Philippians Chapter 2

If there is any comfort or encouragement in being believers in Jesus, if His love and the love He engenders in us consoles us, if there is really any fellowship of the Spirit (and there is), if there are any tender mercies emanating from our deepest and inmost feelings, then we will fulfill Paul's (and Christ's) joy and be one in the Lord.

The word rendered 'consolation', could be rendered 'encouragement', while the word rendered 'comfort' could be rendered 'consolation'. Nevertheless, comforting and consoling are synonymous words. Hence, Christ Himself consoles and comforts us as does His love and the love we Christians have (or should have) for one another. Of course the fellowship of the Spirit is His indwelling us and it is also fellowship with other believers. In English syntax and idiom, we can substitute 'heart' for 'bowels' and understand the identical meaning. If we have the bowels (or heart) of Christ, then we will love each other. The word, bowels is an idiom for sympathies or affections See note on Philippians 1:8.

When Paul said "if" (ει), he was not expressing doubt. It is like saying, "If the coffee is hot, it cannot be cold." We could express the same idea with, "Since the coffee is hot, it cannot be cold." That is exactly what we should do here in order to enhance our understanding of Paul's meaning: "Since there be therefore consolation in Christ, since there is comfort of love, since there is fellowship of the Spirit, since there are bowels and mercies." In fact, a second definition of ει is 'since'.

Because of those things mentioned, let us be unified in our love, in our doctrine, in our deportment, in our witness for Christ. Our unity should be with each other in the True Body of Christ, that is, in the True Church. This does not teach ecumenism, or interfaith relationships. It simply teaches unity with in the Body. Since the local church is a complete body (read 1 Corinthians Chapter 12), then unity should especially be within the local church, as well as between true believers everywhere.

That makes us likeminded with Paul, for Paul's doctrine is true. Let us be likeminded with Paul and with each other. Paul rejoiced over the fact that the Philippians were likeminded with him and were unified in the Body of Christ, having the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind. Therefore, they fulfilled his joy.

This is a lofty goal, difficult to accomplish, but possible through Christ. "Vainglory" means conceit. Conceit puts us first when we should put ourselves last. If you want to be first in the kingdom, you must place yourself last. For "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all" (Mark 9:35). How can one be the servant of all if he breeds strife? One of the things God hates is someone who sows discord among the brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19). If this admonition is followed, there will be that unity among the brethren Paul discussed in the previous verse.

The first instance of the word "things" is implied and not actually in the text. It does not necessarily apply to possessions only, but cares, troubles, desires, etc. The verse could read: "Each not looking on his own, but each also [looking at] the things of others." In other words, this is the opposite of "to each his own." We are to care more about others [their cares, worries, possessions, etc.] than ourselves. The Golden Rule . . . do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The literal word order of the Greek text is "not the oneself watch out for each; but also the others each." The article 'the' in the second phrase can be rendered "the things" instead of simply "the" and the context here allows for that.

Again, we should be like-minded with Christ. Here is the mind of Christ in the next three verses:

Christ is equal with God; he is the second person of the Godhead. The meaning of "he though it not robbery to be equal with God" is that Christ is God, and being God, how could he steal that equality? How can one steal from Himself? If, on the other hand, anyone but God claims equality with God, that person must appropriate that equality because it is not rightfully his. The equality, however, rightfully belongs to Christ. He left his rightful majesty and grandeur to become a flesh man in order to serve all men. Did you get that? He, God, came to serve men! He served men by becoming the suffering servant who died for all men's sins. "No reputation" also denotes vanity or emptiness. He emptied Himself of His glory and became a man.

The phrase, "in fashion as a man," means in the likeness of a man. The Greek is σχηματι (schemati, from σχημα, schema, 4976), meaning form, or likness. The Louw-Nida lexicon describes it this way: "the form or nature of something, with special reference to its outer form or structure." He took on flesh, that is, bones, skin, hair, muscle, organs, etc. He was born of a human woman, the virgin (at the time of His birth) Mary.

The Bible mentions nothing about Mary's Immaculate Conception, nor of her being a "perpetual virgin". Neither is she a coredemptrix or the Queen of Heaven or any other appellation the harlot of Babylon deems her to be. There is only one way to redemption. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the father but by me" (John 24:6). The Queen of Heaven is a title claimed by Semerimus, (other spellings include Semerimas, Sumerimus, and Semiramis) and other supposed goddesses of mythology such as Ishtar, Astarte, Ashera, Venus, Aphrodite, Eostre, etc. See The Mother and Child from Hislop's The Two Babylons

Jesus was born of a regular human woman. She was not a goddess, she was not conceived of the Holy Ghost; she died a normal woman at a normal age. She is not sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. But Jesus is. Jesus did the work of our salvation, not Mary. He is the author and finisher of our faith, not Mary. Mary worship is idolatry.

