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Commentary on Philippians 4 verses 20–23
The apostle concludes the epistle in these verses,
1.With praises to God: Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever, Amen, Phi 4:20. Observe, (1.) God is to be considered by us as our Father: Now unto God and our Father. It is a great condescension and favour in God to own the relation of Father to sinners, and allow us to say to him, Our Father; and it is a title peculiar to the gospel dispensation. It is also a great privilege and encouragement to us to consider him as our Father, as one so nearly related and who bears so tender an affection towards us. We should look upon God, under all our weaknesses and fears, not as a tyrant or an enemy, but as a Father, who is disposed to pity us and help us. (2.) We must ascribe glory to God as a Father, the glory of his own excellence and of all his mercy unto us. We must thankfully own the receipt of all from him, and give the praise of all to him. And our praise must be constant and perpetual; it must be glory for ever and ever.
2.With salutations to his friends at Philippi: "Salute every saint in Christ Jesus (Phi 4:21); give my hearty love to all the Christians in your parts." He desires remembrances not only to the bishops and deacons, and the church in general, but to every particular saint. Paul had a kind affection to all good Christians.
3.He sends salutations from those who were at Rome: "The brethren who are with me salute you; the ministers, and all the saints here, send their affectionate remembrances to you. Chiefly those who are of Caesar's household; the Christian converts who belonged to the emperor's court." Observe, (1.) There were saints in Caesar's household. Though Paul was imprisoned at Rome, for preaching the gospel, by the emperor's command, yet there were some Christians in his own family. The gospel early obtained among some of the rich and great. Perhaps the apostle fared the better, and received some favour, by means of his friends at court. (2.) Chiefly those, etc. Observe, They, being bred at court, were more complaisant than the rest. See what an ornament to religion sanctified civility is.
4.The apostolical benediction, as usual: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen. The free favour and good will of Christ be your portion and happiness."
Here he makes no distinction [as in 4:19] but prays to both our God and our Father. He calls upon God on account of awe. He calls upon the Father for the sake of honor and because every beginning is from him.
"Now unto our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever. Amen." For the glory of which he speaks belongs not only to the Son, but to the Father too, for when the Son is glorified, then is the Father also. For when he said, This is done to the glory of Christ, lest any one should suppose that it is to His glory alone, he continued, "Unto our God and Father be the glory," that glory which is paid to the Son.
Here he praises the Father alone, whereas elsewhere he praises the Son alone. … He does not divide the Son from the Father or the Father from the Son. He offers the hymn to the divine nature as a whole.
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SUMMARY
Philippians 4:20 is a profound doxology, a spontaneous and heartfelt outburst of praise from the Apostle Paul to God the Father. This verse serves as a fitting capstone to Paul's preceding discourse on contentment in all circumstances and his deep gratitude for the Philippian church's generous financial support. It encapsulates his theology of divine provision and faithfulness, culminating in an eternal declaration of glory to the one who is the ultimate source of all good things, affirming God's supreme worthiness of unending adoration.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Philippians 4:20 is a prime example of a Doxology, a literary and theological device used to express praise and glory to God. It is a concise and formal statement of worship, often found at the conclusion of a letter or a section of teaching, as it is here. The phrase "for ever and ever" employs Hyperbole to emphasize the unending nature of God's glory, using an idiom that literally means "unto the ages of ages" to convey infinite duration. This rhetorical device underscores the boundless and timeless quality of divine majesty. Furthermore, the use of "Amen" at the conclusion functions as a powerful Affirmation, a direct and emphatic declaration of truth and fervent desire. It seals the doxology with a sense of finality and absolute conviction, inviting the reader to join in the solemn declaration.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This doxology is a powerful theological statement affirming God's ultimate sovereignty, self-sufficiency, and inherent worthiness of all praise. It teaches that true gratitude for divine provision and faithfulness culminates in the ascription of glory to God, not merely for what He does, but for who He is. The eternal nature of this glory underscores God's unchanging character and His position as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of all things. It reminds believers that their ultimate purpose is to live lives that reflect and magnify this eternal glory, acknowledging that all blessings flow from Him and ultimately return to Him in praise. This perspective transforms human experience, shifting focus from earthly needs and circumstances to the transcendent reality of God's eternal majesty.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Philippians 4:20 serves as a profound call to cultivate a life of perpetual praise and thanksgiving, regardless of our circumstances. Paul, writing from prison, exemplifies how a heart fixed on God's character and faithfulness can overflow with doxology even amidst trials. This verse challenges us to shift our perspective from focusing on what we lack or what troubles us, to recognizing God's unchanging nature and His unfailing provision. It encourages us to make the giving of glory to God the ultimate purpose of our existence, allowing every blessing and every challenge to draw us into deeper worship. When we truly grasp that God is "our Father" and worthy of "glory for ever and ever," our worries diminish, our gratitude deepens, and our lives become a testament to His goodness, reflecting His light in a world that desperately needs to see His glory.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does Paul offer this doxology specifically at this point in his letter?
Answer: Paul's doxology in Philippians 4:20 is a direct and natural response to the Philippians' generous financial support and, more importantly, to God's faithful provision. In the preceding verses (Philippians 4:10-19), Paul expresses deep gratitude for their gift, not just for his own needs, but as "fruit that increases to your credit" (Philippians 4:17). He then declares with confidence, "my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). This doxology is the theological culmination of that thought—a spontaneous outburst of praise to the ultimate source of all provision and blessing, acknowledging that all good things come from God and all glory belongs to Him.
What is the significance of the phrase "for ever and ever"?
Answer: The phrase "for ever and ever" (Greek: eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn) is the strongest possible idiom in the Greek New Testament to express eternity and unending duration. It literally translates to "unto the ages of ages." Its significance in Philippians 4:20 is to emphasize that the glory due to God is not temporary, circumstantial, or limited by human time or understanding. It is an eternal, perpetual, and unchanging reality. This reinforces God's immutability and His supreme worthiness of worship throughout all time and beyond, highlighting that His glory is not contingent on human recognition but is an inherent aspect of His divine being.
What does the concluding "Amen" add to this doxology?
Answer: The word "Amen" (from Hebrew, meaning "firm," "trustworthy," or "so be it") serves as a powerful and solemn affirmation. In Philippians 4:20, it functions as Paul's emphatic endorsement of the preceding declaration of praise. It signifies his absolute conviction in the truth that God is indeed worthy of eternal glory and expresses a fervent desire that this be so. It invites the reader to join in this affirmation, making the doxology not just a personal expression of Paul's worship but a communal declaration of faith and adoration. It seals the statement with certainty and finality.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Philippians 4:20 directly ascribes glory to "God and our Father," its fulfillment is profoundly Christ-centered, as it is through Jesus Christ that we know the Father and are enabled to offer Him true glory. Jesus is the perfect revelation of the Father's glory, being "the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature" (Hebrews 1:3). It is through Christ that we, as believers, have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18), and it is in His name that our prayers and praises are acceptable to God (Colossians 3:17). Furthermore, Christ Himself is worthy of eternal glory, as seen in the heavenly worship where "every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'" (Revelation 5:13). Thus, the eternal glory ascribed to God the Father in Philippians 4:20 is understood and experienced most fully within the context of God's redemptive plan, perfectly accomplished and revealed in Jesus Christ, who both mediates our worship and shares in the Father's unending glory.