Philippians 2:1-11

Most commentators believe that these verses are part of Paul’s attempt to deal with growing friction among the Philippians. By using if to introduce the four statements in verse 1, Paul is not casting doubt on his premise. In Greek, this construction assumes the statement is true. Using the word since in place of if may convey the meaning more clearly.

1:1-4 | In Christ, God’s people have an incentive to come alongside one another for help and comfort.

1:2-4 | To live in unity (be like-minded), believers must practice three things: harmony, humility, and helpfulness.

2:2 | Attitudes are the foundation upon which actions are built, and these young believers needed an attitude of submission and servanthood to produce harmony.

2:3-4 | Unity is a matter of personal responsibility, with each believer taking ownership of his or her own spirit and disposition.

2:3 | Selfish ambition is a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-20) and has always been the source of divisions within the church (Gal. 5:26; James 3:14). Conceit is empty glory.

2:4 | When the community of believers cares for one another just as they would care for themselves, disunity fades through mutual service.

2:5-8 | Jesus’ servanthood was authentic in substance and reality.

2:6 | Being in the form of God does not refer to Christ’s outer appearance but His genuine inner identity. All that God is, Jesus Chrsit was, is, and ever will be (John 1:14, 18; 14:9; Col. 1:15). The word used here for being occurs 59 times in the NT, and every time it refers to prior existence. Before He became a man, Jesus not only existed eternally but also existed eternally as God - being not simply like God but the very nature and substance of God. Yet because He cared about the human plight more than His own benefit, He gave up the independent use of His attributes to serve those He loved.

2:7-8 | Jesus is now and forevermore both fully human and fully divine. This passage affirms Christ’s supreme humility as He sacrificially poured Himself out as a drink offering for all people.