One reason Philippians is a pet epistle of the Christian community is the extremely personal nature of this letter. Paul's obvious closeness to this community ("I thank my God every time I remember you" [1:3]) gives a special quality of tenderness and concern to this correspondence. Even when there is a disagreement within this community (cf. 4:2-3), Paul's words of reprimand and counsel are both gentle and personal. It is evident Paul feels great love and a great sense of camaraderie between himself and the Philippian Christians.

Philippians 4:4 returns to Paul's already christened theme of rejoicing in the Lord (see 3:1). While it is also possible to translate this term as "farewell" instead of "rejoice," the addition of the adverb "always" and Paul's emphatic repetition of the word make…