Paul Writes to the Philippians While a Friend Encourages HimBible World
1:4Philippians 1:4
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
At every remembrance of the Philippian believers thanks is given to God, and in every prayer request is made to God for them all with joy, gladness, gratitude, and thankfulness. The joy is connected with their fellowship and partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. It expresses gratitude that they have become converts to the faith and have grown as Christians.
That growth was shown in whole-hearted devotion to Christ and to the cause of their Redeemer, and in high valuing and prizing of the precious truths for which sacrifice had been made. Their steadfastness in faith while facing persecution and while continuing to suffer opposition shows labor in Philippi was not in vain despite much opposition and persecution. They were moved to that devotion by zeal and devotion, and above all by willingness to suffer for Christ's sake, which exerted a deep and lasting influence upon the converts.
The prayers express confidence in and sympathy for people striving against temptation. The joy expresses sincere interest in them following the benediction of grace and peace. The joyful request belongs with thanksgiving at every memory for their partnership, with confidence that God who began a good work in them will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. It belongs with holding them in the heart and longing for them as fellow sharers of grace in bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, and with prayer that their love will abound still more in knowledge and judgment to approve excellent things and be sincere and blameless till the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
The verse is a pattern for all to make their own, especially for ministers to care tenderly for churches newly come to the faith with gratitude and interest and to pray for them with joy. Those churches are to continue in good works and Christlike character so that those who labored for them are able to pray for them with joy.
At every remembrance of the Philippian believers thanks is given to God, and in every prayer request is made to God for them all with joy, gladness, gratitude, and thankfulness. The joy is connected with their fellowship and partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. It expresses gratitude that they have become converts to the faith and have grown as Christians.
That growth was shown in whole-hearted devotion to Christ and to the cause of their Redeemer, and in high valuing and prizing of the precious truths for which sacrifice had been made. Their steadfastness in faith while facing persecution and while continuing to suffer opposition shows labor in Philippi was not in vain despite much opposition and persecution. They were moved to that devotion by zeal and devotion, and above all by willingness to suffer for Christ's sake, which exerted a deep and lasting influence upon the converts.
The prayers express confidence in and sympathy for people striving against temptation. The joy expresses sincere interest in them following the benediction of grace and peace. The joyful request belongs with thanksgiving at every memory for their partnership, with confidence that God who began a good work in them will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. It belongs with holding them in the heart and longing for them as fellow sharers of grace in bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, and with prayer that their love will abound still more in knowledge and judgment to approve excellent things and be sincere and blameless till the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
The verse is a pattern for all to make their own, especially for ministers to care tenderly for churches newly come to the faith with gratitude and interest and to pray for them with joy. Those churches are to continue in good works and Christlike character so that those who labored for them are able to pray for them with joy.