Each letter from Paul was scribed by someone. Paul did the speaking and someone took notes. When we read the book of Philippians for example, we notice a different writing style. Epaphroditus scribed this letter for Paul. One of the main themes of chapter three is the harpazo. Epaphroditus doesn’t use the word harpazo, but he explains the details of the harpazo using different words and phrases. Paul is trying to tell people that they can be part of the out resurrection and the above summons. He tells us that it is a goal for us and a prize. However we have to stretch ourselves forward. Paul challenges us to change our thinking. I know that in the age of woke society this is not a popular idea, but it truly is the correct process for Christians; to get rid of worldly thinking and recognize that “losing all” for a relationship with Jesus Messiah is worth every hardship and agony. Paul never mentions the family, friends, and co-Pharisees, that he had relationships with prior to his Damascus road experience. Paul lost every one of them for the Messiah. Yet Paul tells the Philippians something interesting, he tells them to imitate him.
Paul starts chapter three by explaining that our heritage is not important, and our past is not important.
Philippians 3: 4 G2539 though G1473 I G2192 have G4006 reliance G2532 even G1722 in G4561 flesh. G1536 If any G1380 [2thinks G243 1other] G3982 to rely G1722 in G4561 flesh, G1473 I G3123 more.
5 G4061 As to circumcision -- G3637 on the eight day; G1537 of G1085 the race -- G* of Israel; G5443 as to tribe -- G* Benjamin; G* a Hebrew G1537 of G* Hebrews; G2596 according to G3551 law -- G* a Pharisee;
6 G2596 according to G2205 zeal -- G1377 persecuting G3588 the G1577 assembly; G2596 according to G1343 righteousness, G3588 the one G1722 in G3551 the law -- G1096 having become G273 blameless.
While the tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out in civil war because of its tolerance of gang rapists and the protection of those gang rapists, it became a better tribe after they killed the people who had agreed with that behavior. This is why Paul could be proud to say that he was from this tribe. Circumcision made him an Israelite, his tribe made him a Hebrew or son of Eber. Eber was a son of Shem (Melchizedek). Shem and Eber taught the ways of Yahweh in Jerusalem.
Jasher 23:4 Abraham came into the tent, and he sat before Sarah his wife, and he spoke these words to her, 5 My son Isaac is grown up and he has not for some time studied the service of his God; tomorrow I will go and bring him to Shem, and Eber his son, and there he will learn the ways of the Lord. For they will teach him to know the Lord as well as to know that when he prays continually before the Lord, he will answer him; there he will know the way of serving the Lord his God.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 217). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
Jasher 28:18 At that time Isaac sent his younger son Jacob to the house of Shem and Eber, and he learned the instructions of the Lord; Jacob remained in the house of Shem and Eber for thirty-two years; Esau his brother did not go for he was not willing to go, and he remained in his father's house in the land of Canaan.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 227). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
Therefore to call one’s self a Hebrew denotes “a follower of Melchizedek/Shem and Eber”. However Paul also calls himself a “Pharisee”, and interestingly the Pharisees followed Shem and Eber as per the rituals of service, but not in the relationship of Yahweh. Paul loses his life, that old life, in order to gain this personal relationship with Yahweh.
The superior knowledge of Messiah Jesus is worth losing everything for. What did Paul lose for his walk with Jesus? Paul lost his family, his synagogue group, his friends. Paul’s family were proudly from Benjamin and his father a Pharisee. Paul’s family had status in the community. Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees and a student of Gamaliel. While Gamaliel may have been among the believing Pharisees like Nicodemus, and may have attended Essene schooling, there was a large portion of Pharisees who denied Jesus. Paul gave up his synagogue status and financial support for his faith. Paul also gave up his friends who were all Jews. We see Paul making new friends after his conversion, but what we never see are his old friends and family visiting with him. What Paul had before was nothing compared to the personal relationship that he gained with Yahweh.
