Philippians 3:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When sorrows and cares excessively oppress the soul, they take away its strength. Therefore Paul encourages the Philippians, who were in great sorrow. They sorrowed because they did not know Paul's circumstances. They sorrowed because they thought him dead. They sorrowed over the preaching and over Epaphroditus. Having given them satisfactory news about all this, he adds: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice." Now, he says, you have no reason to sorrow. Epaphroditus, over whom you grieved, is with you. Timothy is with you also, and I am coming. The Gospel is prospering. What then is lacking to you? "Rejoice." The Apostle calls the Galatians children, Gal. 4:19, but these he calls brethren. When he wishes either to correct something or to show special love, he calls them children.

"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." Since the Philippians were in sorrow, not knowing the state of Paul's affairs, the condition of the preaching, or the state of Epaphroditus's illness, he resolved all this. He said that the preaching was prospering, that he was coming to them, and that Epaphroditus had already been sent. Therefore the Apostle Paul says: finally, rejoice, because there is no longer any reason not to rejoice. He calls the Galatians children, since they needed correction. He calls the Philippians brethren, since he treats them with respect. He said well, "in the Lord," because worldly joy is not joy. In the Lord even sorrows bring joy. Or, since the Lord has eased our affairs, rejoice. "To write the same things to you is not burdensome for me, but for you it is safe." Having first set forth many praises, he begins to give exhortation, so as not to seem severe from the very beginning.

What is joy “in the Lord” (Phil. 3:1), and after doing what should we rejoice? Answer: Rejoicing over what has been done according to the Lord’s commandment, to the glory of God, is joy in the Lord. Therefore, when we fulfill the Lord’s commandments, or endure anything for the Lord’s name, then we ought to rejoice and rejoice together with one another.

After this, that is, after he had established and strengthened them to endure the great persecution of their pursuers, he turns to exhort them also to beware of the evil teachings of the Jews. I do not delay, he says, to write to you about what must be avoided, and to guard you from those who appear daily to trouble you.

The Apostle shows his concern when he speaks of their progress in the faith. It is not burdensome to him to write to them about what is for their benefit.

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.” Be filled with every spiritual gladness. “To write the same things to you is not irksome to me, and for you it is safe.” He did not write another epistle to them, but in this one epistle he set forth many instructions.

"To write the same things to you is not burdensome for me, but for you it is safe." St. Polycarp of Smyrna, in his Epistle to the Philippians, chapter 3, gives reason to suppose that he knew several Epistles of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians. On the basis of this indication, it is usually supposed that the expression "to write the same things," τὰ αυ̉τά γράφειν, should be understood as the Apostle Paul's own reference to several Epistles to the Philippians. But as St. Polycarp's testimony is very indefinite, so also the Apostle Paul's expression is more rightly referred to oral teaching than to preceding Epistles. The Apostle speaks as though saying: it is not hard for me to say and write the same thing to you several times, because this serves for your confirmation. "Safe" is α̉σφαλές. The Syriac translation says: so that you may be more cautious.

Warnings With Applied Lessons. A warning against Judaizers, Phil. 3:1-3. The Apostle begins his exhortatory warning by pointing to the vanity and absurdity of Jewish false teachings in their theoretical foundations. For who are the truly circumcised? Certainly those "who worship God in spirit, glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh," Phil. 3:3. What, then, must be said of those stubborn and malicious people who keep trying to tear the Philippians away from Jesus Christ? They still hope to drag them back again to Judaism. They are "evil workers," with their pitiful "mutilation," that is, circumcision. They must be guarded against like "dogs" seeking to disorder and tear apart the flock of God, Phil. 3:2.

This verse has the closest relation to everything preceding, so that it would seem fitting for it to stand at the end of the preceding chapter. Yet it also has significance for what follows, which serves as an addition to the essential thoughts and feelings already expressed. The Apostle wished joyfully to share his apostolic circumstances, so that through this he might awaken joy in the Philippians also. Yet at the same time he had to mention burdensome circumstances, for example the mortal danger to Epaphroditus's life. Then he also had to express severe warnings. This is why the Apostle says: finally, rejoice. Since joy had been spoken of many times, 1:4; 2:2, 18; 4:4, he adds that it is not hard for him to speak of this, and that for them it is useful. According to St.

Concluding the preceding section of the epistle with a call to joy in the Lord, the Apostle turns to a new matter that caused him great concern. This was the possible appearance among the Philippians of Judaizing false teachers. He had already told the Philippians about this danger before. Now he is not weary of writing to them again about the same thing, in view of the special benefit readers receive from these frequent warnings.

"Sorrows and cares, when they oppress the soul excessively, take away its strength. Therefore Paul encourages the Philippians, who were in great sorrow. They sorrowed because they did not know Paul's circumstances. They sorrowed because they thought him dead. They sorrowed over the preaching and over Epaphroditus. Having given them satisfactory news about all this, he adds: 'Finally, my brethren, rejoice.' Now, he says, you have no reason to sorrow. Epaphroditus, over whom you grieved, is with you. Timothy will soon be with you also. I am coming, and the Gospel is prospering. What else is lacking to you? Rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord. He said well, 'in the Lord,' not with worldly joy. For that is not rejoicing. The very sorrows for Christ, he says, contain joy," St. Chrysostom.