Phili 2:2-4 | KingComments | STEP | Chapters 2 and 3 are the heart of this letter. They belong together. In chapter 2 Paul presents the life of the Lord Jesus on earth, as He was then. In chapter 3 he shows the Lord Jesus in heaven, as He is now. In chapter 2 he draws the attention of the Philippians (and ours) to the mind of the Lord. In this chapter we are also given examples of men who had the mind of Christ. The examples are Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. Why is the mind of Christ so emphasized here? It is because certain things were not quite in order with the Philippians. Paul wanted to guide them there. This is the real love which is not blind to the imperfections in others. Genuine love goes further in which it is not only grateful for the friendship and help received but it is also ready to point out what could be better. True love also knows in what way these imperfections must be pointed out. If it is done in the wrong way people will be discouraged. The admonition then does not come across. Paul links it with what they have already done well. That is an important starting point when you want to admonish or encourage someone. . In there are certain areas which the Philippians could obviously improve upon. But Paul does not begin with that. He starts in an exceptional way. You should know that the word “if” in the beginning of , shows not a possibility but a certainty. We can understand and read this as ‘because’. Paul had experienced the compassion of the Philippians. He had experienced consolation and fellowship. He had felt their affection and mercy. That was expressed in the gift they had sent him. What a joy it had given him! He appreciated that a lot. The way the Philippians expressed their connectedness with Paul showed much of God and Christ. Paul did not simply receive ‘encouragement’, but “encouragement in Christ”. The Philippians did that in such a way that Christ became more precious to him. He also did not simply receive ‘consolation’ but he felt God’s “consolation of love”. The ‘fellowship’ he enjoyed was not human sympathy but it was the “fellowship of the Spirit”. The triune God was revealed to Paul through what the Philippians did. There he saw their inner feelings. These feelings were the feelings of the Lord Himself of which He was full ( ). Is this also your desire for the needy brothers and sisters? . Against the background of all that they had done for him and meant for him he exhorts them now in a loving way. All the fine feelings they had for him in their hearts made him happy. They can, however, make him even more joyful and happier. There is something missing in them still. Sure he delights in their love for him. What he wants more is that they had this love one for another. If they proved this, his joy would be complete. He looks for a way that makes their heart willing to resolve the disagreement that arose during his absence. Please note that he does not blame them for their disunity. In the relationship Paul had with the Philippians it was not appropriate to blame them. He expresses his love for them and his appreciation of their love for him. He exhorts them in such a way that would make clear that their interests are the issue here. You see that exhortations are always needed. You see them in every letter, and even in this which is addressed to a church in which at first glance everything seems to be alright. There could be much appreciation, but it could always be better; it is never perfect. Exhortation should make us alert against self-sufficiency. It can arise suddenly if we notice that certain wrong things are not among us, which we find elsewhere. Then the danger is that we think that exhortation is not necessary. The first thing was that they were not “of the same mind”, which does not mean that all think the same. It means that their minds are in the same direction, and that there are no conflicting interests. All their minds and interests are fixed on the Person of Christ. That is like what we read in 1 Corinthians 1, “speak the same thing” ( ). That does not mean that all speak the same words, but all speak of the one Person: Christ. But each one does it in his own way. One could say that in 1 Corinthians 1 it is all about the confession with the mouth, and here in Philippians it is about what is in the heart. Here it goes deeper, it goes to the source. Every believer who belongs to a fellowship of believers must strive to glorify Christ. Otherwise there arises disagreement. Then we no longer have “the same love”. If Christ is not the object of your heart, your love will turn toward other things. The gap in the believers’ fellowship widens. You can see this in the lack of unanimity. Harmony simply disappears. Each goes more and more his own way and is increasingly busy with his own things. No one thinks of the one thing, that is Christ, anymore. To be like-minded means to have the same thoughts and feelings. The one thing means the object on which the believers unanimously direct their thoughts and about which they have the same thoughts and feelings. . When Christ is not any more the Center in the life of the believers, easily factions arise. Own interests and own honor begin to play their roles. Everyone speaks and works for his own position and thereby seeks the recognition of others. Such efforts are vain, empty and meaningless. The fame one seeks in this way passes away. That is the kind of fame of the champions in the world. Short-time recognition and momentary fame recede into the dust of oblivion. The highest glory the believer has is when he is praised by the Lord. To deserve this fame you must learn to be humble. Humility is a rare virtue. How rare, you see this in debates among politicians, and also in conflicts, even in normal, daily contacts. Often people attempt to decry others to sell themselves as the best. This tendency is common among us all. True humility is found only in the presence of God. We must learn to be humble. We can learn it from the Lord Jesus ( ). Only in His presence we learn to regard others as more important than ourselves. In His presence we see who we are ourselves and what others are for Him. It is about practical Christian life, and that will be seen best where Christ is the most visible. We can know others by their outward expression and we know ourselves what we are in our heart. We see how others show love, and again others are peacemakers. We see that it is lacking in us. Should we not then esteem others? It is not about the gift that someone else has, but the good things you notice. Paul assumes that you have an eye for it. The other is the one who is different from you. He has received other things from God and has been called for something different than you. You are therefore urged to regard the other for that, even with more respect than you have for yourself, so that you can at the same time efface your own interests. . Paul goes a step further. He says that you should not only regards others as more important but that you also should see their interests and look out for them. In other words he means that it is expected of you that you commit yourself to what others need so that they can live better as Christians and also become more similar to the Lord Jesus. To see the others so and consider them accordingly is only possible if you look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then only you can seek and see the interests of others. . Therefore Paul wants to present Jesus Christ to you. He does that – of course inspired by the Holy Spirit – in an impressive way. Here you have to bear in mind that all the glories of the Lord Jesus Paul speaks about is given for our admonition. The Lord desires that we have the same attitude or mind as He had. This mind must be the basis for all your thoughts and actions. All that is said about the Lord Jesus Christ here can bring you to worship. Often that is the result when He is so presented to you. Nevertheless this is not primarily purposed here. The purpose is that with every step you see Him do, you ask yourself what His mind was in doing so and compare that to your own mind. The mind of Christ will never become yours if you take the law as the standard. Only the example of the Lord Jesus leads to the desired goal. God presents to us a Person Who is the whole good pleasure of His heart, so that He can notice what speaks of Him in our life. Now read Philippians 2:1-5 again. Reflection: What would you like to improve in others and how will you achieve that?

