Philippians 4:6
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text doesn't just say to pray, but to bring your requests with thanksgiving. This "thanksgiving" isn't just a polite add-on; it's presented as the essential heart of prayer, counteracting anxiety by actively recalling God's past faithfulness and present goodness, even amidst your current needs.
Paul is encouraging the Philippian believers to live with joy and peace amidst their difficult circumstances, urging them to be moderate and steadfast. He's transitioning from calling them to rejoice in the Lord to explaining how to maintain that joy by not letting anxieties overwhelm them. This verse serves as the practical key to unlocking the peace that follows, by offering a specific way to handle worries.
Feeling overwhelmed by life's pressures? Paul offers a radical shift from 'being anxious' to something far more powerful.
The verse starts with a bold command: 'Be anxious about nothing.' This isn't about ignoring problems or pretending they don't exist. Instead, it's about refusing to let anxiety control your inner world.
Prayer isn't just a one-time event; it's a dynamic conversation with God involving specific elements that transform our hearts.
Paul doesn't just say 'pray.' He outlines a rich, multi-faceted approach to prayer that addresses every aspect of our needs and emotions:
Understand the original words
merimnate · Greek Verb
A feeling of distress or uneasiness of mind, often caused by fear of danger or misfortune, which the Bible commands believers to replace with trust in God's providence.
proseuchē · Greek Noun
A general term for direct communication with God, involving worship, adoration, and communion, rather than only asking for things.
deēsei · Greek Noun
A specific request for a particular need or provision; it emphasizes humility and the recognition of one's dependence upon God.
eucharistias · Greek Noun
The expression of gratitude to God for His character and works, which is an essential element of biblical prayer and a safeguard against complaining or faithlessness.
Paul's instruction to not be anxious, but to bring requests to God with thanksgiving, comes from a place of personal experience. He himself was imprisoned, facing uncertainty, yet he modeled a life of rejoicing and trust, urging the Philippians to do the same amidst their own potential trials.
c. AD 49
Paul's First Visit to Philippi
The Apostle Paul, accompanied by Silas, Barnabas, and Timothy, preached the gospel and established the church in Philippi during his second missionary journey. This marked the beginning of a strong and supportive relationship between Paul and the Philippian believers.
c. AD 55— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
While under house arrest in Rome, Paul wrote the Epistle to the Philippians. This imprisonment, though a hardship, did not diminish his joy or his focus on Christ, which he seeks to impart to the Philippian church.
c. AD 62
End of Paul's First Roman Imprisonment
The Epistle to the Philippians, written during Paul's Roman imprisonment, concludes with a hopeful anticipation of his release or continued ministry. The letter reflects a deep affection and pastoral concern for the church he founded.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' teaching not to be anxious about life's necessities, drawing the same conclusion that worry is futile and trust in God is the way forward.
1 Peter 5:7Peter echoes Paul's instruction, urging believers to cast all their anxieties on God because He cares for them, directly linking the act of casting cares to God's provision.
Psalm 55:22This ancient psalm provides a Davidic precedent for casting burdens on the Lord, emphasizing that He sustains the righteous, which undergirds Paul's command to make requests known to God.
Luke 18:1Jesus teaches the necessity of 'always praying and not fainting,' which aligns with Paul's instruction to make requests known to God in every situation, highlighting the persistence required in prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:18This verse instructs believers to give thanks in all circumstances, directly supporting Paul's command in Philippians 4:6 to include thanksgiving with our prayers and requests.
barnesPhilippians 4:6: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
Be careful for nothing - That is, be not anxious or solicitous about the things of the present life. The word used here - μεριμνᾶτε merimnate - does not mean that we are to exercise no care about worldly matters - no care to preserve our property, or to provide for our families (compare 1 Timothy 5:8 ); but that there is to be such confidence in…
calvinPhilippians 4:4-9: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Moderatio vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus. Dominus prope est.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
De nulla re sitis solliciti: sed in omnibus, oratione et precatione, cum gratiarum actione, petitiones vestrae innotescant apud Deum.
And the peace…
The text doesn't just say to pray, but to bring your requests with thanksgiving. This "thanksgiving" isn't just a polite add-on; it's presented as the essential heart of prayer, counteracting anxiety by actively recalling God's past faithfulness and present goodness, even amidst your current needs.
Paul is encouraging the Philippian believers to live with joy and peace amidst their difficult circumstances, urging them to be moderate and steadfast. He's transitioning from calling them to rejoice in the Lord to explaining how to maintain that joy by not letting anxieties overwhelm them. This verse serves as the practical key to unlocking the peace that follows, by offering a specific way to handle worries.
Paul is encouraging the Philippian believers to live with joy and peace amidst their difficult circumstances, urging them to be moderate and steadfast. He's transitioning from calling them to rejoice in the Lord to explaining how to maintain that joy by not letting anxieties overwhelm them. This verse serves as the practical key to unlocking the peace that follows, by offering a specific way to handle worries.
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"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." — The text doesn't just say to pray, but to bring your requests with thanksgiving. This "thanksgiving" isn't just a polite add-on; it's presented as the essential heart of prayer, counteracting anxie…
