More: Philippians 2:1-2 consolation

There appear to be some that have been caught in the "crossfire" between the two groups. Each group has goals but they are not the goals of Christ.

• Chapters 1 and 2: Church leadership
• Chapter 3: The rest (as individuals)
• Chapter 4:1-5: Further issues

As always, Paul is very subtle in how he says things.

Here we look at the verses in Philippians 4:1-5.

There are some views that Philippians, though written by Paul, consists of several letters/fragments written at different times to the church at Philippi. Here is one grouping, from Wikipedia (as of 2023-02-13).

• A: Philippians 4:10-20 as a thank-you letter.
• B: Philippians 1:1-3:1 and, perhaps, 4:4-9 and 4:21-23.
• C: Philippians 3:2-4:1 and, perhaps, 4:2-3.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_to_the_Philippians

The presence or absence of puns, play on words, double meanings, etc., may provide some clues.

Details are left as a future topic.

The word translated as "joy" is that of "favor" and could, in context, include what in English is "joy".

Paul uses the Greek for "dearly beloved" twice in this verse. We will return to this repetition.

The ancient Greek word "ώστε" ≈ "insomuch that" appears to be a continuation of rather than a break from the previous verses.

The ancient Greek word "ώστε" ≈ "insomuch that".



Note: For some reason, the use of this word in Philippians does not show up in the listing.

The ancient Greek word "επιποθήτοι" ≈ "longed for" is used only infrequently by Paul. Strongs considers it a separate word. This may mean a hidden secondary meaning. What might that be? Paul uses the same word in Philippians 2:26 describing Epaphroditus.

Paul uses a similar word in 2 Corinthians 7:7, 11 (a few verses apart) as "earnest desire" and "vehement desire".


Is the context of each good or not so good?

Details are left as a future topic.

The ancient Greek word "στέφανος" ≈ "that which encircles, surrounds, crown" and comes from the ancient Greek word "στέφω" ≈ "encircle, put around". In general it can be any prize or honor. The Greek word is the source of the English name "Steve","Stephen" and "Stephan". Could Paul be (also) referring to a person named "Stephen"?

Why might Paul consider those brethren his "crown"? Might Paul have any secondary meaning here as "crown" meaning surrounding or encircling?

The ancient Greek word "στήκω" ≈ "stand". It is not clear from where the "fast" in the English originates. Paul used the same word in chapter 1 where one should "stand" in "one spirit". The "one mind" is that of "one soul" or "one life".

More: Song: Stand up stand up for Jesus

More: Song: Standing on the promises

The Yiddish Hebrew word "שטיק" (shtick) ≈ "shtick" and refers to a humorous routine or gimmick. It is from the German word "Stück" ≈ "piece, stick". A "stand-up" comic is one idea of a "shtick". Should I quit my day-time job? Wait a minute, I don't have a day-time (paying) job!

Words with "stand" often become words with more abstract meanings. Do you understand that? Adam and Eve did as they were "standing under" the tree when they learned and "understood" their fate.

• In chapter 3 it is to "stand" in the "Lord".
• In chapter 1 it is to "stand" in "one spirit".

Some meaning choices:

• Stand fast (passively) against opposition (external forces).
• Stand fast from improper (active) actions (internal forces).

Discuss: Does the idea of a "circular firing squad" fit the context of what Paul is saying?

There are many phrases that refer to stand without doing anything or waiting instead of, say, passively enduring any attacks.

• "Hold your fire".
• "Stand easy".
• "At ease".

In the Greek, the name "Eutychus" means "good luck". This could have been his nickname after this happened and the account was written later.
Apparently, falling asleep during long sermons has a long history.

Jesus, at 12 years old, stays behind in Jerusalem.

In the Greek, the name "Synodia" means "company" as in "accompany" or "go with" together. The ancient Greek word "σύνοδος" ≈ "assembly, meeting" and is the source of the English word "synod".

Paul uses two (female) names here. And he uses the Greek word for "please" twice. He used the word for "beloved" twice in the previous verse.

• The name "Euodias" means "good path".
• The name "Syntyche" means "luck together".

If the name parts are switched, one gets the following.

• The name "Eutyche" means "good luck".
• The name "Synodias" means "path together" or "synod".

Does it make a difference to what Paul is saying or implying?

The same Greek words for "same mind" were used in Philippians 3:16.

Paul uses a lot of double meanings in speaking to the leadership of the church. Who is "we", "us" and what is the "same" as in "rule" or "thing"?

The Greek word for "rule" is interesting as the Stoics gave up "logic" but then found they needed some way to reason about what is true or false so they added what they called "rules" which looked very much like "logic".

Details are left as a future topic.

The Greek word for "rule" is the source of the word "canon".

More: Canons, cannons and canyons

The same Greek word for "mind" was used in Philippians 1:7.

The Philippians are "partakers" of Paul's "favor".

Whose names are written in the "book of life"? Is it everyone at Philippi, or is it just some?

Those who "labored" were "champions" using the Greek word that was also associated with athletes and is the source of the English word "athlete".

