Philippians 2ASV
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Philippians2

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,

2make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

3doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;

4not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

5Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;

8and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

9Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;

10that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth,

11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12So then, my beloved, even 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 who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

14Do all things without murmurings and questionings:

15that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,

16holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.

17Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:

18and in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me.

19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

20For I have no man likeminded, who will care truly for your state.

21For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.

23Him therefore I hope to send forthwith, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me:

24but I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come shortly.

25But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need;

26since he longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick:

27for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28I have sent him therefore the more diligently, 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 joy; and hold such in honor:

30because for the work of Christ he came nigh unto death, hazarding his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

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Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Philippians 2.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Exhortations to a kind, humble spirit and behaviour. (1–4). The example of Christ. (5–11). Diligence in the affairs of salvation, and to be examples to the world. (12–18). The apostle's purpose of visiting Philippi. (19–30).

vv1-4

Here are further exhortations to Christian duties; to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, according to the example of the Lord Jesus. Kindness is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family. Several motives to brotherly love are mentioned. If you expect or experience the benefit of God's compassions to yourselves, be compassionate one to another. It is the joy of ministers to see people like-minded. Christ came to humble us, let there not be among us a spirit of pride. We must be severe upon our own faults, and quick in observing our own defects, but ready to make favourable allowances for others. We must kindly care for others, but not be busy-bodies in other men's matters. Neither inward nor outward peace can be enjoyed, without lowliness of mind.

vv5-11

The example of our Lord Jesus Christ is set before us. We must resemble him in his life, if we would have the benefit of his death. Notice the two natures of Christ; his Divine nature, and human nature. Who being in the form of God, partaking the Divine nature, as the eternal and only-begotten Son of God, Joh 1:1, had not thought it a robbery to be equal with God, and to receive Divine worship from men. His human nature; herein he became like us in all things except sin. Thus low, of his own will, he stooped from the glory he had with the Father before the world was. Christ's two states, of humiliation and exaltation, are noticed. Christ not only took upon him the likeness and fashion, or form of a man, but of one in a low state; not appearing in splendour. His whole life was a life of poverty and suffering. But the lowest step was his dying the death of the cross, the death of a malefactor and a slave; exposed to public hatred and scorn. The exaltation was of Christ's human nature, in union with the Divine. At the name of Jesus, not the mere sound of the word, but the authority of Jesus, all should pay solemn homage. It is to the glory of God the Father, to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; for it is his will, that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father, Joh 5:23. Here we see such motives to self-denying love as nothing else can supply. Do we thus love and obey the Son of God?

vv12-18

We must be diligent in the use of all the means which lead to our salvation, persevering therein to the end. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. Work out your salvation, for it is God who worketh in you. This encourages us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain: we must still depend on the grace of God. The working of God's grace in us, is to quicken and engage our endeavours. God's good-will to us, is the cause of his good work in us. Do your duty without murmurings. Do it, and do not find fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it. By peaceableness; give no just occasion of offence. The children of God should differ from the sons of men. The more perverse others are, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless. The doctrine and example of consistent believers will enlighten others, and direct their way to Christ and holiness, even as the light-house warns mariners to avoid rocks, and directs their course into the harbour. Let us try thus to shine. The gospel is the word of life, it makes known to us eternal life through Jesus Christ. Running, denotes earnestness and vigour, continual pressing forward; labouring, denotes constancy, and close application. It is the will of God that believers should be much in rejoicing; and those who are so happy as to have good ministers, have great reason to rejoice with them. (Php 2:19-30)

Cross References

Philippians 2
v10Isaiah 45:23-25allusion

Paul adapts Yahweh's oath that every knee will bow and tongue confess to describe Jesus Christ's exaltation.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v6Colossians 1:15thematic

Parallels 'form of God' with Christ as the 'image of the invisible God' prior to creation.

Supported by JFB

v11John 5:23thematic

Confessing Jesus as Lord to God's glory aligns with honoring the Son as the Father.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v212 Timothy 4:10thematic

Demas exemplifies seeking his own by forsaking Paul, loving this present world.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Identical Greek phrase and concept for supplying a lack of service to the Apostle.

Supported by JFB

Verbatim verbal parallel to the 'fellowship of the Spirit' (communion of the Holy Ghost).

Supported by JFB

v3Matthew 11:29thematic

Christ's own invitation to learn from Him, being 'meek and lowly in heart'.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Romans 15:3thematic

Christ as the ultimate ethical pattern, who 'pleased not himself' but bore our reproaches.

Supported by JFB

True Christian charity contrasted with self-seeking; love 'seeketh not her own.'

Supported by Matthew Poole

v30Philemon 1:13thematic

Parallels the idea of ministering to Paul in bonds in the stead of a church.

Supported by JFB

v2John 3:29thematic

The Baptist's joy made full/fulfilled parallels Paul's plea to 'fulfil ye my joy'.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v3Romans 12:10thematic

Parallels 'let each esteem other better' with 'in honour preferring one another'.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Galatians 5:26contrast

Contrasts lowliness with being 'desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another'.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6John 1:1thematic

The eternal Word existing with God and being God grounds Christ's divine 'form'.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v6John 17:5thematic

The glory Christ had with the Father before the world matches His pre-incarnate divine status.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v7Matthew 20:28thematic

Illustrates the 'form of a servant'—the Son of man came to minister, not be ministered to.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v10Romans 14:11thematic

Paul's other explicit citation of the Isaiah 45:23 oath of universal subjection to God.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v262 Timothy 1:4thematic

Paul's mutual longing and desire to see his co-laborers, remembering their tears.

Supported by JFB

v291 Timothy 5:17thematic

Elaborates on the instruction to 'hold such in reputation' as worthy of double honor.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v30Romans 16:4thematic

Priscilla and Aquila similarly risked their own necks and lives for Paul's ministry.

Supported by JFB

v1Colossians 3:12thematic

Echoes 'bowels and mercies' as the essential clothing of the elect of God.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v24Philemon 1:22thematic

Paul's parallel expression of trust that he will be released to visit soon.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Defines the role and title of 'messengers of the churches' (apostoloi) in ministry.

Supported by JFB