Epistle to the Philippians
Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1
• Phil 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say,
rejoice!”
– Rejoice – chairō, present active imperative – do it now!
– A reiteration of Phil 3:1 – “In conclusion, my brethren, be joyful
in the Lord. For me to give you the same warnings as before is
not irksome to me, while so far as you are concerned it is a safe
precaution (Weyland)” + now always.
• to rejoice; be joyful; be glad; rejoice exceedingly; be well, thrive; in
salutations, hail!
• and in the Lord always – I Thess 5:6
– What’s this always stuff?
» at all times, ever
• And then Paul states that he’ll be saying this again - Again I will say
rejoice!
August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel
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Epistle to the Philippians
Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1
– will say – future active indicative
– Why do you think Paul is looking to the future here?
» To be repeated for emphasis in spite of discouragements?
• How are you doing at this?
– Consider your circumstances, your position, your condition
– This is a life not a work!
– rejoice is used 77 times in 68 verses in the NT
• Some representative ones: John 16:22; Acts 11:23; II Cor 7:9; Col 1:24; I
Thess 5:6; I Peter 1:8; III John 1:3; Rev 19:7
– This constant rejoicing is a testimony to our citizenship!
• Phil 4:5 “Let your gentleness be known to all
men. The Lord [is] at hand.”
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August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel
Epistle to the Philippians
Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1
– gentleness – seeming, suitable, forbearance, fairness, mildness,
reasonableness (ILG), yieldingness, modesty, humility,
moderation
• Moderation in all things?
– Also see I Cor 9:25
– From ‘Sayings Not Found in Scripture’ – ‘The phrase, "Moderation in all
things," is common extrapolation of Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean (as
presented in his Nicomachean Ethics). His ethic works around finding the
mean, or middle ground, between excess and deficiency. An example of this
would be his presentation of courage being the happy medium between the
extreme of rash action and the deficiency of cowardice, in respect to a
person's possible action in the face of danger.
– It should be noted that Aristotle's ethic is often misundertood by its summary:
moderation in all things. It is frequently reasoned by those unfamiliar with
context that the common phrase means that a person should approach all
things (whether healthy or unhealthy) with moderation; therefore, reasoning
that a moderate amount of a bad thing can be indulged is not uncommon to
find. This is an inaccurate representation of the perspective summarized in
the popular phrase.’
August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel
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Epistle to the Philippians
Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1
– How would you best describe this term and its application to our
walk?
• However you interpret this, we should be a witness to the entire world
around us.
– Phil 2:15 – ‘that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God
without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom
you shine as lights in the world,’
– James 3:17 – ‘But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality and without hypocrisy.’
– What does a believer who walks in ________ appear?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
gentleness,
forbearance
mildness
reasonableness (ILG)
yieldingness
humility
moderation
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August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel
Epistle to the Philippians
Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1
– be known – ginoska, passive aorist imperative
– The Lord is at hand.
• at hand – of place and position or of time?
– Psalms 45:18 – ‘The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call
upon Him in truth.’
– Acts 17:27 – ‘so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might
grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;’ or
– James 5:8 – ‘You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the
Lord is at hand.’
– Rev 22:7 – ‘And behold, I am coming soon." Blessed is he who keeps the
words of the prophecy of this book. (RSV)’
• In context, in time seems like the best interpretation although can
we ever doubt that the Lord’s presence is both with us and in us?
• Keep rejoicing no matter what!
– And although we exist down here, the view from above is perfect
vision and rest – II Cor 3:18
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August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel