Mag. Claudia R. Wintoch
Introduction to Biblical Greek
Ken Lundeen
World Revival School of Ministry
1. The Passage
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (NIV)
mhde;n merimna'te, ajll# ejn panti; th'/ proseuch'/ kai; th'/ dehvsei
meta; eujcaristivaß ta; aijthvmata uJmw'n gnwrizevsqw pro;ß to;n qeovn.
2. Context Study
2.1. General Context
This letter is addressed to the
church in Philippi, which was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey
around 51 A.D.. Verse 1 states Paul as the author, and it is assumed that he
wrote this letter during his Roman imprisonment around 61 A.D.. How remarkable,
then, that the major theme of the letter is joy. Paul also appeals for
Christlikeness and unity among them. Paul’s writing style is noticeably
different from his other letters, as his words show affection and warmth.
Hayford[1]
outlines the book as following:
1.
Introduction
– 1:1-11
a.
Salutation
– 1:1-2
b.
Thanksgiving
– 1:3-8
c.
Prayer
– 1:9-11
2.
Circumstances
of Paul’s imprisonment – 1:12-16
a.
Had
advanced the gospel – 1:12-18
b.
Had
brought assurance of blessing – 1:19-21)
c.
Had
created dilemma for Paul – 1:22-26
3.
Exhortations
– 1:27-2:18
a.
Live
worthy of the gospel – 1:27-2:4
b.
Reproduce
the mind of Christ – 2:5-11
c.
Cultivate
the spiritual life – 2:12-13
d.
Leave
off murmurings and questionings – 2:14-18
4.
Commendation
of and plans for Paul’s companions – 2:19-30
a.
Timothy
– 2:19-24
b.
Epaphroditus
– 2:25-30
5.
Warnings
against error – 3:1-21
a.
Against
the Judaizers – 3:1-16
b.
Against
sensualism – 3:17-21
6.
Conclusion
– 4:1-23
a.
Final
appeals – 4:1-9
b.
Acknowledgment
of the Philippians’ gift – 4:10-20
c.
Greetings
– 4:21-22
d.
Benediction
– 4:23
Philippians 4:6 is part of Paul’s final appeals to the Philippians, as he exhorts them one more time, telling them how to live in a way pleasing to God.
2.2. Immediate Preceding Context
Paul addresses a disagreement
between two sisters, encouraging them to settle the issue. He then exhorts them
to rejoice at all times and display the character of Christ, interjecting that
the Lord’s coming was not far off. It is right after that reminder that Paul
commands them not to be anxious about anything.
2.3. Immediate Following Context
The following verse describes the
fruit resulting from obeying Paul’s command in verse 6 – peace beyond all
understanding that would protect their hearts and minds. He then continues by
listing in detail the good things to be thought upon instead of the things
causing them to be anxious.
2.4. Internal Connection
Philippians 4:6 is one complete
sentence in the Greek language. It is a contrast divided by the word but, which is preceded by the only
comma, both sentences containing an imperative in the present tense. The first
command tells the readers what not to do, while the second command tells them
what to do, with many more details than the first command, which is only two
words long, compared to 16 for the positive command. The reason for its length
is that Paul tells them, using three nouns, how to present their requests to
the Lord.
