Philippians 2:1

If there be therefore any consolation<1> in Christ, if any comfort of love<3>, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Philippians 2:2

Fulfill<3> ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love,<4> being of one accord, of one mind.

The Apostle begins Philippians chapter two with the following statement. He says:

If<2> there be...

This would be best translated as "If, and it's true". The Apostle, inspired of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, knew that the Philippian believers were in a proper relationship with their Savior. Everything pointed to this truth. Their works showed that they were in Christ. The emmissary that the Philippians sent to aid Paul, Epaphroditus, was an indication that the church at Philippi was in a proper relationship with Christ. Thus Paul used the first class condition of the Greek <1> EAN, which should be rendered as a statement of fact ("If, and it's true"). This same construction preceeds each of the four points made in verse 1 ... "if, and it's true"... These are all statements of fact, though preceeded with the word "if".

The Philippians were Christians, not because of their works, but their works proved that they were Christians. Christians are equipped by our Heavenly Father to perform the work of God. As our Lord Jesus said:

(Matthew 7:16-21 KJV) "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? {17} Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. {18} A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {19} Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. {21} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Works do not make a Christian, but a Christian in fellowship with God works. So Paul says, "If, and it's true, that ..."

Next we see a complex sentence in the King James that gives me one of those "huh?" moments. Rather than be confused, let's look at verse 1 in the New American Standard translation:

(Philippians 2:1 NASB) "If therefore 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,"

What Paul is saying is this. When a person enters a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ and grows in that relationship, then that person will experience FOUR THINGS:

1. The believer will enter a state of encouragement in Christ. Our Lord Jesus was, is, and will always be an encourager. Though Jesus often chastised the foolish in His earthly ministry, rarely did He act in a discouraging manner to others. Jesus did not belittle people - and He certainly does not belittle those whom He calls to be His servants. To the LEPER who came to Jesus, notice the response:

(Matthew 8:2-3 NASB) "And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." {3} And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."

To the Canaanite woman whose daughter was vexed of a devil,

(Matthew 15:28 KJV) "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

To the multitude that followed Him as He taught, Jesus

(Matthew 15:32 KJV) "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way."

Our Lord Jesus is an encourager, a helper, One who considered every person of value and of worth. We emulate Jesus Christ our Savior when we encourage one another. William Barclay said "One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement ... It is easy to laugh at men's ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others.  The world is full of discouragers.  We have a Christian duty to encourage one another.  Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word." What does an encourager do? Does he overlook the faults of his fellow Christians? Do we look the other way when a believer falls into sin? No, the testimony of Scripture is that sin in the Body of Christ must be dealt with, and that right early. If a brother or a sister is in sin, a clearly Biblical state of ungodliness, then we should use the Scripture to correct the fallen.

2. The believer, as he matures, will enter a state of consoling and persuasive love once he establishes a relationship with God the Father through Christ Jesus our Lord. "Consolation of love" in the New American Standard version is paramuthion {pronounced par-am-oo’-thee-on} agape which means help or consolation given by love. Remember that Paul wrote these words (under God's inspiration) while he sat in a dank prison, being tended to by Epaphroditus. The world often hammers at people. The Church and the Christians that comprise the Church must be willing to act together in love and unity toward one another no matter what may come.

Beloved, the Church that Jesus died for is a body of believers. Each member works together for the common good of the flock. Every Biblical synonym emphasizes that unity of the body is God's design for the Church. Note these synonyms:

Our Lord Jesus is the very embodiment of love - and as we grow as believers, we will learn to love as He loved. The love that God promotes in the Church through the power of the Spirit and of the Word is the cement, the bond that holds a Church together.

Beloved, when Satan attacks the Church, he always attacks it at the point of love. Recognize this as one of his tactics, and strive - as you grow in Christ - to emulate the love of God in all that you do. Serving God is about relationships, not about law keeping. The Christian is called to love God with all his being, this being the first commandment of Christ. The second commandment is that we love man. A Christian is a person marked with love, both Godward and Manward. The love-state of the believer is always in its proper order: love God first, love man next. John told us to keep Christ's commandments. What are our Lord's commandments? "...He who loveth God love his brother also". True Christian love is the cement that holds a church together, while at the same time being the produce that attracts unbelievers to our midst. If we love as Christ asks, the unbeliever will see this and want to share in this boundless Love with us.

