Philippians 4 9

Philippians 4:9 kjv

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

Philippians 4:9 nkjv

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9 niv

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me?put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9 esv

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me ? practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9 nlt

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me ? everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4 verses

Philippians 4 9 Meaning

Philippians 4:9 - Whatever you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. This verse emphasizes the importance of consistent, practical application of godly principles and the example of spiritual leaders. It connects learning from the Apostle Paul's life and teachings with experiencing God's peace.

Philippians 4 9 Context

This verse is the culmination of Paul's exhortations in Philippians chapter 4, particularly following his instruction in verse 8 to focus on virtuous and commendable thoughts. The Philippian church was dear to Paul's heart, and he wrote this letter from prison to encourage them. The chapter addresses disunity, anxiety, and contentment. Verse 9 directly builds on the call to meditate on good things, urging believers to actively practice what they have observed in Paul and other faithful believers. It’s a call to internalize and manifest the truth in daily living, promising the accompanying presence of the "God of peace." The historical context involves believers facing potential persecution and the need for steadfastness in faith and community.

Philippians 4 9 Word Analysis

• And (καὶ, kai): A coordinating conjunction, connecting clauses or ideas. Here, it links the command to practice with the subsequent promise.
• what (ὃ, ho): A relative pronoun introducing the object of what Paul taught and modeled.
• all (πᾶς, pas): Denotes entirety; "all the things" that were learned, received, heard, and seen.
• things (–): Implied in the neuter plural relative pronoun "what" (ὃ, ho).
• ye (–): Implied subject of the imperative verbs, referring to the Philippian believers.
• have learned (ἐμάθατε, emathete): A perfect tense verb from manthanō. It signifies a past action with continuing results; they have learned and the learning endures. It suggests a thorough impartation of knowledge and understanding.
• and (καὶ, kai): Connects learning with receiving.
• received (παρελάβατε, parelabete): Aorist tense from paralambanō. Means to take, receive, or accept, often used for receiving instruction or traditions authoritatively. It highlights the acceptance and internalization of Paul's teaching.
• and (καὶ, kai): Connects receiving with hearing.
• heard (ἠκούσατε, ēkousate): Aorist tense from akouō. Means to hear, listen, or pay attention to. Implies active listening to Paul's spoken word.
• and (καὶ, kai): Connects hearing with seeing.
• seen (εἴδετε, eidetē): Aorist tense from horaō (often expressed by aorist eidō). Means to see, perceive, or behold. Encompasses not just listening but observing Paul's conduct, character, and actions.
• in (–): Implied by the case of "me."
• me (ἐμοί, emoi): Dative case, the source or object of these things. Paul refers to himself as the embodiment and example of these truths.
• practice (ἐστε, este – literally "be" or "continue being" / prassete, from prassō): The text uses the aorist imperative of prassō. It commands continuous, active doing and carrying out; to perform, do, and put into practice. It's not just intellectual assent but outward expression and behavior. This indicates ongoing habitual action.
• these (αὐτὰ, auta): Refers back to "what" (all the things) learned, received, heard, and seen.
• things (–): Implied in the pronoun "these" (αὐτὰ, auta).
• and (καὶ, kai): Connects the action of practicing with the resulting presence of God.
• the (–): Definite article.
• God (θεός, theos): The Supreme Being, the Lord.
• of peace (εἰρήνης, eirēnēs): Genitive case, signifying the source or characteristic attribute of God. God is the source and dispenser of peace. Eirēnē denotes not merely the absence of conflict but a comprehensive well-being, harmony, and wholeness, particularly in relation to God and others.
• will be (ἔσται, estai): Future tense of eimi. Signifies a sure future result.
• with (μεθ’, meth’): Preposition indicating companionship, presence, and close association.
• you (ὑμῶν, hymōn): Second person plural pronoun, referring to the believers at Philippi.

Group of Words Analysis:

• "Whatever you have learned and received and heard and seen in me": This phrase is comprehensive, covering both cognitive understanding (learned, heard) and experiential appropriation (received, seen). It stresses the holistic discipleship Paul embodied and imparted, encompassing doctrine, practice, and personal example.
• "practice these things": The imperative "practice" (prassete) is active and continuous, calling for habitual obedience and demonstration of the truths learned and observed. It's a command to live out the faith.
• "and the God of peace will be with you": This is a promise of God's presence and blessing upon those who actively apply godly living. The "God of peace" emphasizes His nature as the source and orchestrator of peace, a peace that is now readily available to those who are obedient and have focused their minds as previously instructed.

Philippians 4 9 Bonus Section

The emphasis on "learned, received, heard, and seen" encapsulates the entirety of Paul's apostolic ministry to the Philippians. He shared doctrine ("learned," "heard"), transmitted apostolic tradition and authoritative instruction ("received"), and lived out his faith visibly ("seen"). This multifaceted approach reflects a holistic view of discipleship where belief, reception, understanding, and imitation are intertwined. The "God of peace" (Θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης, Theos tēs eirēnēs) is a significant appellation for God, appearing elsewhere in Paul's writings (e.g., Romans 15:33; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). It positions God as the ultimate source and establisher of all true peace, a peace that extends beyond the absence of conflict to include holistic well-being, reconciliation with God, and inner spiritual harmony. The condition for experiencing this divine presence is obedience to the gospel modeled in the apostles' lives.

Philippians 4 9 Commentary

Paul's closing exhortation in Philippians 4:9 is a call to practical discipleship. It's not enough to merely know the truth; believers are urged to actively do what they have observed in Paul’s life and teachings—the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. This implies that Paul's life was a visible testament to the gospel message. When believers put these principles into practice, the result is not merely personal improvement, but the abiding presence of the "God of peace." This presence brings inner tranquility, harmony within the community, and confidence amidst adversity. It’s a feedback loop: living faithfully results in experiencing God's peace, which in turn empowers continued faithfulness. This principle highlights that obedience is directly linked to experiencing God’s presence and blessing in a tangible way, making the abstract promise of peace a lived reality.

• Practical application: Imagine a child carefully observing how their parent handles a difficult situation with kindness and patience, and then trying to replicate that response when faced with a similar challenge.
• Living examples: Church members actively mentoring younger believers, not just by teaching, but by sharing their struggles and victories in living out their faith, enabling others to learn by example.
• Peace in trials: A Christian facing financial hardship who has learned contentment from Paul's example and faithfully trusts God; this person may experience profound peace even amid material lack.