When He went into the Garden of Gesthemane that night Judas betrayed Him, He said to His disciples, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death" (Matthew 26:38). Jesus was extremely distressed because of what was coming to Him within the next few hours. He knew He would be beaten, scourged, and crucified. He knew He was come into the world to die for the sins of men and women. He knew that our sins would be upon Him; He would bear all the sins of mankind upon Himself. His was indeed a distressing night. Being flesh, He "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Since He was tempted in every way we are, His flesh was tempted to abandon His mission. That is why He was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. That is why He prayed, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me" (Matthew 26:39). He was wishing to be relieved of His burden. Even though He was tempted so, He said, "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39). He wished to do away with His mission, and thus disobey the Father, but He became obedient and went to the cross for us.

Because He was obedient unto death, that is, unto the death of the cross, God had placed Him above everyone who ever lived on Earth, above the heavenly hosts, and above all. He is "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come" (Ephesians 1:21).

His Name is above all names. The definite article, present in the Greek, renders the phrase literally that God has given Him the Name above all names. The Greek is, "εχαρισατο αυτω ονομα το υπερ παν ονομα" (ekharisato auto onoma to huper pan onoma), literally, granted Him name the above every name. His Name is The Name, which is above every other name. He is "the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God" (1 Timothy 1:17). He is the Redeemer, God's Anointed Savior. His Name is called "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). No other Name can be associated with all of the attributes of the Messiah. He is the only One by Whom we may enter into the presence of God. No other Name has this authority. Only Jesus the Christ is able to accomplish this. With the Name that is above every name, no one is, or ever will be, equal to Him.

Read verse 10 without "things": That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, and in earth, and under the earth. Because He was obedient unto the death of the cross, and because God the Father has highly exalted Him and His Name above all others. Everyone who has the ability to speak will confess that He is Lord. Moreover, everyone alive, including the heavenly hosts, principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places, will bow before Him. Everyone will confess Him and everyone will bow before Him. Those men and women that rejected Him and that cry for the very rocks to fall on them and hide them from His face and from His wrath, will confess Him Lord and will bow the knee to Him. They will then be defeated, judged, and cast into the lake of fire.

He IS Lord! Right now! Don't wait until the end of the age to bow before Him and confess Him as Lord, which I guarantee you will do. It might be too late then. Don't take that chance. Do it now!

There's no hiding place down here,
There's no hiding place down here.
Well, I run to the rocks and I hide my face,
The rocks cried out, "No hiding place!"
There's no hiding place down here.

Since Paul could not be with them, they were to continue the work of salvation on their own, without Paul. However, according to v. 13, it is God that changes their will so that they will do God's pleasure. In v. 14, they are to do God's work without arguing and grumbling.

Salvation is by grace, and not by works. This verse does not end that. This verse does not say to work toward salvation, but tells us to fully do God's work because of our salvation, which we already have.

Remember that this statement is to be understood in the context of the next three verses. The work of salvation that we are to accomplish is to do those things that the Spirit has gifted us to do as the body of Christ. We are to preach, teach, administer, give, help, evangelize, exhort, etc. In other words, we are to perform all of the Spiritual Gifts. We are to do the work of Christ until He comes.

Sadly, some think that the work of Christ consists only of showing up on Sunday Mornings for Morning Worship. When not all of the members of the church are exercising their Spiritual gifts, then it is like a person that is missing an appendage. When a person, for example, looses the sight in one eye, the other eye takes up the slack. But the person's vision is never as good as it was originally.

In too many churches in America today, one person must do the work of two or three in order for the Body of Christ to function as it should. That is because there are several members that never exercise their gifts because they only come to Sunday Morning worship and that is their spiritual work for that week. I am being generous here. It is most probable that many of those nominal (meaning "in name only") Christians are not really saved at all and therefore have no Spiritual gift to offer.

I am reminded of the refrain of the Hymn, We'll Work.

We'll work till Jesus comes,
And we'll be gathered home.

This is why we don't work our way into salvation; God works in us. He thus causes us to do the work of the saved, which is our Christian behavior.

Let us not argue over the works that we do nor should we grumble about them. Why? So that the world, which is without Christ, cannot blame us nor can it say that we are harmful. The world, which is a crooked and perverse generation, eagerly waits for Christians to fall so it can accuse them of being hypocrites. That makes the world feel better that one of those "Christians" can fall. We must not give the world the excuse to make public spectacles of us. Therefore, we must be especially careful in our words and our actions so that we can be salt and light to the world without reproach.

Blameless means above reproach, harmless, innocent, and 'nation' is the KJV rendering of γενεας (geneas, from γενεα, genea, 1074, "generation"). We are in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, which is much larger in scope that any single nation. World is κοσμω, (kosmo, from κοσμος kosmos, 2889). It is not the Greek word for earth, which is γε (ge, 1095). The world is not only the earth proper, but everything in it, especially the people on earth and their ways.

