Philippians 2:1-30

Letter of Joy

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

Hilda Bright

Chapter 2

Paul’s appeal for unity and *humility 2:1-4

v1 You are united with Christ and that encourages you. You know the comfort of Christ’s love. The Holy Spirit has caused you to have the same interests as each other. And you can feel the sincere care for each other that comes from God’s loving kindness. v2 So I urge you to make my joy complete. Agree with each other. Have the same love. Be united in spirit and purpose. v3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or from proud desire for personal honour. Be humble. Think more about each other than you do about yourselves. v4 You should think about each other’s benefit and not just about your own.

Verses 1, 2 Paul is not doubting their Christian *faith. He is reminding them what the result of their *faith should be. He is emphasising that these *spiritual experiences should have the result of unity and *humility. They must show Christ’s love to other people. They can do this, only if they show love to each other. If they are not united, their witness to the world will be weak. Paul is already very happy about the Christians’ joy (1:4). But his joy can be even greater. He wants to hear that they are living at peace with each other. Then his joy will be even greater.

Verse 3 Paul has already written about those who spoke about Christ from ‘selfish ambition’ (1:17). Christians should desire to bring honour to God and not to themselves. Most people in the world at that time thought that to be humble was to be weak. Paul knew that God is our Maker and *Saviour. So Paul knew that to be humble was the only right attitude for a human *being towards God. Paul called himself ‘the worst *sinner’ (1 Timothy 1:15). Christians must know what they are not good at. Then they will not be too quick to blame other people. They should look for the good qualities in other Christians and they should appreciate their gifts.

Verse 4 Christians must not be selfish.

Christ as our model 2:5-11

Many writers think that these verses were a *hymn. Christians perhaps sang it when they met for the *Lord’s Supper. Perhaps Paul himself wrote it. He used it to support his appeal to the Christians at Philippi. The verses are a poem in three parts: Christ as God, Christ as man, Christ in *glory.

v5 You should have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. v6 He always had the nature of God. But he did not think that he should hold on to his rights and honour as God. v7 Instead he made himself have no *reputation. And he became a servant. He came in the form of a man. v8 As a man he was humble. He obeyed God. So he was prepared to die – even to die on a *cross. v9 For this reason God raised him up to the highest place. God has given him the name that is higher than any other name. v10 So in honour of the name of Jesus, every *being in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth shall kneel. v11 And all will declare that Jesus Christ is *Lord. In this way, honour will come to God the Father.

Verse 6 Jesus had always been God, even before the beginning of time. We read this in other places in the Bible:

‘Christ existed before anything existed’ (Colossians 1:17).

‘Before Abraham was born, I am’ (John 8:58).

Jesus did not need to seize the same honour as God. It was always his by right. Nor did he try to hold on to the same honour as God. He laid it aside on behalf of all people.

Verse 7 Jesus gave up his riches in heaven in order to become a servant. ‘He was rich. But he made himself poor to help you’ (2 Corinthians 8:9). He left his home in heaven. And he had no home on earth that he could call his own (Luke 9:58). He gave up the *glory that he had with his Father. He had that *glory with the Father before he created the world (John 17:5). Even *angels gave honour to him. But he became a person to whom people refused to give honour.

He became a real man. He was like men in every way except that he did not *sin (Hebrews 4:15). He became hungry (Mark 11:12), *thirsty (John 4:7) and tired (Luke 8:23). He was very happy (John 15:11), but he could weep (John 11:35). Jesus said, ‘I am among you as a man who serves’ (Luke 22:27). He became a servant. He even performed a very humble task. He washed his *disciples’ feet (John 13:5). His stay on earth was not permanent. ‘The Word became human and he stayed for a time among us’ (John 1:14).

Verse 8 Paul emphasised that Christ obeyed God even as far as death. Death on a *cross was a cruel punishment for slaves and criminals. *Jews believed that anyone who died on a *cross was beyond God’s *grace. (See Deuteronomy 21:23.) Therefore it was hard for *Jews to believe that Christ’s death on the *cross was on behalf of all people (Galatians 3:13).

Nobody can explain how Jesus can be both God and man. The mystery of God’s great love and Jesus’ great *sacrifice can only cause us to *worship. And, as Paul hoped for the Christians at Philippi, it can cause a humble attitude towards other people.