Philippians 3:8 G235 But G3304 certainly G2532 also G2233 I esteem G3956 all things G2209 to be loss G1510.1 G1223 on account of G3588 the G5242 superiority G3588 of the G1108 knowledge G5547 of Christ G* Jesus G3588 G2962 my Lord, G1473...
The superior knowledge of Messiah Jesus Yahweh is worth losing family, friends, and status. This statement is really long, so we will break it out a little differently in order to understand it better.
… G1223 through G3739 whom G3588 all things G3956 G2210 I suffered loss, G2532 and G2233 esteem them G4657 to be dung, G1510.1 G2443 that G5547 [2Christ G2770 1I should gain],
9 G2532 and G2147 I should be found G1722 in G1473 him…
Through Messiah Jesus Yahweh, what Paul lost is just dung compared to gaining the Messiah and being found in Him.
...G3361 not G2192 having G1699 my G1343 righteousness, G3588 that is G1537 of G3551 the law, G235 but G3588 the one G1223 through G4102 belief G5547 of Christ, G3588 the G1537 [2of G2316 3God G1343 1righteousness] G1909 unto G3588 the G4102 belief;
Paul does not have his own righteousness. He is not righteous from his circumcision, heritage, or schooling. He is only righteous through faith in the Messiah of the Elohim.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
“Righteousness for Elohim uncovered in us from out of credence into fidelity, the just live from out of faith.”
“Righteousness for Elohim uncovered in us, from out of persuasion into persuasion, just as written ‘but the just live from out of persuasion’”
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/07/little-faith-law-of-faith-from-credence.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/07/so-simple-judging-in-righteousness.html
The righteousness of the Elohim is revealed from acceptance to loyalty. The “Just” live by their persuasion. How are people persuaded and move from acceptance to loyalty? By knowing him.
Philippians 3:10 G3588 G1097 to know G1473 him, G2532 and G3588 the G1411 power G3588 G386 of his resurrection, G1473 G2532 and G3588 the G2842 fellowship G3588 G3804 of his sufferings, G1473 G4833 being conformable G3588 to G2288 his death; G1473
11 G1513 if by any means G2658 I should arrive G1519 at G3588 the G1815 resurrection G3588 of the G3498 dead.
Let’s take all these phrases one at a time. How does one come to know Jesus? We come to know him by believing that he exists and that he rose up on the third day. Then we spend time with him. We pray, we converse, we study.
How do we come to know the miracle power of his anastasis, rising up? We first believe he rose up, then we take apart the action of rising up, which is dunamis power. We learn that a sinless life cannot be claimed by the god of this world. Death and Hades do not have power over the sinless. Jesus Messiah then took back the keys to Death and Hades, because his sinless blood overcame the fallen created being who stole rulership of earth from the adam. The dunamis is in the sinless blood.
Why is there a partnership in hardship? We are slogging through the mire of Satanas’ rulership. Those people who make the bold confession of Jesus Messiah being their Yahweh, and that he rose up on the third day, have raised a rebel flag on the earth. We partner with Jesus through hardships. Like Paul, we may lose our family, friends, and church. Jesus went through plenty of hardships for us, including being beaten and hung on a tree for our sins. With His partnership we can manage the hardships.
How are we assimilated in His death? His death was for all who believe on him. We are assimilated by faith into His death. Or we could say that the body is dead in sins and we are alive in Christ. We are dead and our life is hid in Christ. There is no more power of death over us, we live eternally.
Paul comments about katantaō, a “downward in place of” into the exanastasis “out resurrection” of the dead. In other words, Paul is hoping that he is part of the downward in place of, or the changing places with Jesus at the out resurrection of the dead, when the dead in Christ rise up first. Paul killed Christians, he was not a great person before he came to know Christ, but he certainly spent his time making up for his past by teaching us about Christ. Paul would like to be part of the out resurrection, but he does not count on it.
