Background 1:27-30
The command to live a Gospel-worthy live
1:27a Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...
BKC Paul had written about living the Christian life in harmony with the message on which it is based.
Details
a. v.27b I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind,
To stand firm required unity
b. v.27b-28 by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents
To stand firm by struggling for the Gospel, and not by terrified by opponents
Being terrified or suffered for the Gospel was granted to you
1: 29 For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.
BKC So that being opposed would not come as a surprise, he gave them a reminder. Both believing on Christ and suffering for Him had been granted to them (v. 29). Suffering for Christ was not to be considered accidental or a divine punishment.
v.1-4
1. Since we have received or experience the encourage, comfort and fellowship v.1, we can and therefore we are exhorted to be in unity v.2.
encouragement in Christ BDAG Christian exhortation.
Grammatically, this is in 1st conditional sentence and means certainty. Since we have the encouragement from Christ we can live in unity,
comfort provided by love BDAG to that which offers encouragement, esp. as consolation, means of consolation, alleviation
Since we have receive the encouragement by love (from Christ?), we can stand in unity.
fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, NET “spiritual fellowship” if πνεύματος (pneumatos) is an attributive genitive; or “fellowship brought about by the Spirit” if πνεύματος is a genitive of source or production
Since we have experience the fellowship brought by the Spirit, and the affection and mercy, we can stand in unity.
2. Be of the same mind by having the same love, spirit, and purpose.
be of the same mind=BDAG to have an opinion with regard to someth., think, form/hold an opinion, judge
PNTC=Paul is not squelching human creativity nor is he prohibiting personal diversity. He is calling his friends to “seek the same goal with a like mind.” He identifies the common goal of the community in the next phrases (2:2–4), and illustrates the common goal by the supreme example of Christ (2:5–8).
Summary and reflection: How to face the opposition from outside is to reinforce our power within the church. We have already received or experienced the encouragement, comfort, and fellowship from God. Our foundation is laid for us. We can and therefore, we should be in unity. Why? Because the things given to us should be enough and Trinity is in unity. If people have problem in unity it is because we do not have experienced God. What God has given us is enough.
On the other hand, unity or thinking, judgement is not uniformity, but is unity to stick together through sacrificial love. Unity with the same spirit. And unity with the same purpose in mind. We can be different but we want to drive our purpose together. It is far greater than friendship or just personal attraction.
v.5-11
1. Have the same attitude of Christ Jesus v5
BDAG let the same kind of thinking dominate you as dominated Christ Jesus Phil 2:5 (Christ went so far as to devoid himself of his divine status for the benefit of humanity
2. The relationship between Jesus and God the Father: v.6
v.6a he existed in the form of God, v.6b equality with God
form=The Greek term translated form indicates a correspondence with reality. Thus the meaning of this phrase is that Christ was truly God.
v.6 did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,
grasped=(BDAG) As equal to ἅρπαγμα, someth. to which one can claim or assert title by gripping or grasping, someth. claimed w. change fr. abstr. to concr.
Summary: As for those who do not want to show sacrificial love in the church they might having their own right being violated. Here, Paul repeated the equality of Jesus, but He did not assert or claim it.
3. Jesus emptied Himself
Emptied=BDAG of divestiture of position or prestige: of Christ, who gave up the appearance of his divinity and took on the form of a slave, ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν he emptied himself, divested himself of his prestige or privileges...JJeremias, TW V 708, holds that the kenosis is not the incarnation but the cross [Is 53:12]
A. by taking on the form of a slave
Jesus take on the form of a slave. Slave to whom?
BKC “The very nature of a servant” certainly points to His lowly and humble position, His willingness to obey the Father, and serve others
B. by looking like other men
NET It implies that there is a form that does not necessarily correspond to reality...Jesus looked like other men (note anthrōpoi), but was in fact different from them in that he did not have a sin nature.
C. and by sharing in human nature
NET Christ looked just like other men, but he was not like other men (in that he was not sinful), though he was fully human.
4. Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death
humbled-(BDAG) to cause someone to lose prestige or status, humble, humiliate, abase, done esp. to slaves...w. focus on reversal of status ταπ. ἑαυτόν humble oneself of Christ, who went voluntarily to his death
(NIGTC) the climax of Christ’s supreme humility and obedience v. 8 brings the first stanza of the hymn to a conclusion: Having fully identified himself with humanity in his incarnation (v. 7d) Christ humbled himself by becoming obedient to the utmost limit—even to death, and that the most shameful of all, ‘the utterly vile death of the cross’ (Origen).
Summary: Jesus is dominated by His emptying Himself and humbling Himself. He did it voluntarily. How about us in the church. How voluntary are we? He gave up His privilege by obeying the father, by taking on the lower human form and He is fully human. What low position are we willing to be when we are in argument with others in the church? Jesus has no limit in His Humbling. He even took on the shameful Cross and died. We have too much limit as far as our willingness to sacrifice.
5. Repeated words:
Did not grasped His equality with God, emptied Himself, humbled Himself, obedient to death, death on a Cross.
Reflection: How can we have the same attitude of Jesus? a. understand what is His attitude, b. understand the degree of His attitude. Not only He inspired us or we learned from Him, but that we are marveled by the degree of His humbleness. What else do I not willing to give for Him!
v.12-18
4 imperatives
1. Working out your salvation v.12-13
(BKC) Therefore connects these verses with what immediately precedes them. Christ obeyed the Father and carried out His plan even to death on the cross (v. 8). The Philippian Christians needed to obey, to follow Paul’s instruction which was drawn from Christ’s example.