3. The third benefit of salvation that the believer receives is the fellowship of the Spirit. Every Christian shares in the fellowship of the Spirit. Beloved, we are a supernatural people, beings that are born again of the power of God. Consider this truth.

If I were to design a supernatural being, how would I go about it if I were God? Well, first I would:

a. Change the way they were born. Those who are born into this life are born natural beings, so I would cause the new supernatural being to be born again.

(John 3:3-8 NASB) "Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." {4} Nicodemus said^ to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" {5} Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. {6} "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {7} "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' {8} "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.""

The first birth, that physical birth, just wouldn't be good enough for a supernatural being. We would have to be born again. What else would I do?

b. Well, if I were God - a supernatural Being - then I would want to make sure that I had a foolproof means of communicating with these supernatural beings. How would I do that? How about by installing Myself inside of every new creature. This is what God has done. At the moment of salvation we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God:

(1 Corinthians 6:19 NASB) "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"

(1 Corinthians 3:17 NASB) "If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."

What a wonderful truth, that we are - if we have accepted Christ as Savior - all indwelt by the Spirit of God. We are all equally equipped to approach God in prayer. We are all equally empowered to pray and have the Father hear our prayers. The same Jesus Who paid for our sins with His own body on the tree sent the Holy Spirit to indwell each and every one of us who believe:

(John 14:16-18 NASB) ""And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; {17} that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. {18} "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

4. The final benefit of salvation that Paul mentions in this statement is "affection and compassion". The believer, because he or she is indwelt by the Spirit of God, can emulate or imitate the compassion of God in Christ Jesus. Who better than a believer in Christ could show the love of God to others? None, that's who!

Paul next says:

Philippians 2:2

Fulfill<3> ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love,<4> being of one accord, of one mind.

The text begins with "Fulfill", the Greek <3>pleroo, an Aorist Active Imperative {pronounced play-ro’-o}, meaning "to make his joy complete." Beloved, the Apostle said that he was joyful over all that the Philippians had accomplished to date. The Corinthian believers were into hedonism - "if it feels good, do it". The Galatian believers were into following the Old Mosaic Law instead of God's Christ and Spirit. The Colossian believers were into gnosticism. The Thessalonian believers were confused on issues related to last things - resurrection of the dead, and so on. The Ephesian believers were plagued with false teachers who came in after Paul and undermined what he taught. Titus himself was attacked by false teachers, thus Paul wrote to him and instructed him on how to defeat these heretics. Of all the local churches that God established through Paul, the Philippian Church was to most loving. Yet Paul begged them to "complete or finish" my joy, by seeking unity of purpose and of mind. Paul said:

that ye be like-minded

"Like-minded" is the Greek autos {pronounded ow-tos’} + phroneo {pronounced fron-eh’-o}, which means "of the same mind, sharing the common goals". The Apostle then defines these terms by saying mentioning that we have the "same love" or autos {pronounded ow-tos’} + agape "a like Divine love" (notice how the same word is used for "like").

Have you ever noticed how many times LOVE is mentioned in Scripture? Here's a few examples:

Matthew 22:36-40 (KJV) "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? {37} Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. {38} This is the first and great commandment. {39} And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. {40} On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Mark 12:29-31 (KJV) "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: {30} And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. {31} And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

John 14:15 (KJV) "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 13:34-35 (KJV) "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. {35} By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

John 15:12-14 (KJV) "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. {13} Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. {14} Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

Romans 13:9-10 (KJV) "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. {10} Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

1 John 2:8-11 (KJV) "Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. {9} He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. {10} He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. {11} But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."

1 John 3:23-24 (KJV) "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. {24} And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."

2 John 1:5-6 (KJV) "And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. {6} And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."

Again, our Lord and Savior Jesus has commanded us to love God and love man. The Bible recognizes EROS (sexual love), STAUROS (familial love), PHILEOS (friendship love) as love all appropriate within it's correct setting. But believers must have the same <3>AGAPE (Divine love) one toward another, man ward, and God ward.

