Bible Study Notes On Philippians Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Bible Text

Notes and thoughts

1 ¶ If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 ¶ Wherefore, 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.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 ¶ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That 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;
16 Holding 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.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
19 But 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.
20 For I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ´s.
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
27 For 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.
28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

United stand.
There is more than a hint of a number of splits in the church, v1-3 suggests false teachers. v1-3 church members fighting.
v1-4 Paul calls for unity.
Paul tells them there is a spiritual problem, which can only be corrected through humbling themselves before Christ and each other. We should do nothing for self.
A person who is humble or has humility is someone who never thinks of himself (herself) Rom 3:3, the true humble person submits to Christ as his servant. This does not mean that a person is everyone´s "slave" to do what ever they want. Luke 14:11; Matt 5:3. Paul follows with an examples.
2:5-8 Jesus.
Our attitude should be the same as Jesus v5,6. Jesus, who was equal to God became a man v6. Became a servant v7. He then took our punishment in his death on the cross as a perfect man. He was willing to pay the price for his submission. What grace to us this shows. Look at Matt 20:28; John 13..
Many are willing to serve others as long as it does not cost them anything, but it cost Jesus v8. All for love. 1 Peter 5:6; Eph 1:6,12,14
2:9-11 His action Glorifies God John 17:1ff.
This should be our aim.
God now lifts up Jesus back to glory, gives him a name and position that everything has to bow to. He is Lord.
One day all people will have to submit to him, but you can do it today. We may not see glory today but we will on the return of Jesus.

v12-18 Christian living.
God works in us v13. Gal 2:20
v12 "Work out our salvation" does not mean working for salvation, it is like a field which needs to be worked to get all the crop out, God’s ´fruit’ for us is to be Christlike, Rom 8:28; Eph 2:10.
It is worth noting that each of us is different, we will not be the imitations of each other, God works differently in each person. v13. But he may need to work in us (teach) before he can work through us .Compare life of Moses, 40 years training in wilderness before God used him to free Israel.
Paul now compares the worldly life with a Christians,v14,15. Note, we are "to shine in the world," not lock ourselves away from world.
v16-18 Paul wants them to keep carrying God’s message of salvation, so that he will be proud of them on Christ return. Even if he is executed he is full of joy that he helped them find Jesus and they glorified him with their lives. 1 Cor 15:58. v17 Paul sees himself like a sacrifice for their faith.
People will say "I cannot live up to Jesus or even Paul" so now he shows two normal people who have done it.
2:19-24 Timothy
see Acts 14:6 forward; 2 Tim 1:3-5 for details of Timothy.
Paul was worried about the church at Philippi and wanted to send someone but he is unable to find anyone in Rome who was willing to do it 2:20,21; 1:15,16, so he sends Timothy.
v19-21 Timothy has the mind of a servant and had trained and worked at the churches in Derbe & Lystra Acts 16:1.
v22,23 Now Paul has so much faith in Timothy he sends him in his place. See 1 Tim 1:1-11 where he recommends Timothy carries on Paul’s work.
v25-30 Epaphroditus.
From the Philippi church, probably a gentile who risked his life to bring the offering to Paul from the church .v26,27; 4:18
v25. Paul calls him "a brother, companion in labour, soldier, messenger and servant for Paul"
v26-27,30, concerned for Paul, willing to take risk to help him, a blessing to Paul standing by him in prison, but also concerned for others.

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Paul´s letter to Philippians