‏ Philippians 2:2-4

Bring the Missing in Order

Chapters 2 and 3 are the heart of this letter. They belong together. In chapter 2 Paul presents the life of the Lord Jesus on earth, as He was then. In chapter 3 he shows the Lord Jesus in heaven, as He is now.

In chapter 2 he draws the attention of the Philippians (and ours) to the mind of the Lord. In this chapter we are also given examples of men who had the mind of Christ. The examples are Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus.

Why is the mind of Christ so emphasized here? It is because certain things were not quite in order with the Philippians. Paul wanted to guide them there. This is the real love which is not blind to the imperfections in others. Genuine love goes further in which it is not only grateful for the friendship and help received but it is also ready to point out what could be better. True love also knows in what way these imperfections must be pointed out. If it is done in the wrong way people will be discouraged. The admonition then does not come across. Paul links it with what they have already done well. That is an important starting point when you want to admonish or encourage someone.

Phil 2:1. In Phil 2:2-4 there are certain areas which the Philippians could obviously improve upon. But Paul does not begin with that. He starts in an exceptional way. You should know that the word “if” in the beginning of Phil 2:1, shows not a possibility but a certainty. We can understand and read this as ‘because’. Paul had experienced the compassion of the Philippians. He had experienced consolation and fellowship. He had felt their affection and mercy. That was expressed in the gift they had sent him. What a joy it had given him! He appreciated that a lot.

The way the Philippians expressed their connectedness with Paul showed much of God and Christ. Paul did not simply receive ‘encouragement’, but “encouragement in Christ”. The Philippians did that in such a way that Christ became more precious to him. He also did not simply receive ‘consolation’ but he felt God’s “consolation of love”. The ‘fellowship’ he enjoyed was not human sympathy but it was the “fellowship of the Spirit”.

The triune God was revealed to Paul through what the Philippians did. There he saw their inner feelings. These feelings were the feelings of the Lord Himself of which He was full (Jam 5:11). Is this also your desire for the needy brothers and sisters?

Phil 2:2. Against the background of all that they had done for him and meant for him he exhorts them now in a loving way. All the fine feelings they had for him in their hearts made him happy. They can, however, make him even more joyful and happier. There is something missing in them still. Sure he delights in their love for him. What he wants more is that they had this love one for another. If they proved this, his joy would be complete.

He looks for a way that makes their heart willing to resolve the disagreement that arose during his absence. Please note that he does not blame them for their disunity. In the relationship Paul had with the Philippians it was not appropriate to blame them. He expresses his love for them and his appreciation of their love for him. He exhorts them in such a way that would make clear that their interests are the issue here.

You see that exhortations are always needed. You see them in every letter, and even in this which is addressed to a church in which at first glance everything seems to be alright. There could be much appreciation, but it could always be better; it is never perfect. Exhortation should make us alert against self-sufficiency. It can arise suddenly if we notice that certain wrong things are not among us, which we find elsewhere. Then the danger is that we think that exhortation is not necessary.

The first thing was that they were not “of the same mind”, which does not mean that all think the same. It means that their minds are in the same direction, and that there are no conflicting interests. All their minds and interests are fixed on the Person of Christ.

That is like what we read in 1 Corinthians 1, “speak the same thing” (1Cor 1:10). That does not mean that all speak the same words, but all speak of the one Person: Christ. But each one does it in his own way. One could say that in 1 Corinthians 1 it is all about the confession with the mouth, and here in Philippians it is about what is in the heart. Here it goes deeper, it goes to the source. Every believer who belongs to a fellowship of believers must strive to glorify Christ. Otherwise there arises disagreement.

Then we no longer have “the same love”. If Christ is not the object of your heart, your love will turn toward other things. The gap in the believers’ fellowship widens. You can see this in the lack of unanimity. Harmony simply disappears. Each goes more and more his own way and is increasingly busy with his own things. No one thinks of the one thing, that is Christ, anymore. To be like-minded means to have the same thoughts and feelings. The one thing means the object on which the believers unanimously direct their thoughts and about which they have the same thoughts and feelings.

Phil 2:3. When Christ is not any more the Center in the life of the believers, easily factions arise. Own interests and own honor begin to play their roles. Everyone speaks and works for his own position and thereby seeks the recognition of others. Such efforts are vain, empty and meaningless. The fame one seeks in this way passes away. That is the kind of fame of the champions in the world. Short-time recognition and momentary fame recede into the dust of oblivion. The highest glory the believer has is when he is praised by the Lord.

To deserve this fame you must learn to be humble. Humility is a rare virtue. How rare, you see this in debates among politicians, and also in conflicts, even in normal, daily contacts. Often people attempt to decry others to sell themselves as the best. This tendency is common among us all. True humility is found only in the presence of God. We must learn to be humble. We can learn it from the Lord Jesus (Mt 11:29). Only in His presence we learn to regard others as more important than ourselves.

In His presence we see who we are ourselves and what others are for Him. It is about practical Christian life, and that will be seen best where Christ is the most visible. We can know others by their outward expression and we know ourselves what we are in our heart. We see how others show love, and again others are peacemakers. We see that it is lacking in us. Should we not then esteem others? It is not about the gift that someone else has, but the good things you notice. Paul assumes that you have an eye for it.

The other is the one who is different from you. He has received other things from God and has been called for something different than you. You are therefore urged to regard the other for that, even with more respect than you have for yourself, so that you can at the same time efface your own interests.

Phil 2:4. Paul goes a step further. He says that you should not only regards others as more important but that you also should see their interests and look out for them. In other words he means that it is expected of you that you commit yourself to what others need so that they can live better as Christians and also become more similar to the Lord Jesus. To see the others so and consider them accordingly is only possible if you look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then only you can seek and see the interests of others.

Phil 2:5. Therefore Paul wants to present Jesus Christ to you. He does that – of course inspired by the Holy Spirit – in an impressive way. Here you have to bear in mind that all the glories of the Lord Jesus Paul speaks about is given for our admonition. The Lord desires that we have the same attitude or mind as He had. This mind must be the basis for all your thoughts and actions.

All that is said about the Lord Jesus Christ here can bring you to worship. Often that is the result when He is so presented to you. Nevertheless this is not primarily purposed here. The purpose is that with every step you see Him do, you ask yourself what His mind was in doing so and compare that to your own mind.

The mind of Christ will never become yours if you take the law as the standard. Only the example of the Lord Jesus leads to the desired goal. God presents to us a Person Who is the whole good pleasure of His heart, so that He can notice what speaks of Him in our life.

Now read Philippians 2:1-5 again.

Reflection: What would you like to improve in others and how will you achieve that?