3. Word Possibilities
3367 anything (NIV), nothing (KJV): mhdeivß
adjectival noun
1. nobody, no one, anybody Acts 4:17
2. nothing, anything Acts 4:21
3309 be anxious (NIV), be careful (KJV): merimnavw
verb – present
imperative active
1. to be anxious, to be
troubled with cares, to worry Mt
6:34
2. to care for, provide
for, look out for 1.Cor
7:33
235
but: ajllav
conjunction
1. nevertheless 1.Cor 2:7
2. but (objection) 1.Cor 4:14
3. but (exception) 1.Cor 7:4
4. but (restriction) 1.Cor 2:5
5. rather, moreover 1.Cor 1:17
1722
in: ejn
preposition
1. in Lk 1:1
2. by Lk 1:77
3. with Lk 1:25
4. among Lk 1:1
5. at Acts
7:13
6. on Acts 1:8
7. through Lk 1:78
3956
everything: pa'ß
adjectival noun
1. individually: each,
every, any, everyone, Acts
1:8
2. collectively: all,
the whole, all things, everything Acts
1:1
4335
prayer: th'/ proseuchv
definite noun
1. prayer addressed to
God
2. a synagogue
3. place in the open air
to pray, e.g. by river
2532
and: kaiv
conjunction
1. and Lk 1:2
2. also Lk 2:35
3. even Lk 1:2
4. both Lk 1:6
5. then Lk 3:10
6. so Lk 1:21
1162 petition (NIV), supplication (KJV): th'/ devhsiß
definite feminine noun
1. need, want,
privation, penury Lk
1:13
2. a seeking, asking,
entreating, request, petition, supplication, prayer Lk 2:37
3326
with: meta;
preposition
1. with Mt 1:23
2. after Mt 1:12
2169
thanksgiving: eujcaristivaß
feminine noun
1. thankfulness Acts 24:3
2. the giving of thanks,
thanksgiving 1.Tim 2:1
155
request: th; ai~thma
definite neuter noun
1. petition 1.Jn 5:15
2. request Phil 4:6 (only occurrence)
3. requirement Lk 23:24
5216
your: uJmw'n
personal pronoun 2nd
person plural
1. you Mt 5:11
2. your Mt 5:12
1107
present (NIV) let be made known (KJV): gnwrivzw
verb – present
imperative active
1. to make known Eph 3:3
2. to know, gain
knowledge of 1.Cor 12:3
4314
to (NIV), unto (KJV): provß
preposition
1. to the advantage of Lk 1:13
2. at, near, by Lk
2:18
3. to, towards, with,
with regard to Lk 1:43
2316
God: o& qeovß
4. Word Choice
anything (NIV), nothing (KJV): mhdeivß
Nobody is a thinkable translation in this
context, since Paul has just addressed an issue among women in the previous
verses. However, it restricts the application significantly, since Paul is
really meaning anything. In addition, grammatically, the object your request in the latter part of the
verse suggests “issues” rather than people. My choice is therefore anything, since it is stronger than the
word nothing.
to be anxious (NIV), be careful (KJV): merimnavw
Care for can immediately be
excluded because of common sense, since Paul would not tell us not to care for
anything, or not to provide for anything. Only option 1 can fit in this
context, as Paul makes a strong point of telling us not to be anxious for anything, which he emphasizes by telling us what
to do instead in the rest of the verse.
but: ajllav
Paul is
making a contrast between the first phrase and the second, which rules out nevertheless. Since the second phrase is
not an exception to the first, 3 can also be ruled out. The same is true for
option 4. Option 2 is a possibility, since Paul is making an objection. However,
rather is more expressive in making
the objection and is therefore my choice.
in: ejn
At, among and on can be ruled out on the basis of English grammar and common
sense. By would not be a correct
choice, since it would not be distinguished from the following phrase by prayer and petition, where
Paul uses a different grammatical structure translated by. I eliminate through
since it implies an object of means which it is not. The remaining words in and with are both a possibility. With
suggests that together with everything they should present their requests.
Therefore, in is the best choice,
since it implies that in the midst of every situation they were to obey that
command.
everything: pa'ß
The word is
used in a collective sense here, since Paul has every possible situation and
issue in mind where requests have to be presented. Nothing is excluded from
God. The whole suggests limits that
do not exist here. All, all things and
everything all have the same meaning,
yet the first can be excluded grammatically. All things has a stronger emphasis than everything and is therefore my choice.
prayer: th'/ proseuchv
This noun is
in the instrumental case and therefore has to be translated with a preposition
like by or with. The instrumental case gives the means by which to present the
requests, so that any location can be ruled out. Option 1 is therefore the only
possibility.
and:
kai;
This word
connects two nouns with a similar meaning. Also,
both, then and so can grammatically be ruled out. The difference
between and and even is a rating. Since the second noun petition is stronger than the first noun prayer, I’m choosing the conjunction even.
petition (NIV), supplication (KJV): th'/ devhsiß
The first
option does not make any sense in the context. Only the second option is
contextually possible, so that I choose the translation supplication.
with:
meta;
The most
common use for this word is in the sense of with.
