The Meaning of Philippians 4:9 Explained

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.

YLT: the things that also ye did learn, and receive, and hear, and saw in me, those do, and the God of the peace shall be with you.

Darby: What ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these things do; and the God of peace shall be with you.

ASV: The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Philippians 4:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Wholesome conduct ( Philippians 4:9) should follow wholesome thinking ( Philippians 4:8).
Paul organized his thoughts on this subject by constructing two pairs. The Philippians had learned and received many helpful lessons from Paul, their teacher. They had personally heard his verbal instructions and seen his individual example. They needed to put these things into practice, not just think about them and discuss them.
"It appears that he [1] was of the conviction that the truths of the Christian gospel must never be abstracted from action and put into high-toned words and phrases, but always expressed in the life of the teacher." [2]
"The preacher is the interpreter of the spiritual life and should be an example of it." [3]
When the Philippians put these truths into practice, the God of peace would be with them. Obviously God is always with His people ( Matthew 28:20). Paul"s phrase is a way of saying that they would experience God"s presence by enjoying the peace that comes when we walk in fellowship with God. This was undoubtedly a play on words in view of Philippians 4:7. Both the peace of God and the God of peace guard the believer who is a partner in the work of the gospel.
In this section of collected exhortations ( Philippians 4:4-9) Paul urged five things. These are rejoicing in Christ always, being forbearing with all people, praying about difficult situations, thinking about wholesome subjects, and practicing apostolic teaching. These are fundamental revelations of God"s will for all Christians that are especially relevant to our calling to proclaim the gospel.
The exhortation in Philippians 4:8-9 also concludes the main body of the epistle begun in Philippians 1:27. The reference to Paul"s conduct in Philippians 4:9 ties back to Philippians 1:12-26.
"The body of the letter begins with a topic sentence in Philippians 1:27 a. The Philippian Christians, to be perfected in their partnership for the gospel, were to conduct themselves worthy of the gospel. Specifically two things are in view-unity with one another and steadfastness against their opponents. They need not fear, for God will supply grace ( Philippians 1:27-30). Chapter2takes up the unity motif, and chapter3 , steadfastness. The main body of the epistle then concludes with a hortatory paragraph which again addresses the same two subjects. All this is freed from any topical "loose ends" by the summarizing double conclusion of Philippians 4:8-9." [4]

Context Summary

Philippians 4:1-9 - Inspiring Exhortations
What a strong and faithful heart was Paul's! Poor and despised though he was, he had both joys and crowns of which no hostile force could deprive him. He lived in the encompassing atmosphere of eternity, as we may. Surely these two Christian women could not have withstood this tender exhortation; and all his fellow-workers must have been heartened by the thought that their names were dear to Christ, and entered in the birthday book of the twice-born.
Joy and peace are the subjects of the next paragraph. How wonderful that these struggling little churches were drinking of springs of which the princes and citizens of Greece and Rome knew nothing. Note the conditions. We must be moderate in our ambitions and gentle in our behavior. We must ever practice the presence of our Lord-He is always at hand. We must turn over all causes of anxiety to the Father's infinite care and leave them with Him. We must thank Him for the past, and count on Him for the future. While we pray, the Angel of Peace will descend to stand as sentry at our heart's door. But we must possess the God of peace as well as the peace of God-the one condition being that we must earnestly pursue all things that are true, just, pure, and lovely. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 4

1  From particular admonitions,
4  he proceeds to general exhortations,
10  showing how he rejoiced at their generosity toward him while in prison
19  And so he concludes with prayer and salutations

Greek Commentary for Philippians 4:9

In me [εν εμοι]
Paul dares to point to his life in Philippi as an illustration of this high thinking. The preacher is the interpreter of the spiritual life and should be an example of it. [source]
These things do [ταυτα πρασσετε]
Practise as a habit (πρασσω — prassō not ποιεω — poieō). [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 4:9 mean?

What also you have learned and have received have heard have seen in me these things practice the God - of peace will be with you
καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε ἠκούσατε εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί ταῦτα πράσσετε Θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθ’ ὑμῶν

καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐμάθετε  you  have  learned 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: μανθάνω  
Sense: to learn, be appraised.
παρελάβετε  have  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: παραλαμβάνω  
Sense: to take to, to take with one’s self, to join to one’s self.
ἠκούσατε  have  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
εἴδετε  have  seen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ἐμοί  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ταῦτα  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
πράσσετε  practice 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀναπράσσω 
Sense: to exercise, practise, to be busy with, carry on.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
τῆς  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἰρήνης  of  peace 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: εἰρήνη  
Sense: a state of national tranquillity.
ἔσται  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.