Charles Spurgeon Commentary Philippians 4:1

"Wherefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved." — Philippians 4:1 (ASV)

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

It is a great joy to a minister, as it was to the apostle Paul, to have converts; but that joy is greatly diminished when they do not stand fast: then, indeed, every supposed joy becomes a sorrow, and instead of the roses which yield a sweet perfume to the Lord's servant, thorns begin to prick and wound his heart.

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, do stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

You know that the church at Philippi was very dear to the apostle's heart. He could never forget the time when he and Silas prayed with the women at the riverside, and afterwards prayed and sang praises to God in the prison, when the prisoners heard them.

Lydia and her household and the Philippian jailer were among the first fruits of Paul's work at Philippi, and there was always a very intimate love between him and the members of the church in that place. They cared for him, and he cared for them. Twice in this one verse he speaks of them as his dearly beloved. He says that he "longed for them, longed to come and see them face to face, longed that they might be happy in the Lord to the very highest degree."

So he says, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy. It was such a joy to him even to think of them as his spiritual children, and especially to see how godly and generously they behaved themselves.

Yes, and he calls them his crown – a garland which he had won in spiritual wrestling. The Christian man's converts are his joy here, and they will be his crown forever in glory.

Paul told these Philippians to stand fast in the Lord. It looks like a very simple thing to stand fast, but those who try to do it know how difficult a task it is.

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Paul had a very warm affection for the church at Philippi. You remember how that church was established—first with the baptized household of Lydia, and afterwards with the baptized household of the jailer. These saints at Philippi were, in a special sense, Paul's spiritual children. They were very generous and kind to him, and his heart was very warm with love to them. So, he called them "my brethren dearly beloved," and then again, "my dearly beloved."

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. (Philippians 4:1)

See how the heart of the apostle is at work; his emotions are not dried up by his personal griefs. He takes delight in his friends at Philippi; he has a lively recollection of the time when he and Silas were shut up in prison there, and that same night baptized the jailer and his household, and formed the church at Philippi.