However, after is certainly a
possibility here since theologically, thanksgiving should always precede the
petitions we bring to God. I therefore choose the less frequent translation of after.
thanksgiving:
eujcaristivaß
The
translation of this noun is very closely related to the one of the preceding
preposition. Choosing with as the
preposition, both options are possible in the context. However, since after has a temporal aspect, thankfulness can be ruled out since it
is supposed to be a constant state of mind. Thanksgiving
is an act of speech and therefore has a temporal aspect, making it my
choice.
request:
th; ai~thma
The context
and person addressed rules out the translation requirement. The only difference between the other two options is
that petition has a stronger sense of
urgency than request. Since this word
is never translated request anywhere
but here, the stronger and more frequent translation petition seems more appropriate.
your:
uJmw'n
Because this
is a possessive pronoun and not a personal pronoun, your is the only possible translation.
present
(NIV), let be made known (KJV): gnwrivzw
Only the
first option allows for an object in the dative, so that the second option can
be ruled out. I choose the more contemporary translation of present.
to
(NIV), unto (KJV): provß
God does not
have any advantage when we bring Him requests, so that the first option can be
ruled out. The second option does not make any sense or is grammatically
incorrect. Only the third option is possible, with to being the best translation.
God: o& qeovß
5. Translation
Do not be anxious about anything,
rather, in all things, with prayer, even supplication, after thanksgiving,
present your petitions to God.
6. Significance
Every possible situation is included.
They didn’t pray in all situations.
–
There
are many examples in the Bible where believers did not consult God.
–
Situations
had arisen in their midst that could possible have been prevented by prayer.
with prayer even supplication
God wants us to pray.
–
God
has always wanted His creation to communicate with Him.
–
Many
passages command us to pray, including Jesus Himself.
–
Jesus,
the Son of God, prayed, how much more do we need to.
God wants us to plead with Him.
–
He was
pleased when Abraham pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah.
–
Even
the Holy Spirit in us pleads and groans in intercession.
–
God is
always looking for intercessors who will stand in the gap for others.
after thanksgiving
Thanksgiving must be a constant in our lives.
–
Jesus
lived a life of continual thanksgiving to His Father.
–
Paul
was content in every situation and told others to imitate him.
–
Jesus
gave His life for us – how could we ever forget that and not be thankful!
Thanksgiving should come before petition.
–
We
have no right of ourselves to bring petitions to him, but by the blood of Jesus
we need to be thankful for.
–
God is
not a prayer-answering machine, but wants relationship. Relationship involves
much more than asking for things.
present your petitions to God
We must go to God first.
–
God
should be first in our lives, we should run to Him.
–
Jesus
went with His problems to the Father, e.g. Gethsemane
Don't presumptuously demand His intervention.
–
God
listens to the humble, not the proud.
–
God is
the one who knows what’s best for us, whether and when to grant our request.
–
We
have no right whatsoever to demand anything from God. It’s all grace.
7. Synthesis
The Philippians had many reasons to
be anxious – for Paul in prison, because of problems among themselves, false
teachers and threats from the outside. Yet Paul commands them not to be anxious
and gives them the antidote. Instead of worrying about everything and losing
sight of God and His faithfulness, they should come to Him. And they were not
to forget all God had done for them, but thank Him for everything. They were
not to blame God or demand things from Him, but remember the great sacrifice of
Jesus and be thankful for the life God had given them. Thanksgiving and praise
would already change their outlook and change their heart attitude as they were
approaching God with the burdens on their hearts. It was with a thankful,
humble heart they could present their requests to the Lord in a way worthy of
Him. And not just requests, but with the right heart attitude they were invited
to plead and supplicate with God. As a loving Father He wants His children to
come to Him with every aspect of their life, instead of running to their
friends or gods of the world. It is so easy for us to have other people before
God in our lives and consult them first when we have a problem, asking God to
help last. How we grieve Him by doing that!
Let us, therefore, be thankful at all
times, never being anxious for anything, but trusting Him for everything, and
humbly coming with our needs to our heavenly Father, who loves us and will
answer our every prayer for our very best.