Verse 9 God raised Jesus from death to be with him in the highest place of honour. The name ‘higher than any other name’ that God gave him was ‘*Lord’. The *Greek word ‘kyrios’ means ‘master or owner’. It became an official word for the *Roman *emperors. Jesus is the Master of all life. He is the King greater than any king on earth. The *Greek translation of the *Old Testament used the *Greek word ‘kyrios’ to translate the *Hebrew word for God. Christians can therefore use God’s name for Jesus. In that way, they show that he has God’s power and authority. ‘Jesus Christ is *Lord’ (Philippians 2:11) is the earliest statement of what Christians believe. ‘You killed this Jesus on a *cross. But God has made him both *Lord and Christ’ (Acts 2:36).

Verses 10, 11 In Isaiah’s message, God declared, ‘Everybody will kneel in front of me’ (Isaiah 45:23). God gave this same right to Jesus. When he comes again, all created *beings will *worship the power and *majesty of Jesus. Those ‘in heaven’ are *angels, and wicked *spiritual *beings (Ephesians 6:12). Those ‘on earth’ will be those still alive when Christ returns. Those ‘beneath the earth’ may mean the dead people. Paul is saying ‘every *being that there is’. When people give honour to Jesus, they will be giving honour to God the Father.

Paul urges the Christians at Philippi to work with God to complete their *salvation 2:12-13

v12 So you too, my dear friends, must always obey God. It was important when I was with you. It is even more important now that I am absent from you. Continue to work out your own *salvation with fear and *trembling. v13 Do that because God is always working in you. He makes you willing and able to obey his purpose.

Verse 12 Paul is no longer with them. So the Christians at Philippi must trust and obey God. Paul was away from them in prison and his future was not certain. He gave this command to obey to his ‘dear friends’. They must obey God always. So they must understand and realise their own *sin and weakness. They must have a true sense of the *majesty and character of God. As Jesus obeyed God right to the end, so must they. Jesus is their model.

‘work out your own *salvation’. Paul does not mean that the Christians at Philippi must work to earn their *salvation. He is writing to those who are Christians. So they already know Christ’s *salvation. It was theirs as a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). Paul’s word that we have translated ‘work out’ comes in the works of Strabo. He was a *Greek who lived in the days of Jesus. Strabo describes how the *Romans ‘worked out’ the great silver mines of Spain. In other words, they were getting all the silver that they could from the mines. So Christians must work hard to get all the wonderful riches that their *salvation in Christ has for them. ‘with fear and *trembling’. This does not mean the terror of a slave in front of a cruel master. It means the honour that we should give to our holy and powerful God.

Verse 13 God’s loving purpose is that Christians should become mature in their *faith. They should ‘become more and more like Christ’ (Ephesians 4:13). The Christians at Philippi needed to work at their relations with each other. God’s purpose for the Christians there was that they should agree with each other. God gives people the desire to obey him. And he makes that desire strong. He gives people the power to do his will. ‘God began this good work in you. And I am sure that he will continue it’ (Philippians 1:6). God’s *grace begins a person’s *salvation, but each person needs to accept this gift. God’s *grace continues to work by his Holy Spirit. But Christians need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in them. Christians are responsible to work with God.

How to show the Christian *faith to the world 2:14-18

v14 Do everything without protests or arguments v15 so that you can be without blame and innocent. You will be children of God who are not guilty in a world of *sinners and wicked people. Among them you shine like stars in the sky. v16 You shine as you hold out to them the message of life. If you do so, then I shall be proud of you on the day of Christ. I shall know that all my efforts and hard work have not been in vain. v17 People may pour out my life. But, if they do, they will be pouring it on to your own *sacrifice of *faith and service. If that is so, I am glad. And I *rejoice with all of you. v18 So you too should be glad and share my joy.

Verse 14 ‘protests’ describes the way in which the *Israelites spoke to each other about Moses as their leader (Exodus 15:24). When they argued with each other, the Christians at Philippi were showing a lack of unity. They were proud of their own opinions and they were not willing to think about those of other people. Perhaps they were even trying to take their troubles to the law courts (1 Corinthians 6:1-11).

