Philippians 2:1-11

Finally, we move out of chapter 1!  The ESV’s heading for 2:1-11 is “Christ’s Example of Humility”.

The first word is “therefore”.  (or “so”).  Accordingly, or consequently, Paul is going to start by summarizing what gives him joy.  Paul wants the Philippians to live worthy of Christ – and to be of one mind together – unity in short.  

Using the NIV translation, we can see what Paul is referring to back in chapter 1 with each “if” statement:

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,” (Ch 1:21)

“If any comfort from his love,” (Ch 1:10, 11, 18, 26)

“if any common sharing in the Spirit,” (Ch 1: 19, 27)

“if any tenderness and compassion,” (Ch 1: 7, 8, 19, 27)

Paul is not speaking of something new.  It’s so important, he repeats it – repetition is the mother of remembering!

 “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

Paul desires them to be united – to get along. To be like-minded. They need each other as a community of believers.  The Christian life is not an individual experience or a solo act. No, God created His people to be one.  Why?  Because we are united to Christ.  We are in Christ; Christ is in us.  We share in the Spirit!  The word fellowship (NASB), or participation (ESV), (common sharing – NIV) is the Greek word “koinonia”. This is the word Paul uses in Ch 1:5 where in the ESV it’s translated as “partnership”.  Partnership in communion with each other is not just a secondary matter! 

He wants us to have the same love as well.  The NASB uses “maintaining the same love”.  The Greek word for maintaining is “echo” which means to “hold”, literally or figuratively.  Of course, here Paul is speaking figuratively.  He wants them to be closely joined together, to hold fast to each other.

A closer look at the last part – being one in spirit and of one mind – has several connotations, and the different translations use different words.    It’s essential.   And by telling them to be of one mind he wants them to be intent on one purpose together.  Imitating Christ.  Being one in spirit or intent on one purpose.   The Greek word used for “mind” is “phroneo” which is to exercise the mind, to think, regard.  This is intentional. Intellectual. Not just a feeling.  Paul emphasizes this unity in mind by using the same word at the beginning of verse 2 and at the end of verse 2.  By starting and ending like this, all 4 commands fall under one idea: unity.

Unity today among believers, especially within the local congregation is of utmost importance.  Paul had already spoken of this in Ch 1:27 when he exhorted the believers to live their lives worthy of the gospel of Christ. He spoke of standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working together for the Gospel.  Here he is again, just a few short verses later with the same message!   Unity cannot be emphasized enough, it seems.

Paul is not done.  Practically speaking, he gives them two more commands that enhance unity.  He tells them to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit….”.   In one word: humility.  Don’t be selfish, don’t try to impress others, don’t be vain! These are the opposite of humility and undermine unity. The Pharisees were very good at this by praying out loud in public, by showing everyone when they were fasting, and more.  We can look at it this way in our world:  there are ways to get ahead, to climb the ladder, to further our own wealth, popularity, esteem, and Paul’s command of humility does not promote our selfish gains! 

Paul knew what Jesus taught in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5.  Those beatitudes were the opposite of how the Jews, especially the leadership, had been living.  Jesus had a “one another” viewpoint that Matthew records in 5:21 – 7: 14 on the topics of anger, retaliation, loving enemies, giving to the needy, and the Golden Rule.  No wonder Paul says that Jesus Christ is our example to follow.  He embodied humility and selflessness. 

“In humility count others as more significant than yourselves” – even when Jesus was tired, he would still teach and heal the masses who came to him.  He had compassion for them and in his selflessness and humility, he set an example for us.  “Don’t just look to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  Paul repeats himself – because repetition emphasizes the importance of humility!  This is what humility looks like in practice – others before self. When we esteem or value others more importantly than ourselves, we will necessarily also look to their interests first.  They go together. 

Then Paul delves into our ultimate example – Jesus Christ! Not just in terms of what he taught, but in who he is and what he has done for his people.

The NLT translation is particularly beautiful.

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; (he emptied himself – not of his divinity, but of the privileges afforded him as the eternal Son of God!) he took the humble position of a slave – and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on the cross.  Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Verse 5 and 6 is written in the CSB as “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.”  Exploited. That’s a strong word to use.  He didn’t walk around proud and regal like, he was humble! 

