Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing Better, in modern English, In nothing be anxious (R.V.). Wyclif, "be ye no thing bisie"; all the other older English versions are substantially as A.V.; Luther, Sorget nichts; Latin versions, Nihil solliciti sitis (fueritis). On the etymology of the Greek verb, and on the thought here, see note above, Philippians 2:20. There the mental action here blamed is commended; a discrepancy fully harmonized by a view of different conditions. Here, the saints are enjoined to deal with everytrying circumstance of life as those who know, and act upon, the fact that "the Lord thinketh on me" (Psalms 40:17). Cp. Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14; Luke 10:41; Luke 21:34; 1 Corinthians 7:32; 1 Peter 5:7.

The English word "care" is akin to older Teutonic words meaning lamentation, murmur, sorrow, and is not connected with the Lat. cura(Skeat, Etym. Dict.). English literature, from "Piers Plowman" (cent. 14) to Shakspeare and the A.V., abounds in illustrations of the meaning of the word here. E.g., Vision of Piers Plowman, v. 76: "carefullich mea culpahe comsed to shewe"; i.e. "he anxiouslycommenced to unfold" his sins in the confessional. So, in the same writer, a mournful song is "a carefulnote."

in everything] An all-inclusive positive, to justify the all-inclusive negative just before. Observe here, as so often, the tendency of Christian precepts to a holy universality of scope. Cp. Ephesians 4:29; Ephesians 4:31; Ephesians 5:3, and notes in this Series.

by prayer and supplication We might almost paraphrase the Greek, where each noun has an article, "by yourprayer &c."; by the prayer which of course you offer.

"Prayer" is the larger word, often including all kinds and parts of "worship"; "supplication" is the more definite. Cp. Ephesians 6:18, and note in this Series. The two words thus linked together are meant, however, less to be distinguished than to include and enforce the fullest and freest "speaking unto the Lord."

with thanksgiving "The temper of the Christian should alwaysbe one of thanksgiving. Nearly every Psalm, however deep the sorrow and contrition, escapes into the happy atmosphere of praise and gratitude. The Psalms, in Hebrew, are the Praises. Allprayer ought to include the element of thanksgiving, for mercies temporal and spiritual" (Note by the Dean of Peterborough). The privilege of prayeris in itself an abiding theme for grateful praise.

be made known Exactly as if He needed information. True faith will accept and act upon such a precept with very little questioning or discussion of its rationale. Scripture is full of illustrations of it in practice, from the prayers of Abraham (Genesis 15:17; Genesis 15:18) and of Abraham's servant (Genesis 24) onward. It is for the Eternal, not for us, to reconcile such humble but most real statements and requests on our part with His infinity.

This verse is a caution against the view of prayer taken by some Mystic Christian thinkers, in which all articulate petition is merged in the soul's perpetual "Thy will be done." See Mme. Guyon, Moyen Court de faire Oraison, ch. 17. Such a doctrine has in it a sacred element of truth, but as a whole it is out of harmony with the divinely balanced precepts of Scripture.