William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Philippians 2:3

Here our apostle dissuadeth the Philippians from. double vice, destructive to unity, namely, contention and vain-glory, which are the very bane of unity and unanimity: let nothing be done amongst you through emulation and envy, through contention and vain-glory. Pride and ambition are usually attended with strife and contention:. vain-glorious person overrates himself, undervalues others, and breaks the peace with all.

Here our apostle directs to humilty, in order to peace and unity; which humility he styles lowliness of mind,. grace whereby. man thinks meanly of himself, and highly of others, having. better opinion of others' wisdom and piety than his own; now this. man may do, and not sin, though he be mistaken; the publican judged the Pharisee better than himself; and though it was not so, God did not disapprove him for it, but he went away justified. It is no crime to judge another better than ourselves, though he be not so; but it is pride to judge another worse than ourselves, though he really be so.

Learn hence, That true humility doth not consist in lowliness of expression, but in lowliness of mind and opinion: not the man that speaks meanly of himself, but he that thinks so, is the humble man.

Learn, 2. That the humble and lowly-minded man is so conscious to himself of his own infirmities, so modest in the estimating of his graces and virtues, and so forward to hope and believe the best of others, that not only in outward expression, but in real estimation, doth he give others. preference before himself: In lowliness of mind, let each man esteem others better than themselves.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Philippians 2:3

Old Testament

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