Of particular note to us is the word exanastasis, “the out resurrection”. This is the only place that exanastasis is used in the Bible. Sometimes Paul uses several words to talk about the same thing because he is trying to be thorough by saying the same thing different ways so that people understand it. Other times he uses a specific and altered word so we draw attention to what he is saying. The word exanastasis comes from exanistēmi “from out of” and “up” and “stand”. The idea is to raise up. Paul uses the word exanastasis to explain the “out from out of standing up” which is something different than a regular resurrection, it is an out resurrection or a resurrection from out of the resurrected. It helps us understand the harpazo and the way that he is going to describe it.
This next sentence should be parenthetical.
(Philippians 3:12 G3756 Not G3754 that G2235 already G2983 I received, G2228 or G2235 already G5048 I have been perfected; G1377 but I pursue, G1161 G1499 if even G2638 I should overtake G1909 upon G3739 which G2532 also G2638 I was overtaken G5259 by G3588 the G5547 Christ -- G* Jesus.)
Paul knows that he has not already taken a place among the out resurrection, he has not been made complete or perfect yet. Paul knows that he has to pursue the katalambanō “downward receiving” of this, and downward receiving from under the Messiah Jesus. What is he saying? Paul is saying that there is no guarantee that he is going to be in the out resurrection. He has to finish his race. He cannot denounce or renounce the Messiah, he has to stay faithful through his life unto death. There is no “special place in heaven” for anyone, unless we confess Jesus, believe he rose up on the third day, and live with our confession into death. Then the downward receiving is the upward seizing. Remember, there are people who will be outside of the kingdom of Heaven, knocking, not entering. We all have to receive the out resurrection from Jesus Messiah.
Philippians 3:13 G80 Brethren, G1473 I G1683 myself G3756 consider not G3049 G2638 to have overtaken; G1520 but in G1161 G3588 [3the things G3303 2indeed G3694 4behind G1950 1forgetting], G3588 but the things G1161 G1715 in front G1901 stretching out farther,
“Brothers I myself, not count downward receive, but one the truly behind forgetting but the in front stretch forward.”
Paul does not count on the downward receiving. He does do one thing well, he forgets what is behind or past and looks ahead and epekteinomai, stretches on. He had to. Just like the rest of us who were beaten and abused by the god of this world, we did not live righteously, or perfectly. We all have a past that we would like to forget about. We are not who we used to be before we knew Jesus Messiah. We are new in the Messiah. Paul’s advice is to leave the past behind. Sometimes that means leaving the people behind too. Not in a mean way, but in recognition of them not having control over our lives, especially if they are not saved. Witness to anyone who wants to be in your life, then move forward.
Philippians 3:14 G2596 towards G4649 the aim G1377 I pursue G1909 unto G3588 the G1017 victory prize G3588 of the G507 upward G2821 calling G3588 G2316 of God G1722 in G5547 Christ G* Jesus.
“Downward goal pursue on the prize the above summons the Elohim in Messiah Jesus.”
Put this thought together.
“Brothers I myself, not count downward receive, but one the truly behind forgetting but the in front stretch forward downward goal, pursue on the prize the above summons the Elohim in Messiah Jesus.”
What is the above summons? Jesus calling from the clouds when the dead in Christ rise or the out resurrection, and then the living join them in the air, the downward receiving of the upward calling. Paul is very clearly telling us to focus on the harpazo.
Some people claim the that harpazo is a misnomer. Some say it is “escapism”. Paul very strongly tells us to make the harpazo a goal. Paul says that it is a reward for our pursuit of Messiah Jesus. Why is there an upward summons if there is no going up to meet him in the air? Just because Paul wrote to the Thessalonians describing the same thing but used different words does not mean that they are not the same event. Different people scribed Paul’s teachings. This is quite evident when we read these letters in the Greek. The differences in wording and the sentence structure is easy to see. This tells us something that we should pay attention to. Paul could be/is speaking of the same subject matter in different letters but using different words. It is not like they used word processors and could edit their letters easily, so the scribe didn’t stick to one particular word in every letter. The KJV gives us some footnotes.
Php 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.