Humility is written on each sentence of verses 5-11.  And Paul tells the Philippians, and us to have the same mind, the same attitude as Christ!  Whoa!  How do we do that?  The ESV translates verse 5 this way: “Have this mind among yourselves, WHICH IS YOURS IN CHRIST JESUS.”  Here’s the unity aspect again. We, being united with Christ – abiding in him – already have the same mind as Christ! Albeit with a sinful nature that we won’t be rid of until Jesus returns, we absolutely can, and must follow Jesus’s example in his humility.  We are made alive in Christ.  Jesus taught unity with him in a stunningly beautiful image when he spoke of being the True Vine in John 15.  We are rooted and grounded in him.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, Paul speaks often of being united with Christ Jesus.

In Romans 6: 3-10 we are baptized into Christ Jesus, baptized into his death, buried with him by baptism into death…”in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

In Ephesians 4, Paul uses very similar language to what he wrote to the Philippians regarding unity and humility.  It’s that important! 

In Philippians 2:6,7 Paul tells us that Jesus – the eternal Son of God through whom the world was created, Jesus who came to take on human flesh – willingly gave up all the treasures of heavenly glory! He selflessly gave it up – for them, for you, for me.   This section of chapter 2 is well known, and many have it memorized.  We even sing it in church!  In fact, it can be so common that we might miss the absolute glory in these words that Paul wrote.  Especially the phrase “emptied himself”. 

Have you ever looked at the Amplified bible?  It basically adds extra notes, if you will, after a particular verse to further explain it.  Instead of the notes all being at the bottom of the page, they are inserted into the text.  Here’s this section:

“….who, although he existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes – the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [ as if he did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it], but emptied himself [ without renouncing or diminishing his deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and his rightful dignity]…” 

Jesus temporarily gave up the OUTWARD expression of divine equality – dignity – glory – while still possessing the fulness of all the divine attributes – his deity.  Truly God and Truly man. 100% God, 100% man.  It’s incredibly hard to imagine the sacrifice that Jesus made in this way, let alone on the cross.

The Blue Letter Bible app has this to say: “The ‘laid aside equality or the form of God’ is confusing and erroneous if understood as the removal of Christ’s divine nature. Such interpretation is not supported here or anywhere else in Scripture. The text does not state that Christ “emptied himself” of ANYTHING, but rather that he “emptied himself” by TAKING the form of a human and a servant to the point of death, for our good and our salvation.  Beginning in 2:5, Paul sets forth Christ as the consummate example of the very kind of selflessness to which he exhorts believers in 2:3-4, and which he exemplifies in 2:17.”

“By taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men,” – we generally tend to think of Jesus’s incarnation as (just) becoming man.  Yet, more than that, he came as a servant – a suffering servant as prophesied in Isaiah 53.  Jesus took on our human nature with our weaknesses, and  temptations, he experienced hunger, fatigue, thirst – he was prone to being hurt and humiliated, got angry (righteously) and loved intensely.  And all of it without sin – because he did not give up his divine essence.  So, the Son of God became like us – in the nature of man – without sin, becoming a servant for the world to see and thus showed his purpose for coming – he humbled himself by putting aside his glory and looked to the interests of others (us!) and submitted to humiliating and shameful words and actions all the way to the cross – a death cursed by God.  He became sin who knew no sin! (2 Corinthians 5:21) He took our sin and imputed to us his righteousness.  And we are forgiven and saved for eternity with God!

And because Jesus was selflessly obedient and humble, –  because he, the Creator, became the created – because he suffered the way we suffer and more than what we could imagine – because he became a servant instead of an earthly king on an earthly throne – because he carried out his task perfectly to completion – God highly exalted him!  Jesus was glorified! He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God – on his throne – with everything subject to him!  His work is completed, finished. “God exalted him to the highest place.” (NIV) God raised him up to the highest, loftiest, most exultant place and position.  But even more than that, God graciously and freely gave Jesus THE NAME that is above every other name.  What name? Lord!

From “gotquestions.org”: “the name that is above all names is the supreme name – the divine name Lord. This name acknowledges Jesus Christ’s absolute lordship as divine King of the universe, and it brings with it the right to be worshipped.”

From the Ligonier website, (Ligonier.org):  “Lord is the title that belongs only to God. That title “Adonai” that refers to God as the Sovereign One – that is the title that is revealed that belongs to Christ.”

Every person who ever lived will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Whether they want to or not. Back in John 17, in his high priestly prayer, Jesus asks God to restore to him the glory he once had from eternity. (vs 5) He prays for their being kept (disciples, his flock), of being one with him (unity!), and for their future glory …with the name Adonai – Lord over all creation!  When we hear the name Jesus, it will invoke worship! Every person everywhere in all his creation – every creature – will submit to his lordship and will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

To God be the Glory!

Grace and Peace.