Philippians 2

Philippians 2 is the second of the four chapters of Philippians. In Philippians 1, Paul, writing as a prisoner, urged his readers to live in a manner worthy of the gospel. This chapter opens with "therefore" and goes on to explain what such a life looks like in terms of the church's unity and humility.

Outline

• Verses 1–4 On the basis of consolation in Christ and the fellowship of the Spirit, Paul urges the believers to be of one mind. They are to do nothing through strife or vainglory but to esteem others better than themselves.
• Verses 5–11 Paul presents the mind of Christ Jesus as the mind they should have. The one who was in the form of God emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. God therefore highly exalted him, so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9–11).
• Verses 12–18 Paul tells the believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, while affirming that it is God who works in them. He urges them to do all things without murmurings and disputings and to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked generation. Even if he is offered as a drink offering, Paul says, he rejoices and calls on them to rejoice with him.
• Verses 19–24 Paul says he will soon send Timothy and expresses his confidence that he himself will also come shortly.
• Verses 25–30 Paul sends back Epaphroditus, who had been sick nigh unto death but recovered. He asks the church to receive him with gladness and to hold him in reputation.

Key Verses

• Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" — makes Christ the standard for the exhortations throughout the chapter.
• Philippians 2:7 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant" — a principal text on the Incarnation and the humiliation of Christ.
• Philippians 2:12 "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" — together with verse 13, sets God's working side by side with the believer's obedience.

People and Places

• Timothy: Paul's co-worker. Paul describes him as one who served with him in the gospel as a son with his father.
• Epaphroditus: the man the Philippian church sent to minister to Paul's needs.
• Philippi: the city in Macedonia where the church that received the letter was located.

Points for Reflection

• The origin of verses 6–11: Because of the passage's rhythmic structure, many scholars regard it as an early Christian hymn quoted by Paul. Others hold that Paul composed it himself. It is commonly called the "Christ Hymn."
• "Emptied" in verse 7: The Greek word is kenoō. Some nineteenth-century theologians interpreted the passage to mean that the Son laid aside some of his divine attributes or the use of them; this view is known as the "kenosis theory." Traditional Christology reads the verse not as the Son's relinquishing his deity but as his taking on the form of a servant, that is, a human nature.
• "Work out your salvation" in verses 12–13: There is broad agreement across denominations that this does not mean salvation is earned by works. The emphasis, however, differs. The Reformed tradition gives priority to God's sovereign working in the process of sanctification, while Wesleyan theology tends to place greater emphasis on the believer's cooperation in responding to grace.
• The "drink offering" in verse 17: This refers to the offering in Old Testament worship in which wine was poured out upon the sacrifice. Paul is understood to be comparing his possible death to such an offering. A similar expression appears in 2 Timothy 4.

In the Korean Church

Because verses 5–11 deal with the humiliation of Christ, they are frequently used in sermons for Christmas and Holy Week. Verse 5 is often quoted as an exhortation to humility and service.