philippians 4

Read Philippians 4 at Bible Gateway.

Phi 1:1-4:23 chiastic structure:

1a) Phi 1:1-2, Greetings + grace of the Lord Jesus Christ;

1b.1) Phi 1:3-4, Opening affirmations: thanksgiving + prayer, making request before God;

1b.2) Phi 1:5-8, Opening affirmations: the Philippians’ fellowship with Paul in the gospel;

1b.3) Phi 1:9-11a, Opening affirmations: approve the things that are excellent;

1a) Phi 1:9, I pray that your love may abound in knowledge and all discernment;
central axis) Phi 1:10a, That you may approve the things that are excellent;
2a) Phi 1:10b-11a, Sincere + without offense + filled with the fruit of righteousness until the day of Christ;

1b.4) Phi 1:11b, Opening affirmations: to the glory and praise of God;

1c) Phi 1:12-17, Paul’s chains in defense of the gospel known to all men;

1d) Phi 1:18-26, Rejoicing in Christ;

1a) Phi 1:18, Christ preached, whether in pretense or in truth + rejoicing in Christ;
1b) Phi 1:19a, This will turn out for my deliverance;
1c) Phi 1:19b, Through your prayer;
central axis) Phi 1:19c, The supply of the Spirit of Christ;
2c) Phi 1:20a, According to my earnest expectation and hope;
2b) Phi 1:20b, That in nothing I shall be ashamed;
2a) Phi 1:20c-26, Christ magnified, whether by life or by death + rejoicing in Christ;

1e) Phi 1:27-2:11, Stand fast in one spirit, being like-minded in all humility;

1a) Phi 1:27-28, The worthy gospel;
1b) Phi 1:29-30, Philippians’ suffering for Christ’s sake;
1c) Phi 2:1-2, Be like- minded in Christ;
1d) Phi 2:3a, Do not do anything through selfish ambition or conceit;
central axis) Phi 2:3b, But in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself;
2d) Phi 2:4, Do look out, not only for self interest, but also the interests of others;
2c) Phi 2:5, Have this mind, which was in Christ;
2b) Phi 2:6-8, Christ’s suffering for our sake;
2a) Phi 2:9-11, The worthy Messiah;

1f) Phi 2:12-13, Work out your own salvation with fear + trembling/ God working in you to obey Him;

1g.1) Phi 2:14, Do all things without complaining or disputing;

1g.2) Phi 2:15-16, As children of God, lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life;

1h) Phi 2:17a, Paul’s life being poured out as a sacrifice to establish the faith of the church;

1i) Phi 2:17b-18, Paul’s rejoicing in being used for this purpose /church also to rejoice;

central axis) Phi 2:19-28a, Ministers of proven character sent to the church;

2i) Phi 2:28b-29, Receive these men with gladness and rejoice when you see them;

2h) Phi 2:30, For the work of Christ, he came close to death, not regarding his own life;

2g.1) Phi 3:1, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord;

2g.2) Phi 3:2-3, Beware of evil workers promoting mutilation, for we take no confidence in the flesh;

2f) Phi 3:4-21, Pressing on to know Him/ be conformed to His death + His life;

1a.1) Phi 3:4-9, Earthly things counted as rubbish for the excellence of knowing Christ;
1a.2) Phi 3:10a, That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection;
1a.3) Phi 3:10b-11, Being conformed to His death that I may be conformed to His life;
1b) Phi 3:12a, Not that I have already attained but I press on;
central axis) Phi 3:12b, That I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me;
2b) Phi 3:13-14, I do not count myself to have apprehended but I press toward the goal;
2a.1) Phi 3:15-19, Earthly things exalted by enemies of the cross;
2a.2) Phi 3:20, Our citizenship is in heaven from where we wait for our Savior;
2a.3) Phi 3:21, Who will transform our lowly body to conform to His glorious one;

2e) Phi 4:1-3, Stand fast in the Lord, helping the women to be of the same mind;

2d) Phi 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice;

2c) Phi 4:5, Let your gentleness be known to all men, the Lord is at hand;

2b.1) Phi 4:6, Closing admonitions: thanksgiving + prayer, making request before God;

2b.3) Phi 4:7-9, Closing admonitions: meditate on the things which are true and of good report;

1a) Phi 4:7a, The peace of God which passes understanding;
1b) Phi 4:7b, Will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus;
central axis) Phi 4:8, Whatever things are true and of a good report, meditate on these things;
2b) Phi 4:9a, The things which you learned and saw in me, do;
2a) Phi 4:9b, And the God of peace will be with you;

2b.2) Phi 4:10-19, Closing admonitions: the Philippians’ care in giving to Paul in the gospel;

2b.4) Phi 4:20, Closing admonitions: now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen;

2a) Phi 4:21-23, Greetings + grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.