Philippians 2:1
Εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία Πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί,
Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any persuasion of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and pity
Paraphrase: Now in light of my struggles, I ask you this question. In all our afflictions, is there any consolation that comes to us who are in Christ? Is there anything in our religion that gives us incentive to be kind to each other? Is there any fellowship which the Spirit of God has established between us as members of Christ’s body? (Ephesians 4:3) Has God called us to suffer with those who suffer (Romans 12:15) and to show mercy to those who struggle?
Comments:
RWP says ἀγάπης is an objective genitive.
Philippians 2:2
πληρώσατέ μου τὴν χαρὰν ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ φρονῆτε, τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγάπην ἔχοντες, σύμψυχοι, τὸ ἓν φρονοῦντες,
Fill up my joy that you think the same things, having the same love, one souled, thinking one thing.
Paraphrase: Well then, if our Savior taught us these things and even modeled them for us, let’s follow His example and show compassion to one another and encourage each other in our trials. For myself, I wish you would fill up my cup with joy. Here’s how you can do that. Let me see you all coming together around the grand truths of the gospel. Let everyone take the time to understand these truths and to love them. Let your whole soul go out after these matters; let these be the things that we celebrate together. Let everyone sing the same tune and proclaim the same Savior. This will give me more joy than anything else you could possibly give me.
Comments:
For this use of αυτος, see Smyth §328.
Philippians 2:3
μηδὲν κατ’ ἐριθείαν μηδὲ κατὰ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν,
No person according to selfish ambition; no one according to pride but with humility esteeming one another superior to yourselves.
Paraphrase: On the contrary, it grieves me terribly to see the disciples of Jesus acting like pagan politicians. Members of churches jockey for position; they plot and intrigue. They act as if they were running for some political office. They are so sure of their own opinions and can’t bear to be contradicted or challenged. Is this what our Savior taught us? Didn’t He rather teach us to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23) and not to act like secular people in this regard? Did He not command us to work to advance others, rather than ourselves? (Matthew 20:25-28; Ephesians 4:12)
Comments:
The neuter form of μηδὲν are often used of persons; Smyth §2736.
Eadie says (p418) that ἐριθεία was a term used of politicians canvassing for office. The history of the councils of Ephesus (p722), the Robber Council (p734), and the council of Chalcedon (p740) are powerful examples of the spirit Paul condemns in this verse.
Philippians 2:4
μὴ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστοι σκοποῦντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἑτέρων ἕκαστοι.
Each person not paying attention to the things of ourselves but each person even the things of others.
Paraphrase: Let us, as those who follow in our Master’s footsteps, abhor such sinful behavior. (Romans 12:9) In fact, let’s do the complete opposite. Let’s look out more for our neighbor’s good than we do for our own things. (Romans 12:10)
Comments:
For μή, see negatives.
Philippians 2:5
Τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ·
Mind this thing in you which was even in Christ Jesus.
Paraphrase: As always, our Lord Jesus Christ was the perfect example of this attitude. Consider what He did.
Comments:
Philippians 2:6
Ὃς ἐν μορφῇ Θεοῦ ὑπάρχων, οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα Θεῷ,
Who being in the form of God, did not regard being equal with God as something to be held tightly
Paraphrase: He was equal to God in every respect. He shared in all the glory and transcendent majesty of God Himself. He is entitled to every honor that we can give; He is worthy of all our worship. Yet, all this glory was not something our Lord held on to tightly. He was willing to give it all up…
Comments:
So much has been written on “the form of God” or μορφῇ Θεοῦ. Gifford has an entire chapter devoted to it; Lightfoot compares the two terms σχημα and μορφη; cf Trench.
Lightfoot says (p110) that ὑπάρχων means “prior existence,” but not necessarily “eternal existence.” The latter idea, however, follows in the present instance from the conception of the divinity of Christ which the context assumes.
For ἁρπαγμὸν, see GGBB 634.
Philippians 2:7
ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν, μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος.
Paraphrase:
Comments:
Philippians 2:8
καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος, ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν, γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ.
Philippians 2:9
Διὸ καὶ ὁ Θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν, καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα,
Philippians 2:10
ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ, ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων,
Philippians 2:11
καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι ΚΥΡΙΟΣ ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ Πατρός.
Philippians 2:12
Ὥστε, ἀγαπητοί μου, καθὼς πάντοτε ὑπηκούσατε, μὴ ὡς ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ μου μόνον, ἀλλὰ νῦν πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τῇ ἀπουσίᾳ μου, μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε.
Therefore, my beloved, even as always you obeyed not as in my presence only but now much rather in my absence, with fear and trembling work out your own salvation.