1Th 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
1Co 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.
Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.
Col 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.
We see that as far as we know Epaphroditus was the one who wrote Philippians. He must have been a rather dry Greek scholar, like an engineer type, as his writing reflects that personality in this letter. He scribed this after his sickness in Rome. After his recovery he went back to Philippi.
In 1Thessalonians Paul likens the harpazo to the meeting in the wilderness where Yahweh came to speak to the people. In 2 Thessalonians Paul calls the harpazo “the rising up and away”. Here Paul is establishing another angle for us, the prize of the upward calling of the out resurrection. He also uses the phrase “the above congregation” in 2 Thessalonians.
Philippians 3:15 G3745 As many as G3767 then G5046 are complete, G3778 should think this; G5426 G2532 and G1536 if any G2088 [2differently G5426 1think], G2532 also G3778 this G3588 G2316 God G1473 will reveal to you. G601
To those who are “complete or full grown”, exercise their mind this way. If someone thinks differently regarding this, the Elohim will apokaluptō, “take off the cover”, or “make it known”. We who are in the Messiah should all be together on this, look forward, not backward. We cannot do anything in the past, we only have the present and the future to focus on. In our mind and heart we take the present and the future towards the prize of the above summons when Jesus calls. The above summons, or the upward calling, is the prize, we then go onto heaven and watch Jesus open the seals. Think of the above summons as a reward to those who overcome. Whatever we do, it is with the above summons in mind. Most days we lament that it cannot come soon enough.
Philippians 3:16 G4133 Besides, G1519 in G3739 what G5348 we attained, G3588 by the G1473 same G4748 [2 we are to conform G2583 1rule G3588 4the G1473 5same G5426 3to think].
The LXX-WH helps us here as some translations add extra words.
“However into this anticipate the same walk.”
Paul says to walk the same way, forget the past, move forward to the upward calling. We come into this same walk. Instead, being individually focused first, and then as a group we are focused together on the upward calling. The world would see us and then ask questions as to why we believe in the upward calling.
Philippians 3:17 G4831 [2imitators together G1473 3of me G1096 1Become], G80 brethren, G2532 and G4648 watch G3588 the ones G3779 thus G4043 walking! G2531 as G2192 you have G5179 us for a model. G1473
Be joint imitators, watch how others do it, and use them as a model.
Philippians 3:18 G4183 For many G1063 G4043 walk G3739 whom G4178 often G3004 I told G1473 you,…
This sentence uses the word “and”, a conjunction to connect the two thoughts, however the word is “but” which contrasts the two thoughts. Many people walk this way. But. Many people are imitators and learned to do the same. Yet there are some who are enemies of the cross.
...G3568 and but now G1161 G2532 even G2799 weeping G3004 I tell -- G3588 the G2190 enemies G3588 of the G4716 cross G3588 G5547 of Christ;
19 G3739 whose G3588 G5056 end G684 is destruction, G3739 whose G3588 G2316 god G3588 is the G2836 belly, G2532 and G3588 the G1391 glory G1722 is in G3588 G152 their shame, G1473 G3588 the ones G3588 G1919 [2earthly things G5426 1thinking].
“But now, and weeping, I say, the enemies the cross the Messiah that the fulfillment ruin that the god in the abdomen and the honor in the their disgrace the the worldly thinking.”
At the time of the fulfillment these enemies of the cross of Messiah will have ruin or destruction because they serve their own god that is of their stomach. They are honored in their disgrace which is worldly thinking. Is there anyone in Hollywood who is an enemy of the cross of Christ? Do they fill their own grotesque desires? Are they honored for their disgrace? This is worldly thinking. Do not wish to be them. Do not wish to have what they have, their money, luxury homes, and expensive cars. Their fulfillment is ruin. The world thinks that they are someone to be admired, they are not. We have to get rid of that worldly thinking.
