Philippians Chapter 4
Showing all 23 verses for Philippians Chapter 4.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. "
"So then, my dear friends, whom I miss so much, my joy and my proudest achievement - stand firm, my dear ones."
Let the relationships you've nurtured, not your achievements or possessions, be the thing you're proudest of in life.
"I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. "
"I urge Euodia, and I urge Syntyche, to sort out their disagreement and be united."
When there's real tension between people you care about, don't just talk around it - address it directly, with love, and encourage genuine reconciliation.
"And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. "
"And I ask you too, my true partner, to help these women who worked hard alongside me in this mission, along with Clement and my other co-workers, whose names are recorded in the book of life."
When you need to address conflict between people, don't forget to also honour what's genuinely good about them - correction doesn't have to erase appreciation.
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. "
"Be glad always - and I'll say it again: be glad."
Choosing joy isn't about ignoring your circumstances - it's a deliberate, repeated practice, something you keep choosing again and again, especially when it's hardest.
"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. "
"Let everyone see your gentleness and fair-mindedness. Remember, help is near."
You don't need to fight for every inch or insist on your rights in every situation. A gentle, generous manner towards others is itself a form of strength.
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. "
"Don't be anxious about anything - instead, in every situation, bring your requests to God through prayer, and be thankful as you do."
When anxiety rises, don't just try to suppress it - give it somewhere to go. Name exactly what's worrying you, voice it honestly, and pair it with genuine gratitude for what's already good.
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. "
"And God's peace, which is beyond ordinary understanding, will guard your hearts and minds."
You can find genuine peace even before your problems are solved. That peace isn't naive optimism - it's a steady calm that holds even in the middle of difficulty.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. "
"Finally, friends, whatever is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable - if it's excellent and worth praising, fix your thoughts on it."
What you deliberately choose to focus your mind on shapes how you feel and who you become. Be intentional about feeding your thoughts with what's genuinely good, not just what grabs your attention.
"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. "
"Put into practice what you've learned and received, what you've heard and seen in me - and the God of peace will be with you."
Understanding good ideas isn't enough on its own - actually put them into practice in your daily life, and you'll find real peace follows.
"But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. "
"I was overjoyed that you were finally able to show your care for me again - not that you'd stopped caring, you just hadn't had the chance."
When someone hasn't been able to help you as much as they'd like, choose to believe the best about their intentions rather than assuming they didn't care.
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. "
"I'm not saying this because I'm in need - I've learned to be content whatever my circumstances are."
Contentment isn't something you either have or don't - it's a skill you can genuinely learn and grow into, through practice and experience, regardless of your circumstances.
"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to need. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"I know what it's like to have little, and I know what it's like to have plenty. In any and every situation, I've learned the secret of being full or going hungry, having plenty or being in need."
True stability doesn't come from controlling your circumstances - it comes from developing an inner steadiness that can hold firm whether things are going well or badly.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. "
"I can face any of these situations - plenty or hardship, fullness or hunger - because Christ gives me the strength to do it."
This isn't a promise that you'll get everything you want if you just believe hard enough - it's a promise that you can find the strength to stay steady and at peace, whatever life brings you, drawing on something greater than your own resolve.
"Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. "
"Still, it was good of you to share in my hardship the way you did."
Being strong and self-sufficient doesn't mean you shouldn't appreciate help when it's offered - genuinely thank people for their kindness, even when you could have managed without it.
"Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. "
"You Philippians know that in the early days, when I left Macedonia, no other church partnered with me financially except you."
Be the kind of person who shows up consistently for others, even when you're the only one who does - that kind of reliability is deeply valuable and remembered.
"For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. "
"Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent help more than once for what I needed."
Remember and acknowledge the specific times people have helped you - vague thanks matters less than genuinely remembered, specific gratitude.
"Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. "
"It's not that I'm after the gift itself - I want to see the benefit grow to your credit."
When you give generously to others, remember that generosity itself shapes and benefits you as the giver, not just the person receiving it.
"But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. "
"I have everything I need and more - I'm fully supplied, having received what you sent through Epaphroditus. It's like a fragrant offering, a sacrifice that pleases God."
Ordinary acts of practical generosity - money, time, resources given to help someone - matter far more than they might seem; they're never 'just' material.
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. "
"And my God will meet all your needs, out of his abundant riches, through Christ Jesus."
Generosity doesn't leave you empty - when you give freely from real care for others, you can trust that your own genuine needs will be met in turn.
"Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. "
"All glory to God our Father, forever and ever. Amen."
When you've received or given genuine good in your life, take a moment to express real gratitude, rather than moving straight on without pausing to notice it.
"Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. "
"Give my greetings to every believer there. The friends who are with me here send their greetings too."
Make sure your care and attention reaches everyone in a group, not just the most visible or important people - everyone deserves to be acknowledged.
"All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household. "
"All the believers here send greetings, especially those who work in Caesar's own household."
Good, genuine influence can reach into the most unexpected places - even into the heart of the very system that seems set against you.
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. "
"May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen."
Let grace - freely given goodwill, without needing to be earned - be both where you start and where you end, in how you treat yourself and everyone around you.