4:6), and he is at peace about the answer God gives (4:7). If, apart from solicitation, God provides a feast, Paul gladly accepts that. If God does not provide the feast, then Paul gladly accepts hunger. The same is true for clothing and shelter. This contentment does not come naturally; it comes supernaturally, in answer to our prayers (4:6-7). We learn contentment in circumstances that are less than ideal. We learn to be content with hunger by experiencing hunger (as our Lord did in His temptation in the wilderness—Matthew 4:1-11). We learn contentment with abundance by experiencing abundance, without being caught up with the desire for more (see Luke 12:15-21; 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17- 19). Paul has learned to be content in both plenty and in poverty. This is why he is so insistent that he is not disclosing his circumstances to solicit funds. He has learned to rejoice in the lean times and does not feel compelled to change his circumstances. He leaves that to God.
Verses 14-19. Paul found great joy when Epaphroditus came to him, bearing the gift from the Philippian church. His joy was not due to the size of the gift, which is never mentioned, nor even in the fact that this gift supplied his needs. Paul did not rejoice because of what was sent, but because of why it was sent. He recognized this gift as a token of the love and concern of his brethren in Philippi. Paul must be aware of the possibility of another misinterpretation of his words. He’s so stressed that he would have been content without receiving their gift that some of the Philippians might have concluded that he did not really appreciate the gift they sent and the sacrifice that it involved on their part. And so, in verse 14, Paul continues with his response to the Philippians gift, beginning with the word “nevertheless.” This informs the reader that Paul is now going to look at this gift from another perspective. Merely from the standpoint of human need, Paul could have gotten by without their gift. He may have suffered without it, but he was willing and able to make that sacrifice, and to be content in his need. But Paul is not shaming the saints at Philippi for sending their gift. Instead, he conveys a commendation. Paul gives several reasons for his commendation of the Philippians’ generosity. The first reason is that they identified with Paul in his trouble (verse 14). The second reason for Paul’s commendation of the Philippians is that they began to share with him at the very outset of his ministry to them (verse 15). We can recall from Acts 16 that when Lydia came to faith in Jesus as the Messiah, she immediately insisted that Paul and his companions accept her hospitality (Acts 16:15). Third, the Philippians’ sharing with Paul in his gospel ministry not only started immediately, it endured (verses 15-16). It is a good thing for the Philippians to have shared with Paul soon after he departed from them. But it is quite another for them to persist in their giving, over time. Paul says that they sent a gift to him “more than once” while he was in Thessalonica. Fourth, the Philippians are commended because their sharing financially (and otherwise) with Paul was unique among the churches (verse 15). I am especially focusing attention to those three words in verse 15, “except you alone.” Paul insists that he is not seeking to solicit another gift (see verses 11,17). He is not flattering the Philippians, with the hope that this will encourage them to give again. Paul rejoices in their gift because he knows that the profit will be theirs. Their giving is to their benefit, and for their blessing. Paul’s needs have been more than met; he “has received all things and has plenty.” The gift that Paul received from the hands of Epaphroditus is now described in spiritual, Old Testament terms. It is described in Old Testament sacrificial terms. It is “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.”
Verse 19. Through Paul, God assured these saints that He would provide for all their needs. Paul is assuring those who sacrificially give that God will continue to provide for them so that they might continue to give. In other words, God promises to provide the things we need to be generous toward others. This is not to say that God doesn’t meet our needs, but the context is to a generous church who ministered to others who were in need. The issue is generosity.
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