Philippians · Bible in Basic English
Philippians 4 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 So my brothers, well loved and very dear to me, my joy and crown, be strong in the Lord, my loved ones.
1 Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
2 I make request to Euodias and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
2 I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord.
3 And I make request to you, true helper in my work, to see to the needs of those women who took part with me in the good news, with Clement and the rest of my brother-workers whose names are in the book of life.
3 Yes, 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.
4 Be glad in the Lord at all times: again I say, Be glad.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
5 Let your gentle behaviour be clear to all men. The Lord is near.
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Have no cares; but in everything with prayer and praise put your requests before God.
6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which is deeper than all knowledge, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8 For the rest, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things have honour, whatever things are upright, whatever things are holy, whatever things are beautiful, whatever things are of value, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, give thought to these things.
8 Finally, 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.
9 The things which came to you by my teaching and preaching, and which you saw in me, these things do, and the God of peace will be with you.
9 Do the things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 But I am very glad in the Lord that your care for me has come to life again; though you did in fact take thought for me, but you were not able to give effect to it.
10 But 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.
11 But I will not say anything about my needs, for I am able, wherever I am, to be dependent on myself.
11 Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.
12 It is the same to me if I am looked down on or honoured; everywhere and in all things I have the secret of how to be full and how to go without food; how to have wealth and how to be in need.
12 I 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.
13 I am able to do all things through him who gives me strength.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 But you did well to have care for me in my need.
14 However you did well that you shared in my affliction.
15 And you have knowledge, Philippians, that when the good news first came to you, when I went away from Macedonia, no church took part with me in the business of giving to the saints, but you only;
15 You 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.
16 Because even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to me in my need.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.
17 Not that I am looking for an offering, but for fruit which may be put to your credit.
17 Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
18 I have all things and more than enough: I am made full, having had from Epaphroditus the things which came from you, a perfume of a sweet smell, an offering well pleasing to God.
18 But 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.
19 And my God will give you all you have need of from the wealth of his glory in Christ Jesus.
19 My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 Now to God our Father be glory for ever and ever. So be it.
20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
21 Give words of love to every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their love.
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints send their love to you, specially those who are of Caesar's house.
22 All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Clement
Named by Paul as a coworker whose name is in the book of life.
Cited in the guide: Philippians 4:3
Epaphroditus
Paul's brother, coworker, and fellow soldier whom the Philippians sent with a gift; he nearly died of illness.
Cited in the guide: Philippians 2:25; Philippians 4:18
Euodia
A woman at Philippi who had labored with Paul in the gospel; Paul urges her to be of one mind with Syntyche.
Cited in the guide: Philippians 4:2
Syntyche
A woman at Philippi who had labored with Paul in the gospel; Paul urges her to be of one mind with Euodia.
Cited in the guide: Philippians 4:2
Cross references (23)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Philippians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Psalm 27:14; Philippians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 15:58
- 2 Hebrews 12:14; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Mark 9:50; 1 Peter 3:8–11; Philippians 2:2–3
- 3 Revelation 3:5; Luke 10:20; Revelation 13:8; Philippians 1:27; Revelation 21:27
- 4 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18; Romans 12:12; James 1:2–4; Philippians 3:1; Matthew 5:12
- 5 James 5:8–9; Matthew 6:25; Titus 3:2; Hebrews 10:37; 1 Peter 4:7
- 6 Proverbs 3:5–6; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:25–33; Psalm 55:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:17–18
- 7 John 14:27; Isaiah 26:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Colossians 3:15; Psalm 29:11
- 8 James 3:17; Titus 2:7; Romans 12:9–21; 2 Corinthians 8:21; Galatians 5:22
- 9 James 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8; Philippians 3:17; 2 Peter 1:10; John 13:17
- 10 2 Corinthians 11:9; Galatians 6:6; 2 Corinthians 7:6–7; Galatians 6:10; Philippians 1:3
- 11 1 Timothy 6:6–9; Hebrews 13:5–6; Matthew 6:31–34; Philippians 3:8; 2 Corinthians 9:8
- 12 Matthew 11:29; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; 2 Corinthians 11:27; 2 Corinthians 11:9; 2 Corinthians 6:4–10
- 13 Isaiah 41:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Ephesians 6:10; Colossians 1:11; Isaiah 40:29–31
- 14 Hebrews 13:16; Philippians 1:7; Hebrews 10:34; Galatians 6:6; 1 Kings 8:18
- 15 Philippians 1:5; 2 Corinthians 11:8–12; 2 Corinthians 12:11–15; Acts 16:40–17:5
- 16 1 Thessalonians 2:9; Acts 17:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:18
- 17 Titus 3:14; Hebrews 6:10; 2 Corinthians 9:9–13; John 15:8; Titus 1:7
- 18 Hebrews 13:16; Philippians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 9:12; Ephesians 5:2; Philippians 2:25–26
- 19 2 Corinthians 9:8–11; Psalm 84:11; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 Timothy 6:17; Psalm 23:1–5
- 20 Romans 11:36; Psalm 115:1; Revelation 14:7; Revelation 7:12; Revelation 1:6
- 21 Galatians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 4:10–14; Romans 16:21–22; Philippians 1:1
- 22 Philippians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 13:13; Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:13; Hebrews 13:24
- 23 Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
"Blessed are they that mourn," and "woe unto them that laugh" (Matt. v. 4; Luke vi. 25.), saith Christ. How then saith Paul, "Rejoice in the Lord alway"? "Woe to them that laugh," said Christ, the laughter of this world which ariseth from the things which are present.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
… the Levites shall have no part in the whole tribe of Levi, nor substance with Israel; their substance is the offerings (fructifications) of the Lord: these shall they eat." Wherefore also Paul says, "I do not seek after a gift, but I seek after fruit." To His disciples He said, who had a priesthood of the Lord, to whom it …
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Lo!
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
Heardest thou not what Paul saith, "Rejoice in the Lord?" He said not, "in the devil." When then wilt thou be able to hear Paul?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… the adversary, so likewise ye, after Holy Baptism and the Mystical Chrism, having put on the whole armour of the Holy Ghost, are to stand against the power of the adversary, and vanquish it, saying, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)