Paul talks about the enemies of the cross with weeping. Why? There are very likely enemies of the cross among his family and friends. The people he knew his whole life, the people he trusted, and the people he loved, were now enemies of the cross. We all have family and friends who reject Jesus Messiah and reject that he rose up on the third day. They have worldly thinking, feeding their own lusts. Paul is very sad for them.
Paul contrasts again.
Philippians 3:20 G1473 For of us G1063 G3588 the G4175 citizenship G1722 in G3772 the heavens G5224 exists, G1537 of G3739 which G2532 also G4990 [2a deliverer G553 1we await] -- G2962 the Lord G* Jesus G5547 Christ,
We have a “community in heaven in hand”. What is the community in heaven? Isn’t it the people harpazo’d. We are the people striving for the prize of the upward calling, the out resurrection, the downward receiving, from heaven to us. We eagerly expect our savior Yahweh Jesus Messiah. This is what Paul also calls “the above synagogue” or “above assembly”. Heaven is waiting for us to arrive via the above summons.
Philippians 3:21 G3739 who G3345 will change [3appearance G3588 1the G4983 2body] G3588 G5014 of our humiliation, G1473 G1519 for G3588 G1096 its becoming G1473 G4832 conformable G3588 to the G4983 body G3588 G1391 of his glory, G1473 G2596 according to G3588 the G1753 operation G3588 G1410 of his being able, G1473 G2532 and G5293 to subject G1438 to himself G3588 the whole. G3956
The LXX-WH clears some of the confusion up here.
“This change the form the flesh the low condition of us conformed the flesh the his glory downward the working his power and his under the all.”
Yahweh Jesus Messiah will change the form of our flesh, our low condition, into becoming our jointly formed flesh. Jesus’ glory working downward his power, and Jesus will place under himself, all. Paul is talking about a transformation here, a changing at the out resurrection. Our flesh will be changed by Jesus.
Philippians 4:1 G5620 So that, G80 [5brethren G1473 1my G27 2beloved G2532 3and G1973 4longed for], G5479 [2joy G2532 3and G4735 4crown G1473 1my], G3779 so G4739 stand firm G1722 in G2962 the Lord, G27 beloved!
“Therefore brothers, my loved, and desired, joy, and my crown, in this manner stand in Yahweh loved.”
This sentence should not have started a new paragraph. Paul is winding up the last thought with these encouraging words. He then addresses two women in the church at Philippi. From Acts 16 we see the women of Philippi went to the river to pray, which is where Paul went.
Act 16:11 Sailing from Troas, we went straight to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis,
Act 16:12 and from there to Philippi, an important city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We were in this city for several days.
Act 16:13 On the Sabbath day we went out the city gate and walked along the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and began talking to the women who had gathered there.
Philippians 4:2 G* Euodia G3870 I appeal to, G2532 and G* Syntyche G3870 I appeal to, G3588 [2the G1473 3same G5426 1to think] G1722 in G2962 the Lord.
We see Paul address two women Euodia and Syntyche. There was some type of division between them. Paul summons them to exercise the mind as Paul and his companions. The word “same” is a personal pronoun accusative, singular, neuter, which the more specific LXX-WH refers to and translates as “self” or “myself”. Paul says think like myself. Paul is big on the idea of imitation, so whatever divided these two women, which he does not specifically address, is trivial. Paul suggests that they imitate him, that they think like him.
This was most likely a personal disagreement between the women that was truly not important. Otherwise Paul would have addressed the situation like he did in 2 Corinthians, calling for them to deliver the sinner to Satanas. It is not something doctrinal because Paul would have corrected it like he did in Thessalonica. Instead he reminds them to imitate him.
Philippians 4:3 G3483 Yes, G2065 I ask G2532 also G1473 you G4805 [2fellow-companion G1103 1genuine], G4815 aid G1473 these women! G3748 who G1722 in G3588 the G2098 good news G4866 fought together G1473 with me; G3326 also with G2532 G* Clement, G2532 and G3588 the G3062 rest G4904 of my fellow-workers, G1473 G3739 whose G3588 G3686 names G1722 are in G976 the book G2222 of life.
