Philemon

The gospel changes a servant into a brother.

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 And to our beloved Apphia, and ^aArchippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

6 That the ^acommunication of thy faith may become ^beffectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the ^abowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech thee for my son ^aOnesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But without thy ^amind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a ^abrother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ^aought, put that on mine account;

 19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

 20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

 21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

 22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your ^aprayers I shall be given unto you.

 23 There salute thee ^aEpaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, ^aDemas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

¶Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus, a servant.

Institute Manual Lesson 43

Bible Dictionary: 

Epistle to Philemon is a private letter about Onesimus, a slave who had robbed his master, Philemon, and run away to Rome. Paul sent him back to his master at Colosse in company with Tychicus the bearer of the epistle to the Colossians. Paul asks that Onesimus be forgiven and received back as a fellow Christian.

Colossians

Chapter 1

Redemption comes through Christ—He created all things, is in the image of God, and is the Firstborn of the Father.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 Since we heard of your ^afaith in Christ Jesus, and of the ^blove which ye have to all the saints,

5 For the ^ahope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the ^bgospel;

6 Which is come unto you, ^aas it is in all the world; and bringeth forth ^bfruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the ^cgrace of God in truth:

7 As ye also learned of ^aEpaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the ^aknowledge of his ^bwill in all wisdom and spiritual ^cunderstanding;

10 That ye might ^awalk ^bworthy of the Lord unto all ^cpleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the ^dknowledge of God;

11 ^aStrengthened with all might, according to his ^bglorious ^cpower, unto all patience and longsuffering with ^djoyfulness;

12 Giving ^athanks unto the Father, which hath ^bmade us meet to be partakers of the ^cinheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of ^adarkness, and hath translated us into the ^bkingdom of his dear ^cSon:

14 In whom we have ^aredemption through his blood, even the ^bforgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the ^aimage of the invisible ^bGod, the ^cfirstborn of ^devery creature:

16 For by him were all ^athings ^bcreated, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or ^cprincipalities, or powers: all things were ^dcreated by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things ^aconsist.

18 And he is the ^ahead of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the ^bfirstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all ^afulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to ^areconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were ^asometime ^balienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through ^adeath, to present you holy and ^bunblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye ^acontinue in the faith ^bgrounded and settled, and be not ^cmoved away from the ^dhope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the ^aafflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the ^adispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the ^amystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made ^bmanifest to his saints:

27 To whom God would make ^aknown what is the ^briches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we ^apreach, ^bwarning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Chapter 2

The fulness of the Godhead dwells in Christ—Beware of being deceived by the traditions of men—The handwriting against us was nailed to the cross of Christ.

1 For I would that ye knew what great ^aconflict I have for you, and for them at ^bLaodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of ^aunderstanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, ^band of the Father, and of Christ;  (?)  JST:

JST Col. 2:2 … and of Christ, who is of God, even the Father.

3 In whom are hid all the ^atreasures of ^bwisdom and ^cknowledge.

4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your ^aorder, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^awalk ye in him:

7 ^aRooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with ^bthanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man ^aspoil you through ^bphilosophy and vain ^cdeceit, after the ^dtradition of men, after the rudiments of the ^eworld, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the ^afulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are ^acomplete in him, which is the head of all ^bprincipality and power:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the ^acircumcision made without hands, in putting off the ^bbody of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 ^aBuried with him in ^bbaptism, wherein also ye are ^crisen with him through the faith of the ^doperation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he ^aquickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 ^aBlotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 Let no man therefore ^ajudge you in ^bmeat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the ^csabbath days: 
[The Mosaic Law was a shadow of things to come]

17 Which are a ^ashadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18 Let no man ^abeguile you of your reward in a voluntary ^bhumility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 And not holding the ^aHead, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 Wherefore if ye be ^adead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ^bordinances,
21 ^a(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the ^acommandments and ^bdoctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Chapter 3

Some lives are hidden with God in Christ—The Saints are told to be holy and to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 If ye then be ^arisen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your ^aaffection on ^bthings ^cabove, not on things on the ^dearth.

3 For ye are ^adead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ?

4 When Christ, who is our ^alife, shall ^bappear, then shall ye also appear with him in ^cglory.

5 ^aMortify therefore your ^bmembers which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, ^cinordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and ^dcovetousness, which is ^eidolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the ^awrath of God cometh on the children of ^bdisobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked ^asome time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also ^aput off all these; ^banger, wrath, ^cmalice, ^dblasphemy, filthy ^ecommunication out of your mouth.

