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Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

Paul rejoins the emphasis of this letter – Joy. We have here a epandadiplosis^[1] and it is to emphasize the importance of rejoicing. The Greek word chairo means to be full of joy; it was used as a form of greeting in the realm of “Hail!” Paul starts and ends this sentence with the exact same word. This shows a completion of the cycle – so we are to start and end with joy, and everything in between is to be joy.

The tense of the Greek word used for joy is in the perfect tense, active voice, imperative mood.^[2] Thus, we are told in the perfect tense (this is continuous action, habitual action, reflects a lifestyle). The active voice (pictures the subject as the one who performs, produces, or experiences the action or exercises a certain activity. Active voice represents the action as being accomplished by the subject of the verb), and the imperative mood (a command), that we are commanded to make joy a lifestyle. Paul is not leaving any wiggle room as to what he means.

We confront a possible difficulty in this verse because Jesus taught that mourners are blessed. So, which is it? Joy or mourning. Look at the Bible Difficulty section (1) at the end of this chapter to see more on this.

More in-depth Insights

Rejoice in the Lord alway. Paul is sharing the idea that it is a pleasure for Christians to rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ. What reasons could there be for this rejoicing? They have a Savior in Jesus. We can rejoice in that kind of Savior that we have. He is the same as the father, merciful, patient, and kind. He is the second Adam who does more than cover our sins; he removes them. He has pardoned us from Adamic sin. He has made us one again with the Father. We need not be excessively anxious over our sinful nature; we can live in peace. He is there to support us when many humans abandon us. He is our guide in this fark world of which Satan is the ruler, filled with imperfect humans mentally bent toward evil, with treacherous hearts. Therefore, it is the honor of a Christian to rejoice in the Lord.

[1] E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech used in the Bible (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1968). Pages 245 and 249.

[2] The reader might look for resources to explain each of the different parts of the Greek words. One such site is Bruce Hurt, Greek Quick Reference Guide, http://www.preceptaustin.org/new_page_40.htm.