We are sons of God because we are new creations in Christ and we are the many brethren of whom Christ is the first born. See John 1:12, Romans 8:29, and 2 Corinthians 5:17. Being Sons of God, we are the light of the world. Let people know you are a Christian. Plant seeds and allow them to germinate.

The Word of Life is Jesus Christ, see 1 John 1:1-10. This verse continues the sentence begun in the last verse. Read them together: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. We are to hold forth Jesus Christ, who is our light, to the world. We can only do that if we are blameless and harmless. Paul wants to rejoice with us in the Day of Christ. What is the Day of Christ? It is when He returns to gather His flock at the seventh trump, which begins the Millennium. In that day, Paul will be assured that he has not done the work of the Gospel in vain. He will then see the results of his labor.

"Offered" (σπενδομαι, spendomai, from σπενδω, spendo, 4689) actually means poured out as a libation (a drink offering). To understand verse 17, we need to understand the drink offering. When Jacob saw the ladder to heaven, he awoke and built the altar at Bethel. He poured out a drink offering or libation upon the stone. When priests were consecrated, there were morning and evening offerings for seven days. A drink offering was poured out along with the sacrifice. When a bull was sacrificed as an atonement, it was accompanied by a drink offering. A sacrifice for atonement or cleansing required a drink offering. The drink offering signified that the sacrifice was devoted to God. Jacob devoted the place, Bethel, to God. Morning and evening sacrifices were devoted to God. The sacrifice for atonement was devoted to God.

Paul devoted his entire life to God and to the spreading of the Gospel to the nations. He labored for that purpose. It was all consuming to him. Just as a drink offering showed devotion to God, so Paul poured out his entire life to God in devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He gave his sacrifice and service to them in order to provide for their salvation. Even if it required his death, he would still rejoice with them because of their salvation. He would gladly be poured out as a libation for their faith. Christ was poured out as a libation for all men's sins. The Psalmist prophesied just that:

(Psa 2:6) Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

The word translated "set" is the Hebrew word is נסכתי, nacakti, from נסך, nacack, 5258. נסך means "to pour out especially as a libation." So God actually says, "Yet have I poured out My King (as a libation) upon My holy hill of Zion." Where is Zion? Jerusalem sits atop it. The sacrifice of Jesus took place upon Zion.

Paul also said, in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. {7} I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: {8} Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. "

Paul is ready to be offered or poured out as a drink offering. He means that he has done the work given him by God and he has done it well. Now he is to be sacrificed, or at least, because of political changes at Rome, he believes he will be killed (tradition says he was beheaded) and poured out as a libation.

See Paul, a Herald of the Cross, by Florence Morse Kingsley, Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, New York. In her preface, she states: "Paul, the fearless herald of the Cross, pouring out his life like water, that he might save the lost . . ." I quoted this because Paul did offer his life to preaching the Gospel to the nations. He, indeed, was "poured out like a drink offering."

This has been a rather lengthy explanation, but I wanted you to know where Paul was coming from. It is important. Just as Jacob poured out a libation upon the stone at Bethel, so Paul poured out his life upon our faith, which is our sacrifice and service. Because of that, Paul was joyous and he wishes us to rejoice with him. We don't mourn the passing of Paul, we rejoice because of our salvation, which is the work that Paul began a long, long time ago. We are also to pour out our lives for the same cause.

Paul wanted to know their status or circumstances. Consequently, he sent Timothy because he could not go himself. Timothy, Paul's 'son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2), was the most trusted man that Paul could send to the church at Philippi. He trusted Timothy with everything. He knew that Timothy would send him an accurate report of the state of the church at Philippi.

Timothy was the only man Paul knew who was as concerned as he himself was with the state of the Philippian Christians. Timothy was Paul's most trusted lieutenant. Not only could Paul trust him with information of the utmost need, he could also trust that Timothy would be a good caretaker of the church. It was Paul's nature to be caring and loving therefore it was also in Timothy's nature. It would be natural for this care to shine when he was at Philippi. He was likeminded with Paul in that he knew Paul's concern for the church. Because of his love for Paul, he would naturally have the same concern and take the same care of the Philippians as would Paul.

Timothy had proven himself to Paul. Paul had sent him as an emissary several times and Timothy had always come through for Paul. Timothy was obviously intensely loyal to Paul. Else why would he be with Paul while Paul was imprisoned in Rome (See Acts 16:1-6, 19:22, 1 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Corinthians 1:19, 1 Thessalonians 3:2 & 6).

Paul had yet to go to court but was to do so presently hence his statement in verse 23: " as soon as I see how it goes with me."

Paul sent Epaphroditus with the letter to the Philippians. Paul tells them to receive him gladly because in helping Paul he had be come deathly ill. The congregation at Philippi had originally sent Epaphroditus to minister unto Paul, and now Paul was sending him back. It appears that Epaphroditus may have been homesick. This is the final thought upon this subject. The subject changes here. A new subject begins in Chapter 3.