9 ^aLie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the ^bold man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the ^anew man, which is renewed in knowledge after the ^bimage of him that ^ccreated him:

11 Where there is neither ^aGreek nor Jew, ^bcircumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the ^aelect of God, holy and beloved, ^bbowels of ^cmercies, ^dkindness, ^ehumbleness of mind, ^fmeekness, longsuffering;

13 ^aForbearing one another, and ^bforgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on ^acharity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the ^apeace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye ^bthankful.

16 Let the ^aword of Christ dwell in you richly in all ^bwisdom; ^cteaching and admonishing one another in psalms and ^dhymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, ^ado all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving ^bthanks to God and the Father by him.

18 ^aWives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 ^aHusbands, ^blove your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 ^aChildren, ^bobey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 ^aFathers, ^bprovoke not your children to ^canger, lest they be discouraged.

22 ^aServants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in ^bsingleness of heart, ^cfearing God:

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it ^aheartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall ^areceive the ^breward of the ^cinheritance: for ye ^dserve the Lord Christ.

25 But he that doeth ^awrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no ^brespect of persons.

Chapter 4

The Saints are told to be wise in all things—Luke and others greet the Colossians.

1 ^aMasters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a ^bMaster in ^cheaven.

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a ^adoor of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 ^aWalk in ^bwisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6 Let your ^aspeech be alway with grace, seasoned with ^bsalt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9 With ^aOnesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

10 ^aAristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and ^bMarcus, ^csister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the ^acircumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

12 ^aEpaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great ^azeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and ^aDemas, greet you.

15 Salute the brethren which are in ^aLaodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the ^aepistle from Laodicea.

17 And say to ^aArchippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

18 The salutation by the ^ahand of me Paul. Remember my ^bbonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

¶Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-09-9-42.asp

Bible Dictionary:

Epistle to the Colossians was the result of a visit from Epaphras, the evangelist of the Church in Colosse (1:7–8), who reported that the Colossians were falling into serious error, the result of a deep consciousness of sin leading to a desire to attain moral perfection by mechanical means, the careful observance of external ordinances (2:16) and ascetic restrictions (2:20), coupled with special devotion to a host of angelic mediators. The attractiveness of such teaching was due not only to the satisfaction it offered to the craving after sanctification, but also to the show it made of superior wisdom and greater insight into the mysteries of the universe. Paul shows that Christ, in his own person, is the one principle of the unity of the universe, and that sanctification is to be found only through union with him.

Analysis of Colossians

1. Salutation, thanksgiving, and prayer (1:1–13).
2. Doctrinal.
   1. a. Christ, our Redeemer, the author and goal of all creation, the Lord of all divine perfection, in whom is the reconciliation of the universe (1:14–2:5).
   2. b. Hence the importance of union with him (2:6–12).
   3. c. Danger of ceremonialism and of angel worship (2:13–19).
   4. d. Importance of dying and rising again with Christ (2:20–3:4).
3. Exhortation.
   1. a. Every evil inclination to be subdued (3:5–11).
   2. b. We must clothe ourselves in all graces of the Spirit (3:12–17).
   3. c. Social duties to be observed (3:18–4:6).
4. Personal: commendations and greetings (4:7–18).

Philippians

Philippians -- The happiest of St. Paul's writings -- Dummelow

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-09-9-44.asp 

“. . . it is a classic of spiritual autobiography. . . . Philippians reveals the spring of his inward peace and strength. It admits us to St. Paul’s prison meditations and communings with his Master. We watch his spirit ripening through the autumn hours when patience fulfilled in him its perfect work.” (Dummelow, A Commentary on the Holy Bible, p. 969.)

(44-2) Place and Date of Writing

This letter was possibly the last letter Paul wrote during his first imprisonment at Rome. The letter was sent sometime about A.D. 63.

Chapter 1

All that happened to Paul furthered the gospel cause—Our conduct should be worthy of the gospel.

Paul expresses gratitude for the saints at Philippi.  He expresses confidence in their righteousness, and progress.

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. (People looking at/through him -- as through a magnifying glass -- shall see Christ more clearly.)

