The Meaning of Philippians 4:1 Explained

Philippians 4:1

KJV: Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

YLT: So then, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand ye in the Lord, beloved.

Darby: So that, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, thus stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

ASV: Wherefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore,  my  brethren  dearly beloved  and  longed for,  my  joy  and  crown,  so  stand fast  in  the Lord,  [my] dearly beloved. 

What does Philippians 4:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The key word "Therefore" (Gr. hoste) and the repetition of "stand firm" (cf. Philippians 1:27) point to a conclusion of the main subject. This verse begins the rather drawn out conclusion of the letter. The apostle did not want his readers to lose their balance and tumble spiritually because of bad influences. Instead he wanted them to adopt the mind of Christ as he had and so continue with him in the partnership of the gospel. He proceeded to explain how to live until the Lord returns.
Paul"s strong affection for the Philippian Christians comes through very clearly in this verse. This is one of the warmest expressions of affection for his readers that we have in Paul"s inspired writings. He called them "brethren" four times ( Philippians 1:12; Philippians 3:1; Philippians 3:17; Philippians 4:8), "beloved" twice ( Philippians 2:12 and here), and "beloved brethren" once (here). Again he affirmed his desire to visit Philippi and see them again (cf. Philippians 1:8; Philippians 2:24). Moreover he referred to them as his present source of joy and his future crown when he would stand before the judgment seat of Christ. He would receive a reward for establishing them in the faith. [1]
In this section on walking steadfastly ( Philippians 3:1 to Philippians 4:1) Paul urged his readers to rejoice in the Lord and warned them about false teaching of two kinds that would limit their joy. On the one hand, there was teaching from Judaizers, some of whom may have been Christians but most of whom were probably not. These false teachers wanted to limit the Philippians" legitimate liberty by persuading them to submit to laws that God did not intend to govern them. On the other hand, there were antinomians, many of whom seem to have been believers but some of whom may not have been. They were urging the abandonment of legitimate law and were advocating self-indulgence. Paul"s example in the middle section of chapter3 ( Philippians 4:4-16) provides a path that leads us safely between these extremes (cf. Galatians 5).
Standing firm involves living in harmony with one another ( Philippians 4:2-3), rejoicing on all occasions ( Philippians 4:4-7), and developing the quality of sweet reasonableness ( Philippians 4:8-9). This is clear because three imperatives in the Greek text explain "so stand firm" or "stand firm thus" (Gr. houtos).

Context Summary

Philippians 4:1-9 - Inspiring Exhortations
What a strong and faithful heart was Paul's! Poor and despised though he was, he had both joys and crowns of which no hostile force could deprive him. He lived in the encompassing atmosphere of eternity, as we may. Surely these two Christian women could not have withstood this tender exhortation; and all his fellow-workers must have been heartened by the thought that their names were dear to Christ, and entered in the birthday book of the twice-born.
Joy and peace are the subjects of the next paragraph. How wonderful that these struggling little churches were drinking of springs of which the princes and citizens of Greece and Rome knew nothing. Note the conditions. We must be moderate in our ambitions and gentle in our behavior. We must ever practice the presence of our Lord-He is always at hand. We must turn over all causes of anxiety to the Father's infinite care and leave them with Him. We must thank Him for the past, and count on Him for the future. While we pray, the Angel of Peace will descend to stand as sentry at our heart's door. But we must possess the God of peace as well as the peace of God-the one condition being that we must earnestly pursue all things that are true, just, pure, and lovely. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 4

1  From particular admonitions,
4  he proceeds to general exhortations,
10  showing how he rejoiced at their generosity toward him while in prison
19  And so he concludes with prayer and salutations

Greek Commentary for Philippians 4:1

Longed for [επιποτητοι]
Late and rare verbal adjective (here alone in N.T.) from επιποτεω — epipotheō [source]
So stand fast [ουτο στηκετε]
Present active imperative of στηκω — stēkō (late present from perfect εστηκα — hestēka from ιστημι — histēmi). See Phlippians 1:27. They were tempted to defection. Standing firm is difficult when a panic starts. [source]
Longed for [ἐπιπόθητοι]
Only here in the New Testament. Compare I long for you, Phlippians 1:8; and for kindred words see 2 Corinthians 7:7; Romans 15:23. [source]
Joy and crown [χαρὰ καὶ στέφανος]
Nearly the same phrase occurs 1 Thessalonians 2:19. The Philippian converts are his chaplet of victory, showing that he has not run in vain, Phlippians 2:16. For crown, see on Revelation 4:4; see on 1 Peter 5:4. [source]
So stand fast []
As I have exhorted, and have borne myself in the conflict which you saw and heard to be in me, Phlippians 1:30. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Philippians 4:1

1 Timothy 1:12 Hath enabled [ἐνδυναμώσαντι]
An unclassical word, found in Paul and Acts. See Acts 9:22; Philippians 4:13. Three times in the Pastorals. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 4:1 mean?

Therefore brothers of me beloved and longed for [the] joy crown in this way stand firm in [the] Lord beloved
Ὥστε ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοὶ καὶ ἐπιπόθητοι χαρὰ στέφανός οὕτως στήκετε ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀγαπητοί

ἀδελφοί  brothers 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀγαπητοὶ  beloved 
Parse: Adjective, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀγαπητός  
Sense: beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love.
ἐπιπόθητοι  longed  for 
Parse: Adjective, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐπιπόθητος  
Sense: longed for.
χαρὰ  [the]  joy 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Feminine Singular
Root: χαρά  
Sense: joy, gladness.
στέφανός  crown 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: στέφανοσ2  
Sense: a crown.
οὕτως  in  this  way 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
στήκετε  stand  firm 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: στήκω  
Sense: to stand firm.
Κυρίῳ  [the]  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
ἀγαπητοί  beloved 
Parse: Adjective, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀγαπητός  
Sense: beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love.