Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis
Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis
A, from supergrace A to B, and from supergrace B to ultra-supergrace. There is discipline and testing along the way, no matter where you fall on the growth spectrum, depending on whether you pass or fail certain tests. In order to progress, we all must pass our own individually tailored tests with flying colors. Many commentators focus on the material aspects of this verse to the exclusion of the spiritual. They understand being hungry or being stuffed, being rich or being poor, having a good job or being unemployed. But this entire set of metaphors is meant to show spiritual realities, not just physical realities. Bible doctrine is our daily bread; Bible doctrine is our prosperity. Sometimes it is available in great supply, but at other times it is hard to come by. Sometimes we are learning, but at other times we are applying. Sometimes we are making forward momentum, but at other times we are stumbling. Sometimes we are under corrective discipline, but at other times we are passing momentum tests. We have to learn how to operate spiritually in all manner of circumstances with the divine resources we have been given by the Lord. REVELANT OPINIONS The apostle is not simply stating that he has experienced life at both ends of the economic spectrum, though this was true enough. Rather, he is explaining that he knows how to live in an appropriate manner under these contrasting circumstances. Because he has the right attitude he has learned to cope in a positive way ... But in order to drive home the point that he knows the one secret as well as the other, Paul breaks the normal construction by the emphatic repetition of “oida.” He also knows how to cope with abundance. Not all of his life was characterized by financial hardship; there were times when he experienced great prosperity, and in these circumstances, too, he knew how to be content. (P. O’Brien) Prosperity is wont to puff up the mind beyond measure, and adversity, on the other hand, to depress. From both faults he declares himself to be free. (J. Calvin) All I want is a room with a comfortable bed, and a desk and a lamp where I can study. (J. McGee) He did not rejoice over the amount of the gift. He rejoiced more in their thoughtfulness than in their money. He was more grateful for the givers than for the gifts. (R. Gromacki) "To learn a secret" is as old as women's gossip. (R.C.H. Lenski) “To be full” is used of force-feeding animals for the purpose of fattening them up, or of birds gorging themselves on their prey. (G.F. Hawthorne) It is often easier to know how to be abased than to know how to abound. We may be in greater danger when our prayers are answered than when the answer is withheld ... Paul has been initiated in the experience of both need and abundance, and has known how to bear either lot with safety. This he had been able to do, not through any Stoic superiority to the things of this life, nor yet through any force of natural character, but in the power in which his whole life was now being lived, the strength given by union with Jesus Christ. (V. Hutton) Paul was so advanced a believer that God gave him perpetual suffering, which the great apostle carried on his shoulders like a pleroma cloak of honor. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.) Some divine blessings involve prosperity; others come in the guise of adversity. The believer can be grateful for whatever he has in whatever state he finds himself. This tranquility of soul is derived
from his personal love for God, for when a Christian loves the One who gives, he appreciates His gifts. “Contentment,” or sharing the happiness of God, is the problem-solving device directed toward self. This inner happiness characterizes all three stages of spiritual adulthood, increasing in strength with the attainment of each successive stage ... The advancing believer began to share the happiness of God upon entering spiritual adulthood. Now in spiritual maturity, his happiness is fulfilled or complete. Suffering, which would normally be difficult, becomes relatively easy through residual happiness in the soul. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.) Taking the extremes of the best and worst in life demonstrates the capability, stability, and confidence of spiritual maturity. (ibid) When the believer has come to share the happiness of God through Bible doctrine, he does not require or depend on overt blessings to sustain his happiness. His state of happiness does not hinge on money, success, promotion, marriage, or the approbation of others. Whether people appreciate him or not is inconsequential to his happiness. Since the believer who enjoys a mature relationship with God does not need any other special blessings, God can give such blessings to him. God can prosper the happy believer precisely because he will not base his happiness on the prosperity that God gives him. The details of life will not distract the mature believer from his first priority – his personal love for God through the intake and application of Bible doctrine. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.) Philp. 4:12 In fact (emphatic), I have come to know (oi=da, Perf.AI1S, Consummative; as the result of my past recovery from reversionism) how to be humbled (tapeino,w, PPInf., Dramatic, Result; by divine discipline: Charlie grace); I have also (adjunctive) come to know (oi=da, Perf.AI1S, Consummative) how to live in extreme abundance (perisseu,w, PAInf., Dramatic, Conceived Result; in supergrace prosperity). In every place (Loc. Place; geographical location) and (connective) in every circumstance (Loc. Time; occurance or action: bad or good) I have been completely initiated (mue,w, Perf.PI1S, Consummative; learned the secret of the mysteries - by momentum testing or reversion recovery), both (adjunctive) to be satisfied (corta,zw, PAInf., Durative, blending of Purpose & Result; to eat one's fill, gorged with food and drink, grass & hay intended for livestock, to be well fed & saturated with Bible doctrine) and (connective) to hunger (peina,w, PAInf., Durative, Intended Result; to hunger for more spiritual food, Bible doctrine, which leads to ultra-supergrace status), both (adjunctive) to have more than enough (perisseu,w, PAInf., Perfective, Result; Bible doctrine is coming out of his ears) and (connective) to be lacking (u`stere,w, PPInf., Customary, Intended Result; not yet in ultra-supergrace). WHO Philippians 4:12 oi=da kai. tapeinou/sqai oi=da kai. perisseu,ein\ evn panti. kai. evn pa/sin memu,hmai kai. corta,zesqai kai. peina/n kai. perisseu,ein kai. u`sterei/sqai\
- Page 165 and 166: (J. Pentecost) Spiritual self-satis
- Page 167 and 168: KJV Philippians 3:14 I press toward
- Page 169 and 170: Philp. 3:14 I keep on advancing (di
- Page 171 and 172: teaching sinless perfection. Paul t
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- Page 179 and 180: is pleasing to them. They have beco
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- Page 183 and 184: Obj.) are (ellipsis) earthly (Acc.
