Q: Why does Paul say this here?
A: He's still telling them what he wants them to worry about (which started in 1:27)
This passage is *strongly* linked with Paul's troubles (v12-20)
Paul is in Jail, perhaps nearing execution.
Paul writes to them, and opens with discussion of his trouble.
Basically, he expresses that his concern isn't his personal situation... it's for them.
external request - 1:27-29
he told them to stand firm in one spirit in v27
this is against their opponents.
internal request - 2:1-11
here he continues his request with a request for internal behavior
'be of the same mind'
"Regard one another as more important than yourself"
v1 - if...
Poetic structure - Paul's parallelism
each of the four statements starts with an 'if', each has two substantives.
main words: encouragement, consolation, fellowship, affection and compassion
If vs Since - Paul presents as true.
most agree that this is first class conditional - in other words, it's assumed as true (can be translated as 'since')
paul may be presenting Christ/God as the source for all these things:
encouragement in christ
consolation of love (from God?)
fellowship of the spirit (maybe partcipation the spirit?)
any affection and compassion (from God?)
maybe. even if they are received through the church, they are still the direct result of God's work for us.
v2 - the goal: unity (the positive exhortation)
Make my joy complete
Paul's joy is linked to their unity.
He loves all of them and wants them to care for each other.
wanting those whom he loves to maintain unity...like a father with children.
Be of the same mind
what is linked here?
mind - love - spirit - purpose
all related to fixation.
bible teaching - my frustations with getting people to share excitement/goals.
also - note the strong link to 1:27 ("standing fim in one spirit, with one mind striving together...")
v3,4 - restatement
style:
each verse is a negative / positive couplet
terribly clear in meaning - consider others more important than yourself.
Note: an early creed?
This passage is widely regarded as a likely early christian creed/hymn incorporated by Paul into Philippians.
Theories on it's origins vary widely (written in aramaic! written by gnostics! written by paul! paul is dead.)
it contains the single most shocking idea of christianity; that God put humans first.
this idea was 'to jews a stumbling block and to gentiles foolishness' (1 cor 1:23)
amazingly...we take it for granted these days (on the surface) and expect god to work for us.
Christ: an example in humility (v5-8)
Christ was... (v5,6)
- in the form of God (the form referring to sensory attributes, perhaps to emphasize the unity of christ through
the various 'forms' (slave, god, etc)
- equal with God
Beware of missing the awesomeness of god...
don't miss the significance of 'god' - when god is revealed, man is terrified.
god is not like man - we anthropomorphize god and think of him like a human. this is terribly incorrect...
From this...he emptied himself. (v7)
- he emptied himself
- took the form of a bond servant
- was in the likeness of men
From this...he gave himself. (v8)
- he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death
(death on a cross no less)
Christ: exalted as lord (v5-8)
Paul can't stop here...it's a pattern. if he mentions God, he ends up with a doxology.
In response to Christ's ultimate humiliation, the Father exalts him:
- God highly exalted him
- God bestowed on him the name that is above every name
basically, put everyone underneath christ.
"that at the name of Jesus 'every knee should bow'" (isaiah 45:23)
"every tongue confess that jesus christ is lord" (undeniability)
to the glory of god the father.
even this is a picture of service.