Paraphrase: So in light of all this, my dear friends, I would love to see you living the Christian life together and growing together as the body of Christ. I’ve always been grateful that you have followed Christ and obeyed His commands, not just when I am around, but even when I am absent. That means a lot to me and that is the spirit I want to encourage in you. What a pleasure it would be to me if you would all work together such that each one might grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. (2 Peter 3:18) It’s time that you stopped looking to me for discipleship; it’s time to remove the training wheels and to ride off on your own. Therefore, I challenge you to disciple each other, to develop the gifts of spiritual discernment and to be able to counsel one another. (Romans 15:14) It’s time to wean yourself from the milk which is for newborns and to learn to eat the strong meat. (Hebrews 5:11-14) Now don’t mistake my meaning here. I would be bitterly disappointed to hear that some of you are assuming an attitude of superiority towards the other children of God. I want you to treat each other with an attitude of respect and humility always being willing to take the place of a slave. (Luke 22:27; Galatians 5:13) Remember the words of our Lord who taught us that it is better to serve than to be served. (Matthew 20:25-28)
Comments:
On “fear and trembling,” see 2 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 6:5; 1 Corinthians 2:3. Paul never uses this phrase to express our attitude towards God; it’s always used for relationships between Christians. It means taking the position of a slave; it’s a very humbling posture.
The word ἑαυτῶν “your own” is emphatic. Moule writes (p72):
The Apostle is in fact bidding them “learn to walk alone,” instead of leaning too much on his presence and personal influence. “Do not make me your proxy in spiritual duties which must be your own.” Hence the “much more” of the previous clause; his absence was to be the occasion for a far fuller realization of their own personal obligations and resources in the spiritual life.
Philippians 2:13
Θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας.
For God is the One working in you even to will and to work with reference to His good pleasure.
Paraphrase: If you hesitate at the difficulty of what I’m asking you to do here, let me encourage you. Remember that in the matter of our sanctification, we work and God works. God expects us to work hard, but He does not leave us to ourselves. In fact, even as we put forth our best efforts to grow in holiness, God is the One who is both planting the desire for this growth and giving us the ability to carry it forward. We began our Christian life by the power of the Holy Spirit, and we move forward by the same power. (Galatians 3:3) Yes, we can truly say that God is at work in us as He is moved by His own perfect plan to save for Himself a people for His glory. (Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6) God is the One who builds the church and perfects it in holiness. (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:9-11; Ephesians 2:19-22; 5:25-27; 1 Peter 2:5)
Comments:
Philippians 2:14
Πάντα ποιεῖτε χωρὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν,
Philippians 2:15
ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα Θεοῦ, ἄμωμα μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης, ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ,
Phil 2:16 λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες, εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ ὅτι οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα.
Phil 2:17 Ἀλλὰ εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίρω καὶ συνχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν.
Phil 2:18 τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ ὑμεῖς χαίρετε καὶ συνχαίρετέ μοι.
Phil 2:19 Ἐλπίζω δὲ ἐν Κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ, Τιμόθεον ταχέως πέμψαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα κἀγὼ εὐψυχῶ, γνοὺς τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν.
Phil 2:20 οὐδένα γὰρ ἔχω ἰσόψυχον, ὅστις γνησίως τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν μεριμνήσει.
Phil 2:21 οἱ πάντες γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ζητοῦσιν, οὐ τὰ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ.
Phil 2:22 τὴν δὲ δοκιμὴν αὐτοῦ γινώσκετε, ὅτι ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον, σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον.
Phil 2:23 Τοῦτον μὲν οὖν ἐλπίζω πέμψαι, ὡς ἂν ἀφίδω τὰ περὶ ἐμὲ, ἐξαυτῆς.
Phil 2:24 πέποιθα δὲ ἐν Κυρίῳ ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς ταχέως ἐλεύσομαι.
Phil 2:25 Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην, Ἐπαφρόδιτον, τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ συστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς,
Phil 2:26 ἐπειδὴ ἐπιποθῶν ἦν πάντας ὑμᾶς καὶ ἀδημονῶν διότι ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἠσθένησεν.
Phil 2:27 καὶ γὰρ ἠσθένησεν παραπλήσιον θανάτῳ, ἀλλὰ ὁ Θεὸς ἠλέησεν αὐτόν· οὐκ αὐτὸν δὲ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐμέ, ἵνα μὴ λύπην ἐπὶ λύπην σχῶ.
Phil 2:28 Σπουδαιοτέρως οὖν ἔπεμψα αὐτὸν, ἵνα ἰδόντες αὐτὸν πάλιν, χαρῆτε, κἀγὼ ἀλυπότερος ὦ.
Phil 2:29 προσδέχεσθε οὖν αὐτὸν ἐν Κυρίῳ μετὰ πάσης χαρᾶς, καὶ τοὺς τοιούτους ἐντίμους ἔχετε,
Phil 2:30 ὅτι διὰ τὸ ἔργον Χριστοῦ, μέχρι θανάτου ἤγγισεν, παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ ἵνα ἀναπληρώσῃ τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα τῆς πρός με λειτουργίας.