A thoughtful guide for your walk of faith Read with context, practice with grace.
Pauline Letters · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Philippians 4

Joy, partnership, humility, perseverance, and Christlike life from a prison letter.

New Testament

Philippians 4

1Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

2I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord.

3Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”

5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

9Do the things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

10But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.

11Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.

12I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.

13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

14However you did well that you shared in my affliction.

15You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.

16For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.

17Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.

18But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.

19My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

20Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.

22All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Joy, partnership, humility, perseverance, and Christlike life from a prison letter. Read Philippians 4 within the complete Philippians overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Philippians 4

Philippians 4 contains 23 verses and about 455 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 23 closes: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include things, whatever, christ, will, brothers, good. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Philippians 4

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Philippians 4:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer