Philippians Chapter 2

From The Open Bible Project

2:1 If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,

• (1) A most earnest request to remove all those things, by which that great and special consent and agreement is commonly broken, that is, contention and pride, by which it comes to pass that they separate themselves from one another.
• (a) Any Christian comfort.
• (b) If any seeking of inward love.

2:2 make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

• (c) Equal love.

2:3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

2:4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

2:5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,

• (2) He sets before them a most perfect example of all modesty and sweet conduct, Christ Jesus, whom we ought to follow with all our might: who abased himself so much for our sakes, although he is above all, that he took upon himself the form of a servant, that is, our flesh, willingly subject to all weaknesses, even to the death of the cross.

2:6 who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

• (d) Such as God himself is, and therefore God, for there is no one in all parts equal to God but God himself.
• (e) Christ, that glorious and everlasting God, knew that he might rightfully and lawfully not appear in the base flesh of man, but remain with majesty fit for God: yet he chose rather to debase himself.
• (f) If the Son is equal with the Father, then is there of necessity an equality, which Arrius that heretic denies: and if the Son is compared to the Father, then is there a distinction of persons, which Sabellius that heretic denies.

2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

• (g) He brought himself from all things, as it were to nothing.
• (h) By taking our manhood upon him.

2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

2:9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;

• (3) He shows the most glorious even of Christ’s submission, to teach us that modesty is the true way to true praise and glory.
• (i) Dignity and high distinction, and that which accompanies it.

2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,

• (k) All creatures will at length be subject to Christ.

2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

• (l) Every nation.

2:12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

• (4) The conclusion: we must go on to salvation with humility and submission by the way of our vocation.
• (m) He is said to make an end of his salvation who runs in the race of righteousness.

2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

• (5) A most sure and grounded argument against pride, because we have nothing in us praiseworthy, but it comes from the free gift of God, and is outside of us, for we do not have ability or power, so much as to will well (much less to do well), except only by the free mercy of God.
• (n) The reason why we are not statues; and yet we do not will well by nature, but only because God has made of our wicked will a good will.

2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputes,

• (6) He describes modesty by the contrary effects of pride, teaching us that it is far both from all malicious and secret or inward hatred, and also from open contentions and brawlings.

2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

• (7) To be short, he requires a life without fault, and pure, so that being enlightened with the word of God, they may shine in the darkness of this world.

2:16 holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn't run in vain nor labor in vain.

• (o) The Gospel is called the word of life, because of the effects which it produces.
• (8) Again he urges them forward, setting before them his true apostolic care that he had for them: in addition comforting them to the end that they should not be sorry for the greatness of his afflictions, no, not even if he should die to make perfect their sacrifice with his blood, as it were with a drink offering.

2:17 Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.

• (p) As if he said, I brought you Philippians to Christ, and my desire is that you present yourselves a living sacrifice to him, and then it will not grieve me to be offered up as a drink offering, to accomplish this your spiritual offering.

2:18 In the same way, you also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

2:19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.

• (9) Moreover, he strengthens and encourages their minds both by sending back Epaphroditus to them, whose fidelity towards them, and great pains in helping him, he commends: and also promising to send Timothy shortly to them, by whose presence they will receive great benefit. And he hopes also himself to come shortly to them, if God wills.
• (q) May be confirmed in the joy of my mind.

2:20 For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.

2:21 For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

• (r) The most part.

2:22 But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

2:23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.

2:24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.

2:25 But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need;

2:26 since he longed for you all, and was very troubled, because you had heard that he was sick.

2:27 For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.

2:28 I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

2:29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor,

2:30 because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

• (s) He calls here the work of Christ the visiting of Christ, being poor and in bonds in the person of Paul.