腓立比書 4 Philippians 4
- 馬克牧師
- Jun 3
- 9 min read
Updated: Jun 5
各位平安！這一講我們來分享《腓立比書》第四章——也是這卷書的最後一章。
一開頭，保羅就直接點名了兩位姐妹：友阿爹和循都基，勸她們要在主裡同心。可見當時她們之間的確出現了些矛盾，而且事情還傳到了保羅耳中。保羅並沒有責備她們什麼，而是溫柔地提醒：你們要同心合意，這才合神心意。
這裡我們也可以看出一個背景細節，就是在當時的馬其頓地區，女性的社會地位其實是相對比較高的。
還記得保羅第一次到腓立比的時候，接待他的就是一位叫呂底亞的婦人。她是當地賣紫色布匹的商人，經濟條件很好，可以說是一位有財力、有地位的女性。她也是第一位信主並接待保羅的腓立比信徒之一。
那回到這段經文中，保羅點名的友阿爹和循都基這兩位姐妹，很有可能就是當地教會的領袖。這也讓我們看到，在腓立比教會，女性的角色並不是邊緣或附屬的，而是實際參與領導、服事、甚至可能是帶領教會的重要人物。
這也讓我們想到另一個對比——保羅在哥林多教會中曾提到「婦女不准講道」的規範。但在腓立比書中，他卻呼籲兩位女性在主裡同心合意，可見保羅在不同的文化背景與地方教會中，給出的教導會有差異，但原則是相同的，就是為了合一、為了教會的建造。
從初代教會開始，女性的參與其實一直是非常積極的。這樣的情況延續到今天，在我們許多教會中，事奉最投入、最忠心的常常是姐妹們。這是一件值得喜樂的事，也是神的恩典。但也正因如此，我們更要鼓勵弟兄們，不要只把服事當作姐妹的責任。我們要與妻子一同服事，一同在神的家中投入，成為合神心意的好僕人，夫妻一同做美好的事工，這是神喜悅的。
教會中若有分裂，最受傷的總都是教會本身，尤其是當領袖之間失去合一的見證，後果往往非常嚴重。光是處理這些內部問題，就會耗費許多時間和精力，反而耽誤了原本該去做的福音事工。魔鬼很清楚這一點 – 牠知道牠勝不過福音的力量，但是牠可以浪費我們的時間精力，牠可以用各種各樣的手段來使我們效率低落 – 內在爭執就是最大的一個浪費。所以我們當小心，當謹慎彼此的合一和同心。
腓立比書第四章也是金句連發，有好多句是我們經常使用鼓勵人，用於祝福人，用於講道的金句。
《腓立比書》的主題一直都圍繞著「喜樂」，而在第四章，保羅把這個主題推到了高峰。他在第四節強調說：「你們要靠主常常喜樂，我再說，你們要喜樂！」
這句話充滿力量，也充滿恩典。
而到了第六節，我們更是熟悉的一段經文，也是我們禱告時常常引用的：
「應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。神所賜出人意外的平安，必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心懷意念。」
這節經文不只是美好的禱告教導，更是應許：當我們帶著感恩交託給神，祂就會親自保守我們的內心。
第四章第八節，還有一個非常重要的教導，不可忽略。保羅說：
「凡是真實的、可敬的、公義的、清潔的、可愛的、有美名的，若有什麼德行，若有什麼稱讚，這些事你們都要思念。」
這段話在《放大版英語聖經》（Amplified Bible）裡翻譯得更具深度，它說：
“Think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”
意思是說，我們不只是偶爾想一想，而是要「持續不斷地思想」這些事，把我們的心思意念專注在這些美善的事物上，而且要「把它們深植在心中」。這其實是一種屬靈的操練：讓我們的思想不被世界的焦慮、比較、抱怨所佔據，而是學習用神的標準來調整我們的心。這不只是「想正面一點」，而是有意識地選擇把心轉向真理、向著美善，把福音的真理「內化」成為我們的生命態度。
這其實是培養一個 “思想習慣”，你思想的東西是什麼。就會決定我們的情緒，也會影響我們的行為。當我們的心被正確的事物佔據，我們的生命就會自然地活出正確的果子。
接下來第10到20節，保羅提到他因腓立比教會對他的支持而大大喜樂。他也特別感謝了，腓立比教會的確是一直有供應著他的需要，他也特別感謝腓立比為他擺上的東西。但他也馬上補充說，他並不是因為腓立比教會送他東西才喜樂，而是他學會了「知足」的秘訣。他說：
「我知道怎樣處卑賤，也知道怎樣處豐富；或飽足或飢餓，或有餘或缺乏，隨事隨在，我都得了秘訣。靠著那加給我力量的，我凡事都能做。」
