Bible Study Philippians 2: 1-18

 

A Commentary of the Book of Philippians

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Philippians 2: 1-18

Text: 

Christ’s Humility and Exaltation

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any [a]affection and compassion, 2 fulfill my joy, that you think the same way, by maintaining the same love, being united in spirit, thinking on one purpose, 3 doing nothing [b]from [c]selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, 4 not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this way of thinking [d]in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing [e]to be grasped, 7 but [f]emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [g]on a cross. 9 Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is [h]Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 so that you will be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as [i]lights in the world, 16 holding [j]fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to boast because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 And you also, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 1: “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,”

In their union with the Lord Jesus Christ, they find encouragement to pursue unity with each other. To follow Christ’s example, they must first be in Christ.The “consolation of love,” is the comfort that comes from the fact that Christ loves them individually. The “fellowship of the Spirit” is produced by the Holy Spirit operating in their lives.

Verse 2: “fulfill my joy, that you think the same way, by maintaining the same love, being united in spirit, thinking on one purpose,”

Paul’s emphasis is on unity. The verse does not require unanimity in all areas but only in the essentials of the Gospel message. Unity among believers made Paul joyful.

Verse 3: “doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves,” 

Paul knew that unity would require people to remove any selfishness from their lives. When humility is substituted for selfish thinking, there is a clear pathway to unity. Regrettably, the opposite is also true. Selfish thinking ends unity. Paul was setting forth a clear message for church operations.

Verse 4: “not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Unity will be present when people put the needs and concerns of others before their own needs. The verse does not require you to abandon your needs, but rather to place them in subjection to the needs of others. Again, this is a recipe for unity.

Verse 5: “Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”

Paul now explains his teaching by stating that the thinking expressed in this chapter models the thinking of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our role model. The One that died for us on the cross to save us from our sins always put others before Himself. He is our Guide and we should model His behavior in every way possible.

Verse 6: “who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,”

The word translated “form” refers to the underlying reality of His Divinity and not to His physical appearance only. Jesus’ being in “the form of God” means that He is divine. There is a dangerous teaching found in some Charismatic/ New Apostolic Reformation churches. The false teaching is that Jesus was a man like us and the miracles He did were the result of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Since Jesus was a man like us anointed by the Holy Spirit, we should be able to do the same miracles He did. The Lord Jesus Christ was all God and all man. He took on humanity without divesting Himself of His Divinity. His taking on flesh was an addition, not a subtraction. The other Charismatic/ New Apostolic Reformation false teaching is that what God does for one, He does for all. Wrong! The Scriptures have made clear that God is Sovereign and man cannot control Him. Stephen was stoned to death and Peter freed from prison by an angel. God saved one but not the other. Why? Because He is Sovereign. 

Verse 7: “but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men.”

The word translated “emptied” means laid aside His privileges. Christ left the glories of Heaven as a result of a Covenant of Redemption made between the Father who chose His elect, the Son who agreed to redeem the elect, and the Holy Spirit who agreed to take the Gospel message and apply it to the hearts of those to be born again. His taking on flesh was an addition, not a subtraction.

Verse 8: “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Christ’s appearance as a man was not an illusion as some Gnostics taught. He revealed Himself through a complete and genuine human nature united with His divine nature in one Person, who is both human and divine. He added flesh to His Divinity. His humility is seen in His willingness to die for the elect of God. 

Verse 9: “Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,”

The Father’s act is a direct response to Christ’s obedience. The Name He has received is the Name that every knee shall one day bow. Bow now and be saved and if not, wait and bow at the Judgment Day and be damned. However, everyone will bow to the Name.

Verse 10: “so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

The mentioning of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will bring all to their knees to pay homage. Do not delay your bowing to His Lordship. Today is the day of salvation. Believe today and live, wait until after death and be damned.

Verse 11: “and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The notes for the Legacy Standard Bible reveal that the “LORD” referenced in this verse is the Old Testament, “Yahweh”. Isaiah 45:23-25 reads: “23 I have sworn by Myself,

The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back,

That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. 24 They will say of Me, ‘Only in Yahweh are righteousness and strength.’ Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. 25 In Yahweh all the seed of Israel Will be justified and will boast.” Paul is connecting the God of the Old Testament with the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wants the reader to comprehend the power of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every knee will bow to Him. Jesus is the LORD.

Verse 12: “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;”

Paul is not leaving salvation by grace through faith. He is not arguing for a works-based righteousness. Rather, Paul is telling the reader that when one is really saved or born again, there will be a difference in how life is lived. We are to work out our salvation which is the daily sanctification process as the Holy Spirit conforms us each day more into the image of Christ. This verse is about sanctification (being set apart more and more for Christ each day), not justification.

Verse 13: “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Make sure you understand what Paul is saying. It is God that does the work for you to sanctify you and make you more like Christ. You are responsible to respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction and leading. It is God’s plan to do this for you because it is “for His good pleasure.”

Verse 14: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing,”

Paul warned the Philippians that they must not imitate the ancient Israelites in their complaining in the wilderness. The Philippians may well have been guilty of grumbling against church leaders, as the Israelites did against Moses. 

Verse 15: “so that you will be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

The corporate witness of a united church is in view. The church is to be a light to the lost. It is a holy church that will be a witness. A compromising lukewarm church is a worldly church and is powerless and dead. God’s people are to uncompromisingly preach the truth of the Word of God. Then, it will be a light.

Verse 16: “holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to boast because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.”

To hold fast the word of life is to obey the Word of God. When we are obedient to all that God has shown us, it will give reason for those who have poured into us the Word a reason to boast. May we make those that taught us the Word of God proud of our spiritual growth. Notice, Paul’s reason to boast was about the Philippians’ behavior, not his own.

Verse 17: “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.”

Being “poured out” refers to the possibility that Paul would die as a martyr. A “drink offering” accompanied sacrifices and was normally wine. For Paul, suffering can cause joy to increase. It was to be the same for the Philippians.

Verse 18: “And you also, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”

As Paul rejoiced over his ministry, the Philippians were to do the same over theirs, demanding and sacrificial though it could be. And they were also to rejoice, as Paul does over his ministry, though it involves imprisonment and probable death.