“Yes ask and thee true Syzygy’s together take them any one who in the gospel strive together to me among with and Clement and the remaining ones working together of me that the name in written book living.”
The word for “fellow companion” suzugos is actually a proper name, Syzygus, who is to take the two women and anyone else who strove with Paul in the gospel along with Clement and anyone else who is written in the book of life. What Paul is asking for is a meeting of all the people who are saved. We don’t quite understand what he is referring to but in the fifth verse he says something about patience.
Philippians 4:4 G5463 Rejoice G1722 in G2962 the Lord G3842 at all times, G3825 again G2046 I say, G5463 Rejoice!
Bring everyone together and rejoice in Yahweh always, again Rejoice. Have a praise meeting about being written in the book of life. Next Paul says something interesting
Philippians 4:5 G3588 G1933 [2your leniency G1473 G1097 1Let] be known G3956 to all G444 men! G3588 The G2962 lord G1451 is near.
“The patience of you come to know all manfaced the Yahweh near.”
Paul considers this division a matter of patience. We can deduce that the division between Euodia and Syntyche was not something that would divide the church. It was not something that required Paul to direct the way that it was to be handled. Instead Paul takes a laid back approach, telling them to rejoice and be patient.
If we remember, at Philippi Paul and Silas were followed around by a fortuneteller who shouted that the men were “servants of the Most High God”. Paul and Silas cast out the demon, then were arrested and beaten when the fortuneteller could not not tell fortunes any more. As they sang praise songs in jail, there was an earthquake that opened the cell doors and broke off their shackles. They got the jailer and his household saved and when the magistrates wanted to free them, Paul and Silas said no, and made the magistrates apologize to them instead. Paul traveled into Philippi two more times and the Philippian church sent money and supplies to Paul at least twice while he was traveling, as well as a collection to Jerusalem. They also sent supplies to Paul while he was in prison at Rome. Epaphroditus brought this offering to Paul and it seems that he risked his life to do it, see Philippians 2:20. With Philippi’s history of Christianity, we can see that it was a stable church into the second century.
Philippians 4:6 G3367 Let no one G3309 be anxious, G235 but G1722 in G3956 all G3588 G4335 prayer G2532 and G3588 G1162 supplication G3326 with G2169 thankfulness G3588 G155 [2your requests G1473 G1107 1let] be made known G4314 to G3588 G2316 God!
Pray and petition with thankfulness not being anxious in making requests to the Elohim.
Philippians 4:7 G2532 And G3588 the G1515 peace G3588 G2316 of God, G3588 the one G5242 surpassing G3956 every G3563 mind, G5432 shall guard G3588 G2588 your hearts G1473 G2532 and G3588 G3540 your thoughts G1473 G1722 in G5547 Christ G* Jesus.
When we make requests then Elohim’s peace will guard our heart and mental perception in the Messiah Jesus.
Philippians 4:8 G3588 For the G3062 rest, G80 brethren, G3745 as much as G1510.2.3 is G227 true, G3745 as much as G4586 is serious, G3745 as much as G1342 is just, G3745 as much as G53 is pure, G3745 as much as G4375 is friendly, G3745 as much as G2163 is of good report, G1536 if any G703 virtue G2532 and G1536 if any G1868 high praise, G3778 these things G3049 consider!
“The henceforth brothers how much is unconcealed how much honorable how much equitable how much chaste, how much beloved how much well spoken of whether any one moral excellence and whether anyone commendation these things take an inventory.”
This gives us the foundation for our imitation. Focus on what is unconcealed, honorable, equitable, chaste, beloved, well spoken of, moral excellence, and praiseworthy, think about these things.
Philippians 4:9 G3739 What G2532 also G3129 you learned G2532 and G3880 received, G2532 and G191 heard, G2532 and G1492 saw G1722 in G1473 me, G3778 these things G4238 practice! G2532 and G3588 the G2316 God G3588 G1515 of peace G1510.8.3 will be G3326 with G1473 you.
