Philippians 2:1-4

Philippians 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 compassions, 2. make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3. doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4. not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Translation and Paraphrase

Philippians 2:1. If there is any exhortation (and consolation for us) in Christ (and I know there is), if (there is) any persuasive message in love (and there is), if any participation in (and fellowship of) the (Holy) Spirit, if (there are) any heart-felt emotions and (any) compassions

2. (then, for the sake of these precious things,) make my joy full (and complete. You can do this if you take care) that you (all) think the same (way), having the same love (not some of you loving and some hating), (being) of one soul (one mind), thinking the one (way, the way of Christ) ;
3. (Do) not (be) thinking about how you can further (your own little) faction, or about empty self-glory, but (rather) in lowliness of mind (let every one) regard one another as better than themselves,
4. not each (one of you) looking (and concentrating) on his own (affairs), but each (one) also (looking upon) the things of others.

Notes

1.

This section (Philippians 2:1-4) contains Paul's plea to the Philippians to be of one accord, to be united.

2.

Philippians 2:1-2 a give five motives for being of one accord:

(1)

The exhortation (and consolation) of being in Christ.

(2)

The persuasive power of love.

(3)

The fellowship, or participation, we have in the Holy Spirit.

(4)

The tender mercies and compassions, both those which we feel within ourselves, and those we receive from others.

(5)

A personal appeal from Paul: Make full MY joy.

3.

Philippians 2:2-4 contain a list of attitudes and actions that are done (or at least should be done) by those who are of one accord.

(1)

They are of the same mind. They seek to be impartial and view every-one in the same manner, trying in all circumstances to think as Christ would think.

(2)

They have the same love. They seek to prevent a situation wherein some folks are hating and some loving.

(3)

They are of one accord, literally souled together. Perhaps the best commentary on this is Acts 4:32: The multitude were of one heart and soul.

(4)

They are of one mind, thinking one (thing). This is nearly a repetition of (1) above.

(5)

They do nothing through faction or vainglory.

(6)

They count each other as being better than themselves.

(7)

They are more concerned about the sins and burdens of others than about their own pleasures and wishes.

4.

The motives for unity given by Paul in Philippians 1:1-2 a are not the motives we often consider uppermost. We often feel that we can only be united when we have by fiery debate overwhelmed our religious adversaries, and subdued them into conformity to the truth as we see it.

However, this approach has not worked. Since all of us are quite confident that we have the truth and everyone else is at least a bit misguided, we are not likely to arrive at unity by controversy. The fruitful motives for unity are those that Paul suggests: our being in Christ, our common love, etc. Unity, wherever it comes at all, comes more readily as a result of heart-feelings than of intellectual conquest of the adversaries.
This is not to belittle the necessity for religious discussion or of defending the faith. These things we must do, and not leave the other undone.

5.

The word exhortation (paraklesis) in Philippians 2:1 carries a double significance. It indicates both an urging, or exhortation, and a consoling. As Christians we do have both consolation and exhortation. We are stirred up to holy lives and hard labor by the truth of the gospel; we are at the same time consoled and reassured by the promises of the gospel.

6.

The word consolation (paramuthion) in Philippians 2:1 literally means persuasive speaking. There are many, many persuasive messages in the gospel. We need to act upon this persuasion.

7.

Fellowship (koinonia) in Philippians 2:1 means a share in, a participation in something. Christians have a share of participation in the Holy Spirit. He is given to us as a gift when we repent and are baptized. Acts 2:38. He lives in our body as his temple. 1 Corinthians 6:19. He brings to us much desirable fruit. This participation in the Spirit should lead us to unity.

8.

Philippians 2:1 mentions tender mercies (KJV bowels) and compassions. As Christians we do share many kind feelings and actions, both within ourselves and from others. There are dear friends who come to our need when we are in distress, who speak kind and encouraging words, who frankly but kindly tell us when we are doing something wrong.

Such tender mercies and compassions should create within us an overwhelming desire to be ONE with our brethren.
The word bowels in KJV is just exactly the meaning of the Greek word splangchma. The ancients regarded the nobler bowels (heart, liver, lungs, etc.) as the seat of emotions. It is really just as logical (or more so) to say, I love you with my bowels, as to say, I love you with my heart. We say the latter only because it is the modern idiom.

9.

Alas, faction and vain glory motivate many Christians more greatly than do Christ and our tender mercies. Some people will come to a church election to vote for their friends when they will not come often at other times. Faction means self-seeking, electioneering, promoting our own little party or clique.

So often when one church or one faction in a church does something successful, another church or faction will feel constrained to do the same or to do something to top their neighbor. It is good to be stirred up by the example of others to love and good works, but the desire to promote ourselves or our faction at the expense of others is sin.

Vain-glory, that is, empty glory, useless desires to glorify ourselves, leads many to seek church offices, to make public performances that are not edifying, to show off before the church, and to run others down that they may feel superior to those they criticize.

Vain-glory, the pride of life, is one of the strongest and most basic temptations we experience. 1 John 2:16. You and I are both tempted by it, and yet we often will not even admit this to ourselves. Such vain-glory hinders our having the unity we should with our brethren.

10.

Is itreally possible that we in lowliness of mind can count each one better than ourselves? Philippians 2:3. Perhaps this seems impossible; however a mere recognition of the reality that every person on earth knows some things we do not know, can reach and influence people we can scarcely affect at all, can do things we cannot domere acceptance of these facts will cause us to admit that others are indeed better than ourselves.

God is not impressed with our education, our wealth, our physical beauty, nor our possessions. We must not scorn the lowly or despise the mighty; let each count other better than himself.
This does not exclude the necessity for self-respect and recognition of our own abilities; these feelings are necessary too. However, self-respect and self-pride usually need much less cultivation than respect for others. Self-respect and self-pride are like weeds that grow naturally. Respect for others must be given lots of cultivation.

11.

Philippians 2:4 exhorts us to look not upon our own things, our own affairs, worries, and plans, but also to the things of others. This cannot mean that we are to be meddlesome or nosey in the affairs of others. Other scriptures forbid this, 1 Peter 4:15.

Rather it means that we are to be concerned with the affairs, failings, and needs of others which we may be able to help without intruding upon their strictly private affairs.