My beloved brethren, my beloved
Philippians is the most personal of all the epistles written by Paul. It is a love-letter to this body of believers.
whom I long to see
Paul is stuck in a Roman prison, and he longs to see his brothers and sisters in Christ.
my joy and crown.
Because Paul is ministering to the Philippians, his ministry to them are a part of his reward Since they have ministered to him, that ministry is a part of their crown
Therefore stand firm
The therefore links chapter 4 with what we’ve just been studying in chapter 3 and indeed all the way back to chapter 1.
Throughout the letter, Paul has been encouraging them to:
- Stand Firm
- Be United in one Spirit, as one person
- Rejoice in the Lord
- Contend for the faith of the gospel
By telling them to stand firm, Paul is encouraging them to keep standing firm, in Christ.
What WE CHOOSE to allow GOD to do within us to prepare us for the battle determines whether we either stand firm or run.
In spiritual battles, the battlefield is in our hearts and minds, and what’s being fought over is our own relationship with Jesus and our relationships with each other.
It is our willingness to fight those battles God’s way that determines victory.
We can’t help if there are spiritual attacks; but we can help our reaction to them by preparing.
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.
So we know from their names that these are two women. By the way, Euodia means “fine travelling” and Synteche means “an accident”.
As Christians we’re to have the mind of Christ.
Jesus chose to obey His Heavenly Father.
So what does He ask of us?
That we also humble ourselves. That we conform ourselves to the example of Jesus. That we also choose to obey our Heavenly Father. That we take up our cross and follow Jesus.
Paul calls out Euodia and Syntyche who’s arguments were disrupting the whole Church.
Euodia and Syntyche were Christians!
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.
It is no small thing to disrupt the harmony in a church.
Proverbs 3:12 says For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Paul enlists help from one of the Philippian brethren to help them work out their problem.
Not only had Paul not taken their side in the argument, he didn’t even address it at all!
John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
Whatever the reason—it wasn’t worth disturbing the peace of the entire church.
It also wasn’t worth having their names associated with this argument forever.