Again Paul is telling people in Philippi to imitate him. They learned this, practiced it, heard it, and saw these things in Paul.
Philippians 4:10 G5463 And I rejoiced G1161 G1722 in G2962 the Lord G3171 greatly, G3754 that G2235 already G4218 at some time G330 you flourished again G3588 G5228 [2about G1473 3me G5426 1to think]; G1909 upon G3739 which G2532 also G5426 you thought, G170 but lacked means. G1161
Paul is addressing one of the times that they wanted to give to him, even though they didn’t have opportunity. Paul is humbled by their generosity.
Philippians 4:11 G3756 Not G3754 that, G2596 [2as to G5304 3deficiency G3004 1I speak]; G1473 for I G1063 G3129 learned G1722 in G3739 what G1510.2.1 I am G842 to be self-sufficient. G1510.1
Paul gives us a big key to life. Work and be content. He is not saying that he is in poverty but he learned to be content, satisfied or self-sufficient. Paul was a tent maker, his Pharisee father didn’t teach him to make tents, the Essenes did. When Paul went to Essene schooling he learned a skill, as all the Essenes worked. Paul learned tent making. He could work on his own, and he could be content.
Philippians 4:12 G1492 I know G2532 also G5013 to be humble, G1492 I know G2532 also G4052 to abound. G1722 In G3956 everything, G2532 and G1722 in G3956 all things G3453 I am initiated, G2532 both G5526 to be full G2532 and G3983 to hunger, G2532 and G4052 to abound G2532 and G5302 to be lacking.
Paul knows how to be humble and he knows how to superabound. We should probably focus more on being humble rather than superabounding. Yet the Philippian church was able to supply his needs twice on the road and once in prison. We don’t know what kind of a situation Paul’s imprisonment meant for him, he didn’t need to buy cigarettes to pay off the bullying inmates, he was on house arrest. Did he need to buy his own food? Maybe.
As the Essenes taught him, in all things he can be fattened and famished at the same time, or to superabound and be deficient at the same time. What is Paul talking about? In the word of God, he can be full and hungry, or superabounding and still deficient. In life he can be full and he can be famished, or superabounding and inferior. He can have everything but really have nothing. What he is suggesting is that he knows how to handle poverty and riches.
Philippians 4:13 G3956 I am strong for all things G2480 G1722 in G3588 the one G1743 empowering G1473 me -- G5547 Christ.
“All exercised strength in the strengthening me.”
or
“I am always in power to the best of my ability”
Paul says that he has all “exercised strength” (ischuō) in the empowerment or strengthening (endunamoō). The word Messiah doesn’t appear in the LXX_WH as well as some other Greek texts. What Paul is telling us is that he is in control of his mind and emotions. He can be happy when poor or happy when deficient, just as well as being happy when rich and full. He is always in power of his own attitude. Because of our English translations and the fact that people take sentences out of context, people have tried to apply this verse to anything and everything. By doing this we miss the entire point that we should be applying in our lives, which is to always to be content. The context is Paul speaking of having the right attitude whether the Philippians send him money or not. His point is that he’s not asking, he is content, and they do not have to feel bad for not sending money to him.
Paul is writing to remind the Philippians of their behavior, imitating the apostles, disciples, and Paul himself. He is suggesting that they focus on the good things in life and spend their time thinking on those things, not on the negative things that happen. He tells them to stretch toward and strive for the prize of the downward change of the upward summons of the out resurrection. This is what they/we should think on, and work towards in our personal lives. We are not to be weighed down by those who reject Jesus Messiah and his cross. People will reject Jesus from our own families, friends, and co-workers, and while it is a loss for them we move forward. Jesus came to throw a sword, not peace, and Paul experienced that in his own life. We are no different. Our heritage doesn’t count for anything. Neither does our Bible College degree. What is important is the superior knowledge of Yahweh Jesus Messiah, everything else is dung. Stretch for the prize.
