Free Bible Commentary
“Philippians 4:1-3”
Categories: Philippians“Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”
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Paul refers to his brethren in Christ as his “beloved” (verse 2). He had a heart full of love for his fellow Christians who brought much “joy” to his life and the delight of a much-prized victory “crown”. So it obviously troubled him when two sisters in Christ were having a tough time getting along and expressing the love of Christ to one another. Paul asked the brethren in the church at Philippi to do two things for these rivalling siblings in Christ: “urge” them and “help” them.
The love of the brethren and the unity of the church are so vital to the wellbeing of everyone involved that they literally needed to “urge” or “beseech” or “beg” these sisters to “live in harmony in the Lord” (verse 2). This literally means “to be of the same mind,” just as Paul had urged the whole congregation to be in chapter 2 verse 2. He then went on to show them that adopting the “mind” or “attitude” of Christ was the only way to succeed harmoniously in this spiritual venture together (2:5-8). The best way to “live in harmony in the Lord” is to try our best to be like the Lord. Paul called upon his brethren to “help these women” (verse 3) by encouraging them and teaching them and intervening on each of their behalves.
These were faithful Christians who allowed their differences to cause a rift between the two of them. That is very disappointing but it sometimes happens. The church is made up of a diversity of people from a variety of backgrounds, having different temperaments, personalities and viewpoints. But on the flipside, these ladies were both hard workers for Christ who had “shared” in Paul’s “struggle in the cause of the gospel,” and their names were written “in the book of life” (verse 3). Never give up on Christians who have compatibility problems. Urge them. Help them. And if necessary, separate them (Acts 15:36-41).
Even if we sometimes have a hard time standing side-by-side with an individual soldier in the Lord’s army, that doesn’t necessarily make us bad people. Sometimes we just have to love someone from a distance. Let’s just make sure that we do our very best to love everyone and hate no one. And we must make certain that we are personally standing “firm in the Lord” (verse 1) no matter what!
Please read Philippians 4:4-9 for tomorrow.
You are invited to assemble with us to worship the Lord in Spirit and truth today at the Taylorsville Road church of Christ. We are located at 3741 Taylorsville Road in Louisville.
9:30 AM Bible study. 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM worship services.
Hoping and praying you all have a blessed and faithful Lord’s Day!
- Louie Taylor
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