(BKC) They were told to “work out,” to put into practice in their daily living, what God had worked in them by His Spirit. They were not told to work for their salvation but to work out the salvation God had already given them. In view of the apparent problems of disunity and pride among those believers this interpretation seems correct. Some were not doing their work selflessly and with the interests of others ahead of their own (cf. 2:3–4)...Believers are partners with God, laboring together with Him. The verb works (v. 13) means “energizes” or “provides enablement.” God makes His own both willing and desirous to do His work.
Reflection: No boasting even though we may be more mature or more like Christ in our sanctification. God gave us the desire and the effort.
The relationship between God and believers:
v. 12b continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence
(NET) “awe and reverence” ...the attitude the believer should have toward God as they consider their behavior in light of God working through Jesus Christ (2:6–11) and in the believer’s life (2:13) to accomplish their salvation.
work out-BDAG to cause a state or condition, bring about, produce, create
Summary: Believers bring about a result of our salvation based on our awe and reverence to God. How can we not to glorify Him in our sanctification since He is so awesome.
v.13a for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort
bringing forth-BDAG intr. to put one’s capabilities into operation, work, be at work, be active, operate, be effective
Summary: Believers bring about the result of our salvation based on the fact that God is the One who put our will and our effort at work. In other words, we bring out because God also wants that and also gives us the effort to do that.
v.13b for the sake of his good pleasure
good pleasure-BDAG state or condition of being kindly disposed, good will
Summary: Believers cause a condition as a result of our salvation because we see this is the kind, good will of God. Sanctification is good to us in God's eyes and since I wanted to please God I will like to do that.
Conclusion and Reflection: Sanctification is based on a relationship. God is awesome. How can I not glorify Him? God gives me the desire and energy to do that, why dont I cooperate? God has a kind and good will to me. I want to please Him and therefore I do that. My perception of God determines my sanctification.
Even with the right perception of God, do I want to cooperate? Do I care about God enough to live a way to please Him?
2 Do everything without grumbling or arguing v.14-16
(BKC) The order of the Greek words here places emphasis on everything a believer does...The importance of the kind of behavior called for is set forth in Philippians 2:15–16. Before their testimony for Christ could ever be effective in the community where they lived, the Philippians needed to set some things straight in their own assembly...Non-Christians were not being attracted to Him by the saints’ strifes and contentions.
As the Philippian saints held out (or offered) the word of life to others, Paul would then be able to boast (glory) on the day of Christ that he had not labored in vain with them.
Reflection: A loving church is an attractive church. Grumbling, and arguing is not good for evangelism no matter how much effort you have put in and how efficient you are.
3. be glad and rejoice together with me v.17-18
Paul viewed himself as being poured out like a drink offering on behalf of the Philippians (v. 17)...He now viewed his death as imminent
供獻的祭物 (NET) The sacrifice and service (BKC) perhaps this could be understood as “sacrificial service....“Service” (leitourgia) is the same word translated “ceremonies” in Hebrews 9:21 (cf. Phil. 2:25, 30). This means that the work the Philippians did for God was considered an act of worship. All of this brought rejoicing to the apostle’s heart even though it resulted in his facing imminent death
Paul wanted his friends at Philippi to experience the same joy he had (2:18) and to be glad and rejoice with him.
Reflection: In Paul's mind's, whether the Philippians served God was more important to him than his life. If his life could be poured out on behalf of their service then he was glad and rejoice. How about me?
v.19-30
(BKC) In chapter 2 Paul first discussed the fact that the attitude of Christ, who humbled Himself and became obedient to death, should be shared by believers (vv. 1–18). Then Paul pointed out (vv. 19–30) that choice servants of God also provide examples for others to follow.
1. Timothy
(BKC) Timothy was at the time Paul’s companion (1:1), though evidently not a prisoner. The letter would be delivered by Epaphroditus and Timothy’s visit would follow...Another lesson to be learned from Paul’s sending Timothy is the need for selflessness. Timothy was close to Paul and dear to his heart. If Paul ever needed Timothy, it was while he was there in Rome under house arrest. Yet he was willing to sacrifice Timothy’s companionship so that others could be helped.
v.20 who will readily (sincerely, genuinely) demonstrate his deep concern for you (cf 2:4 各人不要單顧自己的事，也要顧別人的事。 )
v.22 served with me in advancing the gospel
(PNTC) Timothy fulfilled his filial duty by honoring and obeying Paul as a son should honor and obey his father...Of supreme importance to Paul was partnership in the gospel, confirming the gospel, the need to advance the gospel, the responsibility to proclaim the gospel, the defense of the gospel, and the call to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (1:5, 7, 12, 14, 16, 27).
(PNTC) Timothy humbled himself to be an obedient son and slave. In his humility he was like Christ, who made himself nothing by taking the form of a slave and humbled himself by becoming obedient to death (2:7–8).
2. Epaphroditus
(BKC) Since the church had sent Epaphroditus to bring Paul “the gifts” (of money, 4:18) and to discover how things were going with him, they probably intended for him to stay and assist Paul indefinitely. However, the apostle chose to send him back to them. But Paul wanted to be doubly sure the believers knew how highly he thought of Epaphroditus...Paul’s desire here illustrates how believers ought to relate toward those who may be misunderstood by others. Genuine Christian love, a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), is always desirable, for it defends others and overlooks their faults (1 Cor. 13:7 凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐)
Summary and reflection: Timothy (and Paul) was an example of how a person has genuinely deep concern for others. Although no details was given, but his example of advancing the gospel might be a hint that he cares for how the Gospel advanced in their midst.
Timothy also served as an example of obedience, as being the son of Paul.
Paul sent someone to the P because of his example, not because of his knowledge or anything else. Example is a strong incentive for us to change.
Paul sent E back but with him, Paul sent strong recommendations so that people would not misunderstand him. From this, we know how to love one another. Thinking for others more.
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