Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

A victorious runner in the Greek games received a festive garland on his head. At the Judgment Seat
of Christ, believers will receive different crowns for distinctive achievements. To the apostle, the
Philippian believers represented his joy of victory because he knew that his race and labor in
Philippi had not been in vain. (R. Gromacki) Even as Paul writes of the Christian’s warfare, Paul
says that the practical outcome for the Christian is not so much to advance into battle as to stand.
God does not tell us to march into battle or to conquer. He tells us to stand, and the implication of
that command is that God has already done or is doing the conquering. We are only to hold the
ground He conquers. (J. Boice) Paul’s rejoicing in the day of examination will come from the
approval of the Lord Jesus Christ on the race he has run. That which attests the genuineness of his
apostleship and the genuineness of his gospel is the fact that there are groups of believers who have
been regenerated, whose lives are transformed, and who are themselves on their way to glory. (J.
Pentecost)
Always, the pastor-teacher is more spiritually mature than anyone who is under his teaching for any
length of time. No believer can exceed the growth of his right pastor-teacher. The Ultra Cross, or
“wreath of glory” – the highest decoration – is therefore related to the gift and function of the pastor,
even though all believers can win it by attaining ultra-supergrace. The pastor is delighted that those
who listen to his teaching day after day, year after year, are motivated by an enthusiasm for doctrine
that parallels his own. He will receive, as it were, an “oak leaf cluster” affixed to his own Ultra Cross
for every member of his flock whom he leads to ultra-supergrace. He thus anticipates the pleasure of
presenting the mature members of his congregation at the Judgment Seat of Christ and of watching
them receive fantastic riches, vast sections of heaven, and untold eternal blessings. (R.B. Thieme,
Jr.)
We have seen the philosophy of Christian living, the pattern for Christian living, the prize for
Christian living, and now we shall see the power for Christian living. All the others would be
meaningless and useless if there were no power for them. A philosophy of life is no good unless
there is power to carry it out. A pattern is no good unless there is power supplied to have that pattern
in our own lives. A prize is no good if we cannot achieve the goal. Therefore, power is all important.
We will find in this chapter that joy is the source of power; prayer is the secret of power; and
contemplation of Christ is the sanctuary of power. (J. McGee) Escrow blessings for time belong to
the believers whom Scripture identifies as recipients of eternal rewards or crowns, their escrow
blessings for eternity. Distribution of escrow blessings for time and eternity depends on the
believer’s execution of the protocol plan of God in time. Learn Bible doctrine, gain spiritual
momentum, grow up, and attain maturity! (R.B. Thieme, Jr.)
Philp. 4:1 Therefore (inferential), my (Gen. Rel.) brethren
(Voc. Address; non-supergrace believers) and (connective)
beloved ones (Voc. Address; ultra-supergrace believers,
desired ones), my (Poss. Gen.) inner happiness (Nom. Appos.,
relating back to the non-supergrace believers; source of joy)
and (connective) my wreath (Nom. Appos., relating back to the
ultra-supergrace believers; Ultra Cross crown of glory,