Life is?? Study Guide - Philippians 4:1-3 by kerminator Blog entry

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Life is?? Study Guide - Philippians 4:1-3

** The only way we can ever come into true unity is to find our common ground in the Lord and fellowship in those areas. There will never be, nor was there ever intended to be, unity in every area of our lives. We have different customs, personalities, and so forth. Our unity has to be “in the Lord.” **

Date: 2/10/2018 9:18:43 AM ( 6 y ) ... viewed 717 times

Philippians 4
Philippians 4:1-3
** Life For Today Study Bible Notes:

Note on Philippians 4:1
Paul really had special feelings for these Philippian Christians.
In the first chapter, he said he rejoiced every time he thought of them, which was often. Certainly one of the things that made them so close was their partnership with him in the Gospel as he expounds upon in this chapter.

Note 1 at Philippians 4:1:
As stated in note 2 at Galatians 5:1, the word “therefore” is tying what Paul was saying here to what he had said previously. Paul had just spoken of the Lord giving us glorified bodies. Because of this wonderful reward to the faithful, we should therefore stand fast in the Lord.
All that we have to gain in the “sweet by-and-by” should provide us with plenty of motivation to stand fast in the “rough here-and-now.”

Note 2 at Philippians 4:1: Paul addressed the Philippians twice in this verse as “dearly beloved.” In this same verse, he also called them “my joy and crown.” These terms expressed Paul’s love for these saints and showed that they were very special to him.
This also revealed what Paul valued most. He wasn’t after the recognition of mankind or their awards. What gave Paul joy was to see others experience the abundant life that only God could give. All the lives that had been changed by the power of God were like a crown that he wore proudly.

One reason Paul had the impact that he did was because he didn’t see things as other people did. Others sought for earthly titles; Paul was after just one thing (see) (Philippians 3:13-14).

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Note 3 at Philippians 4:1: “Stand fast” is translated from one Greek word, “STEKO,” which described a military soldier who stood fast in the midst of a battle.
It is only the strength and power of the Lord that are able to make us stand and to keep us from falling
(Jude 24). That is why Paul told the Philippians to “stand fast in the Lord.”

Although this power is always available in Christians’ lives, it will not work automatically. It must be personally appropriated by (personal) faith.
Day by day, moment by moment, Christians must trust the power of the Lord, rather than their own power, for the victory over sin, the flesh, and the devil.

Philippians 4:2
Note on Philippians 4:2
Most commentaries believe these were two women that Paul was beseeching to lay aside their differences. It is true that differences arise, as can be seen in this instance.
But notice that Paul didn’t accept it as an inevitable thing. He was calling for unity. Division is terribly damaging to the work of the Lord, and variances should be reconciled if at all possible.

Note 4 at Philippians 4:2: Euodias and Syntyche were women in the Philippian church who Paul said had labored with him in the Gospel (Philippians 4:3). This is the only time they are mentioned by name in Scripture. Euodias means “fragrance” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon), and Syntyche means “with fate” (Smith’s Bible Dictionary).
From this context, we can see that there had been a disagreement between them, and Paul was beseeching them to reconcile.

It is noticeable that Paul told them to be of the same mind (see note 2 at
1 Corinthians 1:10)
“in the Lord.” The only way we can ever come into true unity is to find our common ground in the Lord and fellowship in those areas. There will never be, nor was there ever intended to be, unity in every area of our lives.
We have different customs, personalities, and so forth. Our unity has to be “in the Lord.”

The more our lives center on the Lord, the more unity we will have with others who center on the Lord. For those of us who hold our own lives dear and have not found the joy that Paul expressed when he said, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21),
we will walk in very little unity. Our unity has to be “in the Lord.”

Philippians 4:3
Note on Philippians 4:3
It is not known if the women Paul is speaking of are Euodias and Syntyche that were spoken of in the previous verse. Whoever they were, these women labored with Paul in the Gospel. It’s unclear what that meant.

Note 5 at Philippians 4:3: The word “yoke-fellow” paints a picture of someone pulling together with Paul in the work of the Gospel, like yoked oxen. The strength of the oxen is increased by virtue of their being yoked together.

The Today’s English Version translates this word as “faithful partner.” It is not clear whether Paul was speaking of an individual here or if he was referring to the Philippian believers as a whole. It is also unclear whether he was requesting them to help Euodias and Syntyche reconcile their differences, or if he was speaking of other help.

Note 6 at Philippians 4:3: Euodias, Syntyche, and Clement were obviously fellow workers who had labored with Paul in the Gospel. The Greek word for “laboured” in this verse is “SUNATHLEO,” and it was used two times in the New Testament (Philippians 1:27 and this verse). SUNATHLEO was translated as “strive together for” and “labor with” (Strong’s Concordance).

“It is a word normally used of fighting a war or of a contest in an athletic arena” (A Translator’s Handbook on Philippians, p. 126).

It is also translated as “worked side by side” (The Living Bible),
“worked hard with me” (Today’s English Version),
“a help to me when I was fighting” (Jerusalem Bible), and “who shared my struggles” (New English Bible).

Note 7 at Philippians 4:3: This is the only mention of Clement in Scripture. His name means “mild, merciful” (Smith’s Bible Dictionary). Some people think this is the same Clement who became the bishop of Rome around the end of the first century.

Note 8 at Philippians 4:3: This is the only mention of the “book of life” by that name in Scripture outside of Revelation.
It is probable that the book spoken of in Daniel 12:1 is referring to this Book of Life. Jesus told us to rejoice because our names are written in heaven, implying the Book of Life.
The Book of Life is referred to seven times in Revelation (Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; and 22:19), for a total of eight definite times in Scripture.

We cannot enter God’s presence without our names being written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). Anyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life will spend eternity in the lake of fire
(Revelation 20:15). It is possible to have our names blotted out of the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5).

There will be books that contain records of our deeds by which we will be judged. Apparently, having our names written in the Book of Life will supersede anything else written about us
(Revelation 20:12).

** Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.
(parentheses added for clarification))