保羅的意思很清楚：真正的喜樂，與外在的環境無關。他不是用一種「自我催眠式的樂觀」來面對困難，而是憑著信心，相信既然神呼召他、差遣他，那神也一定會供應他一切所需。
這種信心不是一種阿Q精神，不是否認現實，而是知道神掌權。當我們把信心放在「加給我們力量的那一位」身上，神會照著祂的國、祂的義，加添給我們一切所需。
我們要記住，真正的喜樂不是來自於新衣服、新東西，那只是短暫的滿足。真正從心裡出來的喜樂，是對神的信靠和對神所賜的知足。當我們越來越不計較外在條件，不在意自己穿什麼、擁有什麼，越將目光轉向耶穌、轉向福音的時候，我們的喜樂會變得越來越深刻、越來越實在。保羅在這裡說到，他最大的懇求就是信徒的果子增多，並且歸在他們的帳上，這樣的祭物真是最美的，是上帝最悅納的。
最後，我們來看看保羅在這封書信結尾的祝福中，有一個特別值得注意的細節。
他說：「在該撒家裡的人特特地問你們安。」
這句話聽起來很特別——什麼是「該撒家裡的人」呢？難道真的有羅馬皇室的成員成了信徒？
其實這裡的意思不太可能是指皇帝的親戚，而更有可能是指那些在羅馬政府裡工作、隸屬於皇室體系的官員與僕人們。因為在當時的文化觀念中，所有在皇帝體系下工作的職員都被視為「該撒家中的人」。
一些解經學者認為，這代表當時已經有在政府體系裡任職的人信了主，甚至可能是些高位的官員或影響力人士。就如我們在《路加福音》和《使徒行傳》中看到的「提阿非羅大人」，也可能是一位有地位的信徒。
這也讓我們看到，即使在羅馬帝國尚未承認基督信仰為國教（那是公元313年），福音的影響力早已悄悄進入各個階層。從底層的奴僕到上層的官員，許多人都在轉向耶穌基督。
這一點非常令人感動：福音的能力不但打破了種族的隔閡，也跨越了社會階級和性別的鴻溝。耶穌所建立的教會，讓所有願意相信的人都能成為一家人——不分貧富、不分尊卑、不分身份。
這就是保羅結尾那句祝福背後深刻的意涵。他不是隨口一提，而是在見證一個真理：神的國度，正在擴展，正在翻轉整個世界的價值體系。
我們閱讀腓立比書的查經就到這邊告一段落，感謝各位的聆聽，願上帝祝福各位！
Peace to you all! In this session, we will be sharing from Philippians chapter 4—the final chapter of this epistle.
Right at the start, Paul directly names two sisters: Euodia and Syntyche, urging them to be of the same mind in the Lord. This shows that some conflict had indeed arisen between them, and news of it had reached Paul. He doesn't scold them, but gently reminds them to be united in spirit—because unity is what pleases the Lord.
This also reveals a background detail: in the region of Macedonia, women held relatively high social status. Remember, when Paul first arrived in Philippi, he was received by Lydia, a woman who sold purple cloth. She was wealthy and influential, and was one of the first believers and hosts of the church in Philippi.
So it’s very likely that Euodia and Syntyche were also leaders in the church. This tells us that women in the Philippian church were not on the sidelines; they were active in leadership and ministry, perhaps even in pastoral roles.
