Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

Philp. 4:19 Now my God shall fill up the deficiency for your every need [logistical grace support]
according to His wealth [infinite supply of divine investment capital] in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philp. 4:20 Now to God, even our Father, glory unto the Ages of the Ages [eternity future].
Acknowledge it.
Philp. 4:21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren [those who didn’t peel-off from Bible
doctrine] who are together with me [supergrace spiritual rapport] salute you.
Philp. 4:22 All the saints [other believers in Rome] salute you, especially those from Caesar’s palace
[VIPs and slaves].
Philp. 4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your [human] spirit.
Introduction
Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, was particularly interested in the gold and
silver mines of nearby Pangaeus, so he annexed the entire region and in 356 B.C. formally
established Philippi as a city bearing his own name. (P. O’Brien) It was also strategically important
to him since it commanded the land route to the Hellespont (Dardanelles) and Bosporus, and so
across into Asia. (F.F. Bruce) After the battle of Actium in 31 B.C. Augustus transported a large
number of Roman veterans to the colony and raised the status of Philippi by granting it the so-called
“jus Italicum” which placed it on a par with the Roman colonies of Italy. Philippi regarded itself as
being an entirely Roman city. Its citizens were Roman citizens who enjoyed all the rights of such.
(R. Lenski) In Paul’s day, although not the capital of the province, Philippi was a leading city and an
important stopping place on the Via Egnatia, the recently constructed military road linking
Byzantium with the Adriatic ports that led to Italy. (P. O’Brien)
Philippi, in northeastern Greece, was the first major center where Paul preached the gospel in
Europe. (P. O’Brien) The church at Philippi was anxious over Paul’s welfare. They were afraid that
his ministry might be over and that he might even be martyred by the Roman government officials
Paul had to assure them that God was in control. They needed a change of perspective. (R.
Gromacki) It was Paul’s custom to seek out the synagogue in each city he encountered on his
missionary journeys. But when Paul came into Philippi, he evidently found no synagogue where
faithful Jews gathered together who were looking for the redemption of Israel. Rather, he found a
small group of women meeting by the riverside. We find that Paul came to them and began his
ministry to the European continent in the most inauspicious circumstances. (J. Pentecost) The first
convert, Lydia, strange as it may seem, came from that Asia where Paul had been forbidden to
preach. She, with her household, was the firstfuits of Philippi unto Christ. (B. Caffin)