‘children of God who are not guilty’ are words that Paul used from the *Greek translation of Deuteronomy 32:4. Unlike the complaining *Israelites, the Christians at Philippi are true children of God. Therefore they must show that they are suitable to serve God. That is, like an animal *sacrifice that must be perfect (Leviticus 1:10). They are in a world where people turn from the right way of God’s law. Christians must be like stars that light up the dark sky at night. They must show what is good and true to those in the darkness of *sin.

Verse 16 They ‘hold out’ the good news that brings life. Their behaviour will show whether their *faith is genuine. They must not spoil their witness to the world by protests and arguments. Paul wanted to be proud of them on the day of judgement. He did not want all his hard work to be in vain. He was like a runner in a race. The runner would be disappointed if his hard training (preparation) had brought no success.

Verse 17-18 When people made a *sacrifice to the gods, they poured wine over it as an extra gift. The *Jews poured their gifts of liquid round the table on which they put their gift to God (Numbers 28:1-7). The *faith and service of the Christians at Philippi was a gift to God. Paul believed that he might die. Then, his blood would be like the wine that people poured over their own *sacrifices. This did not mean that they were sad. It meant that they were *rejoicing. He wanted the Christians at Philippi to share his joy. If he has to die, he will go to be with Christ. He is confident about that. Moreover, people will see that the *gospel is true. And Christ will receive honour.

The plan to send Timothy 2:19-24

v19 If the *Lord wishes, I hope to send Timothy to you soon. News about you will cheer me up. v20 He is the only person who shares my feelings. He really cares about you. v21 All the other people think about their own benefit and not about what Jesus Christ wants. v22 But you yourselves know that Timothy has proved his value. He has served me like a son as he has helped to spread the *gospel. v23 So I hope to send him to you. But I want to know first what is going to happen to me. I hope to send him to you as soon as I know that. v24 And, if the *Lord desires it, I myself shall come to you soon. I am confident about that.

Verse 19 Paul was eager to hear news about the Christians at Philippi. He intended to send Timothy. And if Timothy brought news back, that would cheer him up.

Verse 20 Timothy was the only person who shared Paul’s care about their *spiritual health.

Verse 21 By ‘all the other people’, Paul may mean those who were selfish. Or he may mean those who were *preaching for the wrong reasons (1:15-17). There may have been nobody else with the right qualities to carry out such a task. Paul would need to find out whether the Christians at Philippi were growing in their *faith. If necessary, his *messenger must give them help. He must show genuine sympathy. And he must make sure that he did not hurt their feelings by his questions and advice. Paul may have had doubts about how loyally some Christians would carry out his wishes. We know that Demas left him (2 Timothy 4:10).

Verse 22 The Christians at Philippi knew how Timothy had proved his value. He was with Paul on his first visit to Philippi. And he had worked with him in Thessalonica and in Berea (Acts 16:1-17). He had been with him in Corinth (Acts 18:5) and in Ephesus (Acts 19:21-22). Timothy had visited Philippi on more than one occasion (Acts 19:21-22; Acts 20:3-6). He had helped Paul to spread the *gospel as a son helps his father. Timothy was the *spiritual child of Paul (1 Timothy 1:2). That is, Paul had told him the *gospel. Both Paul and Timothy were servants of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:1).

Verse 23 Paul did not know if he would go free. Or if he would have to die. He hoped to send Timothy as soon as he did know.

Verse 24 But, if it was the *Lord’s desire, he would soon be able to visit them himself. He was confident about that.

The return of Epaphroditus 2:25-30

v25 But I thought that it was necessary to send back our brother Epaphroditus to you. He has worked and fought by my side. He has brought me your messages. He has helped me on your behalf. v26 He is eager to see you all. He is very upset because of what you heard about him. You heard that he had been ill. v27 In fact he was so ill that he nearly died. But God had pity on him. God had pity on me as well so that I should not have one sad experience after another. v28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him back to you. You will be glad to see him again. That will make me happy too, and I shall stop worrying. v29 Welcome him with joy as a brother in the *Lord. Give honour to Christians like him. v30 He almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life in order to give me help. He gave me the help that you yourselves could not give me.

