Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
Parallel translations
- WEB Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.
- BSB Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
- NKJV Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
- NASB Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you.
- NLT Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul tells them to rejoice in the Lord and is willing to repeat needed warnings for their safety. Joy and vigilance both mark the Christian life.
Overview
"Rejoice in the Lord" recurs as a refrain of the letter, anchoring joy in Christ rather than circumstances. Paul does not mind reinforcing important truths, since repetition guards them from error. This transitional verse turns toward a sharp warning against false teaching.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 40
- Rom 5:11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
- Phil 4:4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
- Jas 1:2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
- Phil 4:8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- Joel 2:23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
- 1 Th 5:16Rejoice evermore.
- Eph 6:10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
- 1 Pet 4:13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
- Ps 37:4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
- 2 Pet 3:1This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
- 2 Pet 1:12–15Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
- 2 Cor 13:11Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
- Isa 12:2–3Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
- Ps 5:11But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
- 1 Pet 3:8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
- Ps 100:1–2Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
- Zeph 3:17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
- Zeph 3:14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
- Hab 3:17–18Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
- Luke 1:47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
- Ps 32:11Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
- Job 22:26For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
- 1 Chr 29:22And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.
- Zech 10:7And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
- Rom 5:2–3By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
- Ps 97:1The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
- Phil 3:3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
- Isa 41:16Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
- Phil 2:17–18Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
- 1 Chr 16:10Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
- 1 Chr 16:31–33Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
- Isa 66:11–12That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
- Deut 12:18But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
- 1 Pet 1:6–8Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
- Deut 16:11And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
- Ps 42:4When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
- Neh 8:10Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
- Isa 61:10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
- 2 Chr 30:26–27So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.
- Ps 149:2Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
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Christ at the center
The one who, being in the form of God, emptied himself to the point of death on a cross and was exalted to the name above every name — the joy and prize of the believer.
How Philippians 3:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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