Philippians 3:1
in Philippians 3Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Philippians 3
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord - That is, in the Lord Jesus; see Php 3:3; compare the Act 1:24 note, and 1Th 5:16 note. The idea here is, that it is the duty of Christians to rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ. This duty implies the following things: (1) They should rejoice that they have such a Saviour. People everywhere have felt the need of a Saviour, and to us it should be a subject of unfeigned joy that one has been provided for us.
This site's exposition
rejoice in the Lord
The joy of the letter returns as a command, rejoice in the Lord, the appeal that doubles at 4:4. Writing the same things again is a safeguard for you, since the warning that follows needs a church already braced in joy.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
He shows the concern that he feels for their faith walk. He repeats to them what is necessary for their benefit.
Dejection and care, whenever they strain the soul beyond due measure, bereave it of its native force. And therefore Paul relieves the Philippians, who were in great despondency, and they were in despondency because they did not know how matters were with Paul; they were in despondency because they thought that it was already over with him, because of the preaching, because of Epaphroditus. It is in giving them assurance on all these points that he introduces the words, "Finally, my brethren, rejoice." "You no longer have," he says, "cause for despondency. You have Epaphroditus, for whose sake you were grieved; you have Timothy; I am myself coming to you; the Gospel is gaining ground. What is henceforth wanting to you? Rejoice!" Now he calls the Galatians indeed "children" (Gal. iv. 19), but these "brethren." For when he aims either to correct anything or to show his fondness, he calls them "children"; but when he addresses them with greater honor, "brethren" is the title. "Finally, my brethren," he says, "rejoice in the Lord." He said rightly "in the Lord," not "after the world." for this is no rejoicing. These tribulations, he says, which are according to Christ bring joy. "To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe. Beware of the dogs." Dost thou mark how he forbears to bring in the exhortation at the beginning? But after he had given them much commendation, after he had shown his admiration of them, then he does this, and again repeats his commendation. For this mode of speech seems to bear somewhat hard upon them. Wherefore he overshadows it on every side.
Whence we understand that the coming cessation of the former circumcision l then given, and the coming procession of a new law (not such as He had already given to the fathers), are announced: just as Isaiah foretold, saying that in the last days the mount of the Lord and the house of God were to be manifest above the tops of the mounts: "And it shall be exalted," he says, "above the hills; and there shall come over it all nations; and many shall walk, and say, Come, ascend we unto the mount of the Lord, and unto the house of the God of Jacob," -not of Esau, the former son, but of Jacob, the second; that is, of our "people," whose "mount" is Christ, "prµcised without concisors' hands, filling every land," shown in the book of Daniel.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Since the Philippians were in sorrow, not knowing what situation Paul's affairs were in, how the matter of preaching was going, what the condition of Epaphroditus' illness was, and he resolved all of this by saying that the preaching is advancing, and I am coming …
Above, he proposed the example they should follow; here he shows whose example they should avoid. In regard to this he does three things: first, he mentions whom they should avoid; secondly, the examples the saints gave of avoiding (3:3); thirdly, he urges them to …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
It is the character and temper of sincere Christians to rejoice in Christ Jesus. The more we take of the comfort of our religion the more closely we shall cleave to it: the more we rejoice in Christ the more willing we shall be to do and suffer for him, and the less danger we shalt be in of being drawn away from him. The joy of the Lord is our strength, Neh. viii.
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord,.... The Syriac version reads, "in our Lord", i.e. Christ.
Sin is the sinner's shame, especially when it is gloried in. "They value themselves for what is their blemish and reproach." (3.) They mind earthly things. Christ came by his cross to crucify the world to us and us to the world; and those who mind earthly things act directly contrary to the cross of Christ, and this great design of it.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
It is often used at the conclusion of Epistles for "finally" (Eph 6:10; But it is not restricted to this meaning, as ALFORD thinks, supposing that Paul used it here intending to close his Epistle, but was led by the mention of the Judaizers into a more lengthened dissertation. the same things--concerning "rejoicing," the prevailing feature in this Epistle (Php 1:18, 25;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Rejoice in the Lord - Be always happy; but let that happiness be such as you derive from the Lord. To write the same things - He means those which he had formerly preached to them or to other Churches, for he had but one Gospel; and we may rest assured that the doctrine of this epistle was the same with his preaching. For you it is safe - It is much better to have these Divine things committed to writing than confided to memory. By the latter they may be either lost or corrupted, by the former they will be preserved.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λοιπόν, | loipon | Finally, | G3063 → | |
| ἀδελφοί | adelphoi | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| μου, | mou | of mine, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| χαίρετε | chairete | do rejoice | G5463 → | 74 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| κυρίῳ. | kurio | [the] Lord. | G2962 → | 711 times |
| τὰ | ta | The | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| αὐτὰ | auta | same things | G846 → | 5565 times |
| γράφειν | graphein | to write | G1125 → | |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐμοὶ | emoi | to me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | [is] not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ὀκνηρόν, | okneron | troublesome, | G3636 → | |
| ὑμῖν | humin | for you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἀσφαλές.¶ | asphales | [is] safe. | G804 → |
Τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
λοιπόν,Finally,
loiponG3063 →
ἀδελφοίbrothers
adelphoiG80 →343 times
μου,of mine,
mouG3165 →1936 times
χαίρετεdo rejoice
chaireteG5463 →74 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
κυρίῳ.[the] Lord.
kurioG2962 →711 times
τὰThe
taG3588 →19766 times
αὐτὰsame things
autaG846 →5565 times
γράφεινto write
grapheinG1125 →
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
ἐμοὶto me myself
emoiG1473 →839 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὐκ[is] not
oukG3756 →1664 times
ὀκνηρόν,troublesome,
okneronG3636 →
ὑμῖνfor you
huminG4771 →2973 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἀσφαλές.¶[is] safe.
asphalesG804 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
it leads to
- James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- Romans 12:9–21
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
- James 3:17
Through
James 1:2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:6–8
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
- 1 Peter 1:6–8
Through
Philippians 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Rejoice at all times.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Philippians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 3.1; J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 10; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.