Verse 25 The Christians at Philippi had sent Epaphroditus with gifts to Paul. He had also helped Paul on their behalf. He had offered a holy service to God (Philippians 4:18). Epaphroditus was a ‘brother’ in the Christian *faith. He had worked with Paul in the service of the *gospel. He had fought hard like a soldier. Perhaps Paul was thinking about the soldiers who were guarding him in prison. To speak for Jesus Christ could be as dangerous as to fight in a battle. Christians had many enemies: those who *worshipped the *emperor, false teachers and all the evil *beings.

Verse 26 Epaphroditus had been extremely ill. When the Christians at Philippi heard about his illness, they were worried. Epaphroditus heard that they were worried. He was very upset when he heard that. He was far from home and perhaps eager to help in his own church again.

Verse 27 Epaphroditus was so ill that he almost died. But God helped him to recover; whether by medical help or prayer or both we do not know. God pitied Paul as well. So Paul did not have the sad experience of Epaphroditus’s death as well as his illness.

Verse 28 Paul had decided to send Epaphroditus back home. And Epaphroditus was probably taking this letter with him. It was a *sacrifice for Paul to lose his help. But he wanted the Christians at Philippi to have the joy of seeing Epaphroditus again and in good health. Paul had ‘sent’ him. Epaphroditus had not left Paul because he had grown tired of helping him. And Paul did not want the Christians at Philippi to think that he had left him for that reason. Paul would be glad that the Christians at Philippi would no longer worry. They will have the help of Epaphroditus again.

Verse 29 They must welcome Epaphroditus with ‘joy as a brother in the *Lord’. Both he and the Christians at Philippi belong to the *Lord. He is their Christian ‘brother’. ‘In the *Lord’ can also mean this: They should welcome Epaphroditus as Christ himself would receive him. ‘Accept each other … as Christ has accepted you’ (Romans 15:7).

Verses 29, 30 Epaphroditus and people like him should receive the honour that they deserved. He had almost died as he worked for Christ. He had risked his life like a man who plays a game of chance for money. He had been in danger because he was helping Paul. The *emperor was going be Paul’s judge. Epaphroditus had continued his work even when he was already ill. Paul was grateful for the help of Epaphroditus. He knew that the Christians at Philippi themselves could not help him. That was because they were too far away.

humility ~ we say that humble people show humility.
faith ~ (1) belief or trust in; (2) the facts of Christian belief.
spiritual ~ about the part of us that never dies rather than physical things.
Saviour ~ Jesus, the person who rescues us; the person who brings us back to God from the bad things that we have done.
being ~ a person or animal that is alive.
hymn ~ song that we praise God with.
Lord ~ Master, Ruler, God.
glory ~ great love and honour like the beautiful light round God. It can mean heaven.
reputation ~ all the good things that people might say about you are your reputation.
cross ~ a piece of wood that someone has fastened across another piece. People put Jesus on a cross in order to kill him.
angel ~ a servant from God to bring his messages; a bad angel; or an angel that was good but is now working for God’s enemy, the devil.
sin ~ when we do not do what God wants us to do.
thirsty ~ when someone needs a drink.
disciple ~ someone who follows another person and learns from him; a person who does what Jesus taught.
Jew ~ a person who was born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
grace ~ God’s generous free gift; God’s love that people do not deserve and cannot earn.
sacrifice ~ a gift to God.
worship ~ to give thanks to God and Jesus; to praise God and to show him honour.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament (the second part of our Bible). It can mean a person who spoke Greek.
Roman ~ Rome was the capital city of the rulers at that time. That which belonged to Rome was Roman.
emperor ~ a very important king.'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
Hebrew ~ the language that the Jews spoke. It can mean a person who spoke Hebrew.
Jew ~ a person who was born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
majesty ~ splendid royal power.
salvation ~ rescue from evil things and their results.
trembling ~ when you cannot keep your body completely still, because you are so afraid.
rejoice ~ to be very happy.
Israelite ~ one of the people of Israel; someone who speaks Hebrew; a Jew who lives in Israel.
Hebrew ~ the language that the Jews spoke. It can mean a person who spoke Hebrew.
Jew ~ a person who was born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
gospel ~ good news about Jesus.
preach ~ to tell and explain the good news about Jesus Christ to someone or to a group of people.
messenger ~ a person who carries messages.