Philippians 4:23

Greek:
ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν

KJV:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Comments:
be with you all: Although it does not change anything significantly, there is a difference of Greek texts about whether this verse says “be with your spirit” instead of this phrase in the KJV.

Grace...be with you: How this phrase is taken is very important. Sacerdotalists see this verse as confirmation that the apostles actually granted grace to their followers—in other words, that Paul is actually dispensing grace in this statement as a priest would dispense sanctification with a censer or forgiveness with a hand gesture or a touch. Clearly, however, Paul is actually simply doing in verse 23 what he said everyone else was or ought to be doing in verses 21-22. He is greeting (saying his farewells to) the church with the typical Christian greeting of the day: charis (grace), the perfect word to identify what it means to be in Christ.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Because you know Jesus Christ along with me, He is Lord to all of us. And because you know Him, we share His grace. And I pray that grace will grow in you. His grace has always been true, and it always will be.

Philippians 4:21-22

Greek:
21 ἀσπάσασθε πάντα ἅγιον ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ ἀδελφοί
22 ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι μάλιστα δὲ οἱ ἐκ τῆς Καίσαρος οἰκίας

KJV:
21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

Comments:
Salute every saint in Christ Jesus: Paul is being as inclusive as he is specific. Everyone in Christ Jesus is to be included in the greeting. But only those in Christ Jesus are holy, and to be included in the greeting.

brethren...all...they of Caesar's household: Paul's mention of the brethren is likely a reference to others who serve with Him in ministry—some carrying on the ministry while comforting him in his imprisonment. (See chapter 1:14 and 2:25.) Paul then mentions all the believers in Rome. Finally, he refers to those who would be of particular interest to anyone in the Roman Empire, those serving in Caesar's household (probably the emperor Nero) who had become believers.

Expanded Paraphrase: Greet all those who are sanctified because they are in Christ Jesus. Our brothers, those who are with me here, greet you. All of those who are sanctified greet you—most notably, those who are sanctified and serve in Caesar's own house.

Philippians 4:20

Greek:
20 τῷ δὲ θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ ἡμῶν ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν

KJV:
Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Comments:
God and our Father: Paul first uses a generic reference to God then a personal one. There is, of course, a reason that glory is unto God for eternity simply because of the fact that He is God. But, as should be expected in this letter (consider chapter 2:5-11, for instance), Paul also makes the point that the one unto whom glory flows forever is now personally related and committed to us as our own Father.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Glory to God for ages of ages. But also, glory to our own Father toward ages of ages. May it be so forever.

Philippians 4:19

Greek:
ὁ δὲ θεός μου πληρώσει πᾶσαν χρείαν ὑμῶν κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος αὐτοῦ ἐν δόξῃ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

KJV:
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Comments:
God shall supply all your need: This statement rises out of the Philippians' actions toward Paul, for which he gives thanks in verses 13 through 17. Particularly, in verse 17, he desires fruit that may abound to their account (rather than simply the material wealth that comes from their generosity toward him). God supplying all their need is that fruit in this case. The verse is not a generic offering of prosperity, but a specific statement that the Philippians' generosity will not go unrewarded.

my God...your need...his riches: The Philippians had shared with Paul from their wealth on account of their mutual commitment to God. Paul cannot pay them back directly himself (an act which would miss the point of the ministry they had done to him). But something associated with him can: God. They gave from their material wealth to his spiritual need on account of the God they both serve. So Paul is offering back to them from his spiritual wealth (his relationship with God) to meet their spiritual (and other) needs on the basis of God's wealth.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Your wealth supplied my material need because of your commitment to God. In turn, my God will supply your every need through His boundless resources. His wealth is praiseworthy. And He offers it to you the only way He offers all of His grace, through His Son Christ Jesus.