Epistle to the Philippians August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel 1 Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1 Phil 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” –Rejoice – chairō, present active imperative – do it now! –A reiteration of Phil 3:1 – “In conclusion, my brethren, be joyful in the Lord. For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while so far as you are concerned it is a safe precaution (Weyland)” + now always. to rejoice; be joyful; be glad; rejoice exceedingly; be well, thrive; in salutations, hail! and in the Lord always – I Thess 5:6 –What’s this always stuff? »at all times, ever And then Paul states that he’ll be saying this again - Again I will say rejoice!

Epistle to the Philippians August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel 2 Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1 –will say – future active indicative –Why do you think Paul is looking to the future here? »To be repeated for emphasis in spite of discouragements? How are you doing at this? –Consider your circumstances, your position, your condition –This is a life not a work! –rejoice is used 77 times in 68 verses in the NT Some representative ones: John 16:22; Acts 11:23; II Cor 7:9; Col 1:24; I Thess 5:6; I Peter 1:8; III John 1:3; Rev 19:7 –This constant rejoicing is a testimony to our citizenship! Phil 4:5 “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord [is] at hand.”

Epistle to the Philippians August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel 3 Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1 –gentleness – seeming, suitable, forbearance, fairness, mildness, reasonableness (ILG), yieldingness, modesty, humility, moderation Moderation in all things? –Also see I Cor 9:25 –From ‘Sayings Not Found in Scripture’ – ‘The phrase, "Moderation in all things," is common extrapolation of Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean (as presented in his Nicomachean Ethics). His ethic works around finding the mean, or middle ground, between excess and deficiency. An example of this would be his presentation of courage being the happy medium between the extreme of rash action and the deficiency of cowardice, in respect to a person's possible action in the face of danger. –It should be noted that Aristotle's ethic is often misundertood by its summary: moderation in all things. It is frequently reasoned by those unfamiliar with context that the common phrase means that a person should approach all things (whether healthy or unhealthy) with moderation; therefore, reasoning that a moderate amount of a bad thing can be indulged is not uncommon to find. This is an inaccurate representation of the perspective summarized in the popular phrase.’

Epistle to the Philippians August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel 4 Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1 –How would you best describe this term and its application to our walk? However you interpret this, we should be a witness to the entire world around us. –Phil 2:15 – ‘that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,’ –James 3:17 – ‘But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.’ –What does a believer who walks in ________ appear? gentleness, forbearance mildness reasonableness (ILG) yieldingness humility moderation

Epistle to the Philippians August 26, 2012 Bob Eckel 5 Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord & the Peace of God #1 –be known – ginoska, passive aorist imperative –The Lord is at hand. at hand – of place and position or of time? –Psalms 45:18 – ‘The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.’ –Acts 17:27 – ‘so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;’ or –James 5:8 – ‘You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.’ –Rev 22:7 – ‘And behold, I am coming soon." Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. (RSV)’ In context, in time seems like the best interpretation although can we ever doubt that the Lord’s presence is both with us and in us? Keep rejoicing no matter what! –And although we exist down here, the view from above is perfect vision and rest – II Cor 3:18