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- Page 187 and 188: dynasphere" during the church age.
- Page 189 and 190: Philp. 3:21 Who (Subj. Nom.) shall
- Page 191 and 192: that they rarely (if ever) are a de
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- Page 195 and 196: WHO Philippians 4:2 Euvodi,an parak
- Page 197 and 198: gladiatorial arena) in (for) the Go
- Page 199 and 200: grace support, that extra supply of
- Page 201 and 202: instance (proseukea) means petition
- Page 203 and 204: emedies include reason (but anxiety
- Page 205 and 206: combined expression then refers to
- Page 207 and 208: commands (Imperative mood) all beli
- Page 209 and 210: WHO Philippians 4:8 To. loipo,n avd
- Page 211 and 212: (connective) learned (manqa,nw, AAI
- Page 213 and 214: WHO Philippians 4:10 VEca,rhn de. e
- Page 215: esult of passing providential preve
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- Page 221 and 222: LWB Philp. 4:15 Now you Philippians
- Page 223 and 224: VUL Philippians 4:16 quia et Thessa
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from his personal love for God, for when a Christian loves the One who gives, he appreciates His<br />
gifts. “Contentment,” or sharing the happiness of God, is the problem-solving device directed toward<br />
self. This inner happiness characterizes all three stages of spiritual adulthood, increasing in strength<br />
with the attainment of each successive stage ... The advancing believer began to share the happiness<br />
of God upon entering spiritual adulthood. Now in spiritual maturity, his happiness is fulfilled or<br />
complete. Suffering, which would normally be difficult, becomes relatively easy through residual<br />
happiness in the soul. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.) Taking the extremes of the best and worst in life<br />
demonstrates the capability, stability, and confidence of spiritual maturity. (ibid)<br />
When the believer has come to share the happiness of God through Bible doctrine, he does not<br />
require or depend on overt blessings to sustain his happiness. His state of happiness does not hinge<br />
on money, success, promotion, marriage, or the approbation of others. Whether people appreciate<br />
him or not is inconsequential to his happiness. Since the believer who enjoys a mature relationship<br />
with God does not need any other special blessings, God can give such blessings to him. God can<br />
prosper the happy believer precisely because he will not base his happiness on the prosperity that<br />
God gives him. The details of life will not distract the mature believer from his first priority – his<br />
personal love for God through the intake and application of Bible doctrine. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.)<br />
Philp. 4:12 In fact (emphatic), I have come to know (oi=da,<br />
Perf.AI1S, Consummative; as the result of my past recovery<br />
from reversionism) how to be humbled (tapeino,w, PPInf.,<br />
Dramatic, Result; <strong>by</strong> divine discipline: Charlie grace); I<br />
have also (adjunctive) come to know (oi=da, Perf.AI1S,<br />
Consummative) how to live in extreme abundance (perisseu,w,<br />
PAInf., Dramatic, Conceived Result; in supergrace<br />
prosperity). In every place (Loc. Place; geographical<br />
location) and (connective) in every circumstance (Loc. Time;<br />
occurance or action: bad or good) I have been completely<br />
initiated (mue,w, Perf.PI1S, Consummative; learned the secret<br />
of the mysteries - <strong>by</strong> momentum testing or reversion<br />
recovery), both (adjunctive) to be satisfied (corta,zw,<br />
PAInf., Durative, blending of Purpose & Result; to eat one's<br />
fill, gorged with food and drink, grass & hay intended for<br />
livestock, to be well fed & saturated with Bible doctrine)<br />
and (connective) to hunger (peina,w, PAInf., Durative, Intended<br />
Result; to hunger for more spiritual food, Bible doctrine,<br />
which leads to ultra-supergrace status), both (adjunctive) to<br />
have more than enough (perisseu,w, PAInf., Perfective, Result;<br />
Bible doctrine is coming out of his ears) and (connective) to<br />
be lacking (u`stere,w, PPInf., Customary, Intended Result; not<br />
yet in ultra-supergrace).<br />
WHO <strong>Philippians</strong> 4:12 oi=da kai. tapeinou/sqai oi=da kai. perisseu,ein\ evn panti. kai. evn pa/sin<br />
memu,hmai kai. corta,zesqai kai. peina/n kai. perisseu,ein kai. u`sterei/sqai\
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