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Chapter 2

Saints should be of one mind and one spirit—Every knee will bow to Christ—Saints must work out their salvation—Paul faces martyrdom with joy.

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same ^alove, being of ^bone ^caccord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through ^astrife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each ^besteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be  equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a ^aservant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in ^afashion as a man, he ^bhumbled himself, and became ^cobedient unto ^ddeath, even the ^edeath of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly ^aexalted him, and given him a ^bname which is above every name:

10 That at the ^aname of Jesus every ^bknee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is ^aLord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, ^awork out your own ^bsalvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and ^adisputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the ^asons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse ^bnation, among whom ye ^cshine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

17 Yea, and if I be ^aoffered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

21 For all ^aseek their ^bown, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

22 But ye know the ^aproof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you ^aEpaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.   [EE- paf -frO-die-tus]

26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all ^agladness; and ^bhold such in ^creputation:

30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your ^alack of service toward me.

Chapter 3

Paul sacrifices all things for Christ—True ministers set examples of righteousness.

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the ^acircumcision, which ^bworship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the ^cflesh.

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an ^aHebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a ^bPharisee;  [his credentials as a member of the house of Israel, but they are not what saves him]

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have ^asuffered the ^bloss of all things, and do count them but ^cdung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the ^arighteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the ^afellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Is he saying in 11 and 12  that just as he can't resurrect himself, even so, he cannot perfect himself -- all must be through Christ Jesus?

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the ^adead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already ^aperfect: but I ^bfollow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I ^apress toward the mark for the ^bprize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be ^aperfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be ^afollowers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ^bensample.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose ^aend is destruction, whose God is their belly, ^band whose glory is in their ^cshame, who mind earthly things.)
 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the ^aSaviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall ^achange our ^bvile body, ^cthat it may be fashioned like unto his glorious ^dbody, according to the working whereby he is able even to ^esubdue all things unto himself.

Who does it?   verses 20- 21 -- Christ!

Chapter 4

Stand fast in the Lord—We believe in being honest, true, and chaste.

1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so ^astand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

3 And I intreat thee also, true ^ayokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the ^bbook of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Song!

5 Let your ^amoderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 ^aBe ^bcareful for nothing; but in every thing by ^cprayer and supplication with ^dthanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the ^apeace of God, which passeth all ^bunderstanding, shall ^ckeep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are ^atrue, whatsoever things are ^bhonest, whatsoever things are ^cjust, whatsoever things are ^dpure, whatsoever things are ^elovely, ^fwhatsoever things are of good report; if there be any ^gvirtue, and if there be any praise, ^hthink on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and ^areceived, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your ^acare of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye ^blacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be ^acontent.

12 I know both how to be ^aabased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through ^aChrist which ^bstrengtheneth me.

14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did ^acommunicate with my affliction.
[I can do it through Christ, but it is still good that you helped me.]

15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire ^afruit that may abound to your account.

18 But I have all, and ^aabound: I am full, having received of ^bEpaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

19 But my God shall supply all your ^aneed according to his ^briches in glory by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of ^aCæsar’s household.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

¶It was written to the Philippians from Rome by Epaphroditus.

From the Bible Dictionary:
Epistle to the Philippians. The church at Philippi was the earliest founded by Paul in Europe (Acts 16:11–40). His first visit ended abruptly, but he was not forgotten, and his converts sent him supplies not only while he remained in the neighborhood, but also after he had moved on to Corinth (Philip. 4:15–16). He passed through Philippi six years later (Acts 20:2) on his way from Ephesus to Corinth, and again on his return (Acts 20:6) from Corinth to Jerusalem. When the news of his removal to Rome reached the Philippians, they sent one of their number, Epaphroditus (2:25), to minister to him in their name. The strain of work in the capital proved too severe, and Epaphroditus had to be invalided home (2:26–30), taking with him the epistle to the Philippians. Its main purpose is to express Paul’s gratitude and affection, and to cheer them under the disappointment of his protracted imprisonment.

Analysis of Philippians

1. Salutation, thanksgiving, and prayer on their behalf (1:1–11).
2. Personal: dealing with the progress of the missionary work (1:12–26).
3. Exhortation to unity, humility, and perseverance (2:1–18).
4. Paul’s own plans, and those of Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19–30).
5. Warning against false teachers (3:1–4:9).
6. Thanks for their assistance, and conclusion (4:10–23).