This word is used only twice in the GNT (Greek New Testament) and both times in Philippians.

This word is used only twice in the GNT and both times in Philippians.

The word is the origin of the English word "athlete" and come from the Greek sports but had a general meaning of "champion" or "hero" of which athletics was one type of "champion".

• champ vs. chump

The English word "champ" comes from the Latin word for plain or (military) camp which became the German word "Kampf" ≈ "struggle" and the English word "campus".

Marketing: Wheaties is the "Breakfast of Champions".
This slogan was introduced in 1927 for the Minneapolis Millers minor league baseball team (in the area of General Mills).

Champions eat "Wheaties". Does eating "Wheaties" make you a champ?

The word "breakfast" comes from the time when the overnight "fast" is "broken". From where came the idea that one needs a "good breakfast" to start the day?

Paul used the same root "champion together" in Philippians 1:27.

The first usage (1:27) was as a verb. The second usage (4:3) was as a noun.

The microchip company AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) named one of their processor lines "Athlon" from the ancient Greek word "ἆθλον" ≈ "prize, contest".
The ancient Greek word "ἀθλέω" ≈ "contest, struggle". The ancient Greek word "ἀθλητής" ≈ "champion, master" as in a "combatant" or, especially, a "prizefighter".

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Question: Why did the Intel, competitor of AMD, name their processor the Pentium rather than the 586? The sequence to that point had been the 8086, 286, 386 and 486.

Paul, writing to Timothy as Bishop of the church of Ephesus, uses Greek words for "soldier" (twice) in verse 4 and "athlete" or "champion" as in "striving" (twice) in verse 5.

The Greek word for "soldier" is the origin of the English word "strategy".

The Greek here translated as "rejoice" as that of "greeting" one another. This word is repeated twice.

Why might Paul want each side to "greet" one another?

Are there two sides that are causing issues that need to start talking and greeting each other?

In many of these verses, Paul repeats a word in the same verse, as if to emphasize that there are two parts or sides being addressed. The words are "dearly beloved", "I beseech" as in "please", and "rejoice" as in "greet".

There are a number of places in Philippians where words (with more than four letters) are repeated in the same verse.

These parts need to come together. This appears to be signified by the use of words with "syn" or "syl" or "syg" at the start of the word.

The verses right after the start of chapter 4 appear to use the Greek prefix "syn" or "syl" or "syg" more than other parts of Philippians.

The only other verse were "syn" or "syl" is used is in Philippians 2;25.


Epaphroditus is writing down what Paul says, probably helping him write parts of it (puns, play on words, etc.), delivered the message (he know what it was to say) and probably read it (not many people read in those days).

Paul talks of sending either Timothy, meaning "honoring God", or maybe Epaphroditus, meaning "beautiful" (in a worldly sense).

The Greek does not mean "less sorrowful".

• "αλυπότερος" (a-lee-po-ter-ros) means "not more annoyed".
• "αλλά πότερως" (al-la po-te-ros) means "but which of the two".

As stated: "that I might not be more annoyed" (than I already am)
Play on words: "that I might be, but which of the two" (are you like)
In a pun, both ways make sense. The pun need not follow grammar rules.

More: Philippians 2:25-30 Epaphroditus and need

There does not seem to be a recognizable pattern for the Greek prefix "eu" for "good". Chapter 3 has this prefix for only one word.

There does not seem to be a recognizable pattern for the Greek prefix "epi" for "upon".

The KJV translates as "moderation" what is often translated as "gentleness" but in the Greek means neither.

The Greek word is that of "equal treatment" or "fairness". Apparently there were some not being treated with "fairness", "equity", etc.
The ancient Greek word "ἐγγύς" ≈ "near" and literally means "in hand" as in "at hand". That is near!

The psychological term "framing" is that of implicitly setting bounds in a question or for an answer. This can be deceptive (e.g., for a a jury) in that there are valid solutions outside these bounds.

Example: A pastor might present the above verse using, say, "gentleness" and then add in the sermon, "but some translations use graciousness". This framing effect is deceptive as the Greek means neither.

Note: As Aristotle points out, this type of deception could be deliberate or it could be from ignorance or incompetence or for some other reason.

The term "anchoring" is used when one side of a "frame" is used as an anchor point.

Why does Paul mention "Clement" in verse 3?

Why might the Latin mis-translate the Greek word as "moderation"?

The name "Clement" is a Latin name from which comes the English word "clemency". The Greek word used in Philippians 4:5 means "equity" or "clemency".

Could Paul be saying, as a play on words, "Let your Clement be known unto all men."? Might the Latin Vulgate have changed the word to avoid such a pun? The Latin word "prope" ≈ "near, close".

The book Don't sweat the small stuff (Richard Carlson, 1997) talks about making trade-offs and not getting worked up about things that do not matter that much.

A study from long ago found that the NFL (National Football League) coaches that lasted the longest tended to be those that did not worry or concern themselves about things they could not control.

• The way the ball bounces.
• Penalties that could go one way or the other.

Information technology director: Match authority with responsibility.

Paul continues.

More: Philippians 4:6-7 Careful about peace