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Philippians Chapter 4

Philippians Chapter 4

(Underlining marks a quotation/allusion. [Brackets] mark a textual variant.fnWhen two (or more) different copies of an original manuscript disagree on any given word or phrase — addition, omission, word order, etc. — the disagreement is called a "textual variant". ~99% of existing textual variants are either minor (like spelling), obviously not original (often appearing only in a few late manuscripts), or don't affect meaning (like "Jesus Christ" vs. "Christ Jesus"). The ~1% that remain do not affect any central doctrine of Christianity. The BOS Bible only marks significant textual variants that affect the meaning; smaller variants that do not affect meaning won't be marked for readability.  "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.fn"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love".  However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings — agapé centers on choice and behavior.  It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings.  (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".)  Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé".  Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing.  It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. An asterisk (*) indicates a verb in the Greek perfect tense.fnThe Greek perfect tense signifies a completed action in the past with a result and/or an ongoing state that extends into the present. For example, Hebrews 12:2 says in part: "He *sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"; the verb for "sat" is in the perfect tense, indicating that He sat down once (completed action in the past), and also that He remains seated until the present moment (ongoing state).)

Glossary

Note: this glossary is currently a work in progress; entries that do not expand will be added as time permits

Clean/unclean

Covenant

Faith

Flesh

Forgive/forgiveness

Grace
The Greek word is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace”, “gift”, or “thanks”. It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place. The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis). A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron. The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful” by giving thanks in this way. Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation. A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons. The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met. New Testament usage typically casts God the Father as a Heavenly Patron, to whom Christians should be grateful and faithful because of the gifts He has given us. (e.g. salvation, provision, protection, etc.)

Holy

Justification

Law (Torah)

Make purification

Pure/Impure

Purification offering

Ransom

Redemption

Repent/repentance

Righteous/righteousness

Salvation/save

Soul
“soul” is the Greek word “ψυχή/psuché” and Hebrew word “נֶפֶשׁ/nephesh”. The BOS Bible translates these words as “soul” for consistency, and so the full meaning of “soul” isn’t obscured by different translations in different places. They closely overlap in meaning and are typically translated “soul” or “life”. They refer to the animating force of a living thing, and thus can also refer to its life, or to the whole of any person or creature, including animals (e.g. fish in Revelation 8:9 and Genesis 1). They are frequently used as an emphatic reference to a person’s whole self, including longings, deep emotions, and inner life. (e.g. Ps 42:11) Note: while “soul” has significant overlap in meaning with “spirit”, the words have distinct meanings and usages throughout scripture. For example, lions tear apart a soul in Psalm 7:2, and a “dead soul” is mentioned in Leviticus 21:11; “spirit” has no analogous usages, and it returns to God at death (Ecc 12:7; Acts 7:59). The adjective forms of soul and spirit are contrasted in 1 Corinthians 2:14-15; see also: Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

Sin

Click to Collapse the Glossary
Stand Firm in the Lord
  1. So then my beloved and longed-for brothers – my joy and crown – stand firm in the Lord this way, my beloved.
  2. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to have the same mind in the Lord.
  3. Yes, I also ask you my true colleague:fn“colleague” is more literally “yokefellow”, which refers to people who are bound together (yoked together) in marriage, business, office, or other endeavor.  This word is only used here in the Bible, and could also possibly be a proper name. help reconcile these women who labored together in the gospel with me, and with Clement, and with the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.fnquotation/allusion to several verses that refer to such a book, namely: Daniel 12:1, Psalm 69:28, and Exodus 32:32–33.
  4. Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice!
  5. Let your gentle fairnessfn“gentle fairness” is one word in Greek.  It refers to a sense of justice and fairness that isn’t strict in the sense of the letter of the law, but it conforms to the spirit of the law instead.  Thus, it’s “gentle” in its application. be known by all men.  The Lord is near.
  6. Be anxious about nothing, but let your requests be made known to God in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving,
  7. and the peace of God surpassing all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus the Anointed.
  8. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is venerable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if anything is morally upright and if anything is praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
  9. What you also learned, and received, and heard, and saw in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
The Philippians’ Gift
  1. Now, I greatly rejoiced in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me.  And you were being concerned about that, but were lacking an opportunity to show it.
  2. Not that I speak from needful poverty, for I learned to be contentfn“content” is literally “self-sufficient”, in the sense of being internally self-sufficient by not allowing external forces to shake the internal disposition. in whatever situation I am in.
  3. I also have known how to be humble, and I have known how to overflow.  In everything and in all things, I also have been instructed in the secret to be full and to hunger, and to overflow and to be in need.
  4. I have strength in all things through the One strengthening me.
  5. Nevertheless, you did well by having partnered in my affliction.
  6. And also, you Philippians *know that in the beginning of the gospel (when I departed from Macedonia) not one church assembly partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.
  7. For even in Thessalonica, both once and even twice you sent provisions for my need.
  8. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit multiplying into your account.
  9. But I have all things and overflow.  I have been filled, having welcomed from Epaphroditus the gifts from you: a sweet, fragrant smell; an acceptable sacrifice which is pleasing to God.fnquotation/allusion to many verses that refer to such sacrifices, for example: Genesis 8:21, Exodus 29:18, Leviticus 1:9, and many more.
  10. And my God will supply everything you need according to His richness in glory through Jesus the Anointed.
  11. Now, to our God and Father be the glory through the ages of the ages,fn“through the ages of the ages” is literal, often translated “forever and ever”.  However, the traditional interpretation lacks the past element of a more literal translation.  Further, the Greek word often translated “forever” here (αἰών, “aion”) literally means “age”, meaning a time span with a beginning and an end.  It’s also used in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the culmination (end) of the age?” Amen.
  12. Greet every holy one in Jesus the Anointed.  The brothers with me greet you.
  13. All the holy ones greet you, but especially those from Caesar’s household.
  14. The grace of the Anointed Lord Jesus be with your spirit.  [Amen]

 

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