Phili 4:4-9 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Phil 4:4-6: 4:4-6 rejoice! ... pray ... thank him: Cp. 1 Thes 5:16-18 ; both passages are addressed to persecuted churches; see also Rom 12:12 . 4:4 In Paul’s letters, joy and rejoicing are a response to the Good News (see Eph 5:19-20 ). Joy is not dependent on circumstances; believers find joy in the Lord even in the midst of suffering. • rejoice! See Phil 2:18 ; 3:1 ; Rom 12:12 , 15 ; 1 Thes 5:16 .

Summary for Phil 4:4-6: 4:4-6 ^a rejoice! ... pray ... thank him: Cp. 1 Thes 5:16-18 ^b; both passages are addressed to persecuted churches; see also Rom 12:12 ^c. 4:4 ^d In Paul’s letters, joy and rejoicing are a response to the Good News (see Eph 5:19-20 ^e). Joy is not dependent on circumstances; believers find joy in the Lord even in the midst of suffering.

• rejoice! See Phil 2:18 ^f; 3:1 ^g; Rom 12:12 ^h, 15 ⁱ; 1 Thes 5:16 ^j.
4:5 ^k Believers are to be considerate in their responses to others, even in persecution. They can afford to leave justice in God’s hands because they know the Lord is coming soon (cp. Jas 5:8-9 ^l).
4:6 ^m Believers need not worry about anything because the heavenly Father loves his children and cares about their needs, and he has invited his children to pray about everything (see Matt 6:25-34 ⁿ; 7:9-11 ^o; Rom 12:12 ^p; Eph 6:18 ^q; 1 Thes 5:17 ^r; 1 Pet 5:7 ^s).
4:7 ^t The life of trusting God (4:6 ^u) brings God’s peace (see also Isa 26:3 ^v; John 14:27 ^w; Col 3:15 ^x).
4:8 ^y Paul urges the Philippians to focus on God’s good gifts so that, even during suffering and persecution, their lives will be exemplary and their minds and hearts will be filled with peace (4:7 ^z, 9 ^aa).
4:9 ^ab all you learned and received from me: Everything Paul had taught them by word or example about the kind of life God desires (see 3:17 ^ac; 1 Cor 4:6 ^ad, 16-17 ^ae; 2 Thes 3:7-9 ^af).