This contrasts with Paul's instruction in Corinth where he said women should not teach. Yet here, he encourages these two women to be united. It shows us that Paul adapted his guidance based on cultural and local church contexts, but the principle remains the same: unity for the sake of building the church.
From the early church onward, women have always played a vital role. Even today, in many churches, women are the most committed and involved in ministry. This is something we should rejoice in and thank God for. But at the same time, it should also challenge and encourage the brothers to not leave ministry to the sisters alone. We should serve God together with our wives, working hand-in-hand in the Lord’s house.
When division happens in the church, the one who suffers most is the church itself.
Especially when unity among leaders breaks down, the consequences can be very serious. Addressing internal conflicts consumes time and energy that could have been used for the gospel. The enemy knows this well—he can't defeat the gospel, but he can waste our time and effort. Internal strife is one of his most effective tools. So let us be careful and diligent to preserve unity and harmony.
Philippians chapter 4 is also packed with verses we often quote to encourage others, to bless them, and to preach from.
The theme of Philippians has always been "joy," and in chapter 4, Paul brings that theme to its peak. In verse 4 he says:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
This is a verse full of power and grace.
Then in verse 6, we find another familiar verse, often quoted in prayer:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
This verse is not just a beautiful instruction on prayer—it’s a promise: when we give thanks and entrust our needs to God, He will personally guard our hearts.
Then in verse 8, Paul gives us another vital teaching:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
The Amplified Bible expands it this way:
"Think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]."
This means we should not just occasionally think about these things, but continually. Focus your mind on them. Plant them deep in your heart.
This is a spiritual discipline: to guard our thoughts from being dominated by anxiety, comparison, or complaints, and to instead align our minds with God’s standards. It’s not just about "positive thinking," but about intentionally turning our hearts toward truth and goodness. The truths of the gospel should be internalized as our life perspective.
Your thought habits shape your emotions and influence your behavior. When your heart is filled with what is right, your life will naturally bear good fruit.
From verses 10 to 20, Paul expresses great joy because of the support he received from the Philippian church. He sincerely thanks them for their consistent generosity. But he immediately clarifies—his joy is not because he received gifts, but because he has learned the secret of contentment. He says:
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."
Paul is making it clear: true joy is not dependent on external circumstances. This is not some self-hypnosis, pretending everything is fine. It’s a faith that says, "If God has called me, then God will supply what I need."
This faith is not escapism; it is the recognition of God’s sovereignty. When we put our faith in the One who strengthens us, God will provide everything we need according to His kingdom and His will.
We must remember, true joy doesn’t come from new clothes or possessions—that’s just temporary satisfaction. Real joy comes from trusting God and being content with what He gives. When we stop fussing over outward things and turn our focus to Jesus and the gospel, our joy becomes deeper and more real.
Paul also says his deepest desire is that fruit may abound to the account of the believers—that their giving is like a fragrant offering, pleasing to God.
Finally, let’s look at one more detail in Paul’s closing blessing.
He writes:
"All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household."
This sounds intriguing. Who are "those in Caesar’s household"? Could it be that people from the Roman royal family had become believers?
Probably not royalty, but more likely those working in the Roman government—officials, servants, and staff within the imperial administration. In Roman culture, anyone who worked under the emperor’s authority was considered part of "Caesar’s household."
Some scholars believe this suggests that even members of the Roman bureaucracy had come to faith. Just like the "most excellent Theophilus" in Luke and Acts, some people of influence were already turning to Christ.
This shows us that even before Christianity was officially recognized by the Roman Empire in 313 AD, the gospel had already begun to penetrate every level of society. From slaves to high-ranking officials, people were coming to Jesus.
This is powerful: the gospel breaks down barriers of race, class, and gender. The church Jesus founded brings all who believe into one family, regardless of background.
So when Paul ends with that blessing, it’s not a casual note. It’s a testimony to a growing kingdom that is quietly transforming the world from within.
And with that, we conclude our study of the book of Philippians. Thank you all for listening. May God bless you!
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