Philippians 2King James Version
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant. He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.
Paul calls the Philippians to unified, self-emptying love, and to make that case he quotes what scholars believe is an early Christian hymn about Christ's descent and ascent. Christ, who was in the form of God, stripped himself of divine privilege, took human form, and died on a cross. God then exalted him above every name. Paul pivots from the hymn to practical appeals: work out your own salvation, shine as lights, welcome Epaphroditus back without hesitation.
True unity is not achieved by consensus but by each person placing others above themselves, after the model of Christ who emptied himself of everything to serve.
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." (2:7) The Greek word kenosis behind this verse describes voluntary self-emptying, the theological center of the incarnation compressed into a single clause.
Philippi's Roman colonial identity is the backdrop against which the Christ hymn lands with force. In a city saturated with imperial cult worship and the title 'Lord' reserved for Caesar, Paul's assertion that every knee will bow to Jesus and every tongue confess him as Lord was not pious language. It was a direct counter-claim against the political theology of Rome, written by a man sitting in Roman custody.
Timothy is commended as uniquely trustworthy, genuinely concerned for others rather than his own interests, a rare quality Paul says explicitly. Epaphroditus is introduced as the church's messenger who nearly died carrying their gifts to Paul, and Paul asks that he be received with honor. The implicit model throughout is Christ himself, whose biography occupies the structural and theological center of the chapter.
The Christ hymn in verses 5 through 11 is among the most studied passages in the New Testament. It presents a two-stage movement: humiliation, which is the incarnation and cross, and exaltation, which is the universal acknowledgment of Christ's lordship. Paul deploys this not as abstract theology but as an ethical argument: the mind that drove Christ downward should shape how believers treat each other in the room. Christology here is directly practical.
Verse 17 is easy to miss but quietly stunning. Paul says that if he is poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice of their faith, he rejoices and asks them to rejoice with him. He is describing his potential execution as an act of worship, and he wants them to be glad about it. That is either deeply troubled thinking or a completely reordered relationship with death.
1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
23Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
24But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
25Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
26For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
27For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
30Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.