Philippians 2

Paul exhorts the Philippian believers to unity, humility, and selfless love, mirroring the example of Christ Jesus. He describes Christ's profound self-abasement from divine form to death on a cross, followed by God's ultimate exaltation of Him. Paul then encourages them to live blamelessly, working out their salvation with diligence, and expresses his intent to send Timothy and Epaphroditus, commending their faithful service.

Paul begins by appealing for unity, likemindedness, and mutual love among the Philippians, urging them to act without strife or vainglory, but with humility, esteeming others above themselves. He presents Christ Jesus as the ultimate model of this selfless mindset; though divine, Christ humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient unto death on the cross. Consequently, God highly exalted Him, granting Him a name above all names, that all creation might confess Him as Lord. Paul then encourages the believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, empowered by God's indwelling work, and to live blamelessly as lights in a dark world, holding forth the word of life. He also details his plans to send Timothy, who genuinely cares for their welfare, and commends Epaphroditus, who risked his life for the work of Christ, urging them to receive him with honor.

The apostle Paul opens Philippians chapter two with an earnest plea for unity and spiritual harmony among the believers, founded upon their shared experience in Christ, love, and the Spirit. He beseeches them to fulfill his joy by being likeminded, having the same love, and being of one accord, emphasizing that all actions should be free from strife or vainglory. Instead, they are to cultivate lowliness of mind, esteeming others better than themselves, and looking not only to their own interests but also to the interests of others. Paul then presents the profound example of Christ Jesus, urging them to adopt His mindset. He describes Christ, who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, but rather emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being made in the likeness of men. Further, Christ humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the ignominious death of the cross. Because of this ultimate self-abasement, God highly exalted Him, bestowing upon Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth should bow, and every tongue confess Him as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Following this theological foundation, Paul exhorts the Philippians to continue their obedience, not only in his presence but especially in his absence, by diligently working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, acknowledging that it is God who works in them both to will and to do His good pleasure. He instructs them to do all things without murmurings and disputings, so that they may be blameless and harmless, shining as lights in a crooked and perverse generation by holding forth the word of life. Paul expresses his willingness to be offered as a sacrifice for their faith, finding joy in their spiritual progress, and encourages them to share in this joy. Finally, Paul discusses his immediate plans, expressing his hope to send Timothy, whom he highly commends for his genuine care and selfless devotion to Christ's work, unlike many who seek their own. He also announces his intention to send Epaphroditus back to them, explaining that Epaphroditus had been gravely ill, even near death, due to his service for Christ. Paul urges the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus with gladness and to hold such a man in high reputation, for he risked his life to minister to Paul's needs.