If I want to be friends with someone, then I need to seek to find something in them that I like, and then identify with that thing. So it is with God. The Scripture makes it clear that:

(1 John 4:8 KJV) "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

And again:

(1 John 4:16 KJV) "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

If you want to "touch the face of God" then you must strive to do as God our Savior demands - seek to love. Put your own desires on the side and seek to be pleasing to God. I can think of no young man who, wanting to win the love of a beautiful woman, would not go as far as he could go to woo her. I can think of no young woman who would not do her best to impress and win the love of her beloved.

We must learn to love, if we expect to achieve a deeper and more satisfying relationship with God. We must!

Philippians 2:3

Let nothing be done through strife<5b> or vainglory<5a>; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Strife, <5b> eritheia {pronounced er-ith-i’-ah}, means electioneering or intriguing for office. In extra-Biblical sources the word is used by Aristotle denoting someone who is in self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means. Strife or electioneering becomes commonplace in the church when believers begin to think of the body of Christ as if it were a corporation. With that erroneous mentality, people begin to equate selection as a deacon or an elder with promotion within a corporate structure - a mentality that is poisonous to the church body. Believers are called into the church to be servants to both God and man:

John 12:26 (KJV) "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor."

John 13:13-16 (KJV) "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. {14} If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. {15} For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. {16} Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him."

God distributes the gifts in the body of Christ, but no person in the body - even if in a position of leadership - is greater than the other. Within the body greatness comes by humbling oneself to God and man, not by self promotion or prideful leadership. Jesus said:

Matthew 18:1-4 (KJV) "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? {2} And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, {3} And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. {4} Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Along with electioneering, vanity and pride poison the church of Christ. Vainglory <5b> kenodoxia {pronounced ken-od-ox-ee’-ah}, empty pride or boastfulness, arrogance - this is the antithesis of what the believer is called to do. As Christians we are ordered to promote our brother above ourselves. To prefer our brother over my own wants and needs. If every believer exercised self humility and promotion of others, as the Scripture says:

Romans 12:10  "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another"

We would have less church fighting and more church growing. In my own human body I do not despise my little finger nor those members that seem less useful. If it is a part of the body, that part is important. In the same way each member in the church is terribly important to the health of that Body.

Philippians 2:4

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also<6> on the things of others.

<6>Kai {pronounced kahee}, also or in addition to, implies that it is not wrong to look after our own needs, we should meet the needs of ourselves and our family. Even the pastor of the church should consider his own family as he considers his flock: As believers we are commanded to meet the needs of our family members:

1 Timothy 5:8  "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

Lest we want to be known as an infidel or a heathen. Yes, Beloved, we must look after our immediate family, be it wife, brother, sister, mother, or father. Even our Lord Jesus, as He hung from the Cross dying for our sins, attended to the needs of His earthly mother:

John 19:26-27 (KJV) "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! {27} Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."

Yes, care for you're own, but at the same time care for and include others within our sphere of concern. When we exercise proper mutual concern for one another, we erase disunity in the Body of Christ. An understanding of Biblical unity is imperative in our present age, where fast food and fragmented families is the norm.

 

Mental Attitude And The Believer
The Believer Is To Keep His Mind On God	Isaiah 26:3-4 (KJV) "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. {4} Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:" Colossians 3:2-4 (KJV) "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. {3} For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. {4} When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
There Is Both A Divine And A Human Viewpoint	Isaiah 55:7-9 (KJV) "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. {8} For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. {9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Worldliness Is Not What You Do, But Is Accepting The Human Over The Divine Viewpoint - which then leads to bad behavior	Romans 12:2 (KJV) "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Believers Are To Avoid The World's Mental Traps	2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (KJV) "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) {5} Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
Our Mental Attitude Is To Be Like Christ's	Galatians 6:2-3 (KJV) "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. {3} For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." Philippians 2:1-5 (KJV) "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, {2} Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. {3} Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. {4} Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. {5} Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" Hebrews 12:2-4 (KJV) "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. {3} For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. {4} Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."
We Should Fill Our Minds With The Good Things Of God's Word	Philippians 4:6-8 (KJV) "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. {7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Believers Should Have Stability Of Mind	2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
The Believer Strengthens His Mentality By The Intake Of Doctrine	1 Peter 1:13-16 (KJV) "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; {14} As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: {15} But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; {16} Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."