Philippians 2

One in Christ// Ephesians 2:11–18

¹Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The Mind of Christ// Isaiah 52:13–15

⁵Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶Who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God

something to be grasped,

⁷but emptied Himself,

taking the form of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

• PHIL 2:7[FULFILLS]A Servant formed from the womb ← IS 49:5
• PHIL 2:7[FULFILLS]Ordinary in physical appearance ← IS 53:2
• PHIL 2:7[NOTE]HE EMPTIED HIMSELF. Emptied of what? Paul answers in the same breath: by taking the form of a servant. Jesus did not stop being God. He added a human nature, set aside His rights and His glory for a while, and chose to serve all the way to the cross, 2:8. In Him all the fullness of God lives in bodily form, Colossians 2:9. In the 1800s some taught that He gave up powers like knowing everything. Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant churches reject that idea.

⁸And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross.

• PHIL 2:8[FULFILLS]'He shall drink of the brook by the way; therefore He shall lift up His head' ← PS 110:7MEDIUM
• PHIL 2:8[FULFILLS]The Servant exalted after suffering ← IS 52:13

⁹Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place

and gave Him the name above all names,

• PHIL 2:9[PROPHECY]God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord → STILL TO COME
• PHIL 2:9[FULFILLS]'The king shall rejoice in Your strength, O Yahweh' ← PS 21:1MEDIUM

¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

• PHIL 2:10[ALLUDES TO]Refers to ← IS 45:23

¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World// Matthew 5:13–16

¹²Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

• PHIL 2:12[NOTE]WORK OUT, NOT WORK FOR. You cannot work for your salvation. It is a gift, Ephesians 2:8 to 9. But you work it out, the way you work out a muscle you already have. You live out what God already put in. And 2:13 tells you how: God is the One working in you. Fear and trembling means taking it seriously, not being scared. Catholic and Arminian readers add that how we respond to grace really counts, and salvation can be lost.

¹⁴Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world ¹⁶as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

• PHIL 2:15[ALLUDES TO]Refers to ← DT 32:5

¹⁷But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus// 1 Corinthians 16:10–12

¹⁹Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. ²⁰I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs. ²¹For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel. ²³So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me. ²⁴And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

²⁵But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs. ²⁶For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

• PHIL 2:25[FIELD NOTES]See The Via Egnatia Field Notes page.

²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. ²⁹Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, ³⁰because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.