John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Always in every prayer of mine for you all , etc.] The apostle was a praying believer, and a praying minister: notwithstanding all his gifts, and graces, and high attainments, he was not above the work and duty of prayer, and in which he was sensible he stood in need of the assistance and direction of the Spirit of God, As soon as he was converted he prayed, and continued to do so without ceasing, as he himself directs; he was constant and assiduous at the throne of grace, and was concerned for others, as well as himself, for all the churches, and for this church, and all the saints in it. Making request with joy ; for what God had done for them, and continued with them. Requests are to be made known to God with thanksgiving.
When we request a favour of him, it becomes us to return thanks for what we have received from him. Thanksgiving is a branch of prayer; as we have always mercies to ask for, we have always mercies to be thankful for.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The highest honour of the most eminent ministers is, to be servants of Christ. And those who are not really saints on earth, never will be saints in heaven. Out of Christ, the best saints are sinners, an unable to stand before God. There is no peace without grace. Inwar peace springs from a sense of Divine favour. And there is no grace an peace but from God our Father, the fountain and origin of all blessings. At Philippi the apostle was evil entreated, and saw littl fruit of his labour; yet he remembers Philippi with joy. We must than our God for the graces and comforts, gifts and usefulness of others, a we receive the benefit, and God receives the glory. The work of grac will never be perfected till the day of Jesus Christ, the day of his appearance. But we may always be confident God will perform his goo work, in every soul wherein he has really begun it by regeneration though we must not trust in outward appearances, nor in any thing but new creation to holiness. People are dear to their ministers, when the receive benefit by their ministry. Fellow-sufferers in the cause of God should be dear one to another.
Greek Textus Receptus
παντοτε 3842 ADV εν 1722 PREP παση 3956 A-DSF δεησει 1162 N-DSF μου 3450 P-1GS υπερ 5228 PREP παντων 3956 A-GPM υμων 5216 P-2GP μετα 3326 PREP χαρας 5479 N-GSF την 3588 T-ASF δεησιν 1162 N-ASF ποιουμενος 4160 5734 V-PMP-NSM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:4 {With joy} (meta caras). Keynote of the epistle. Paul is a happy prisoner as in Philippi when he and Silas sang praises at midnight though in prison (#Ac 16:25).
