Why am I not able to copy and paste from commentaries? In preparing an exegetical research paper this would really be helpful.
Welcome [:D]
Curious which commentary ? Please elaborate about copy and paste so others can try to replicate.
Apologies: unable to replicate using Logos 4.5a (4.51.0.2048) since can copy and paste from my favorite commentary series:
Philippians 4:4.
With this verse Paul returns to his favorite theme in this letter. The exhortation in 3:1 is repeated (see the discussion there), but now the adverb always is added. The addition of this adverb and the repetition of the injunction makes it almost impossible to render the verb as “farewell.” It is not likely that the apostle would say “farewell always in the Lord. I say it again: farewell.”
In this context, as in many other contexts in this letter, to be joyful is essentially to “be completely happy.”
The phrase in your union with the Lord (literally, “in the Lord”) is the governing factor in the exhortation. The Lord is the inexhaustible source of joy, and it is only by maintaining the closest possible union with him that the Christians will be able to experience uninterrupted joy. In your union with the Lord should not be interpreted as the cause of joy but the circumstance in which one is completely happy. One may, therefore, render in your union with the Lord as “as you live joined with the Lord.”
The force of this verse can be brought out in several ways, depending on how one interprets the two imperative verbs meaning “rejoice.” Both can be taken as having an optative force, thus, “may you always be joyful in the Lord. I say it again: may you be joyful” (cf. Knox “Joy to you in the Lord at all times; once again I wish you joy”). A second possibility is to take the first verb with an imperative force, and the second with an optative, with the resultant rendering, “Rejoice always in the Lord. I say it again: may you be joyful.” A third possibility is to understand the first with an optative force and the second with an imperative, resulting in the TEV rendering, May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! A final possibility is to take both verbs in the normal imperative sense: “Rejoice always in the Lord. I say it again: rejoice.” This last possibility appears to be favored by most translators. One can also render this last possibility as a negative command: “Never lose your joy in the Lord. I say it again: never lose your joy” (cf. Brc)
Loh, I., & Nida, E. A. (1995). A handbook on Paul's letter to the Philippians. UBS Helps for translators; UBS handbook series (127–128). New York: United Bible Societies.
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You can use Ctrl C to copy a selection.
If you use the right click menu, make certain "Selection" is chosen on the right side.
