Philippians 2:1-11
Read Philippians 2:1-11
Helpful Background Information:
It is important to remember that, as we read the encouragement-filled letter of Philippians, in context, the circumstances surrounding the Philippians (the intended readers) and Paul (the author) are anything but encouraging — at least in the way you and I normally think of the word.
To start, Paul wrote his letter to the believers in Philippi while in a Roman prison in about 60 AD. Paul planted the Philippian church alongside Silas on his second missionary journey, their work in the area getting both of them beaten, publicly humiliated, and thrown in prison (see Acts 16, 1 Thes. 2:2).
Yet when Paul writes this letter to the Philippians, he is again imprisoned for his gospel proclamation, but this time in Rome. As he is writing this letter to them, the Philippian believers are now enduring the same kind of persecution (Burge and Green, The New Testament in Antiquity, 448). Knowing this makes Paul’s constant words of encouragement, joy, love, and challenges to do things such as "rejoice in the Lord always” (4:4) that much more surprising.
One of the primary themes of Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a challenge to unity for the sake of the gospel. Our passage in 2:1-11 comes right after Paul’s famous words that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21). And these aren’t the only surprising words of Paul in this area of the book. Paul’s exhortations right after this are equally challenging and surprising in light of their circumstances: 1) to persist in faithfulness; 2) to let their “manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27); and 3) that they have been granted for the name of Christ, just as Christ Himself suffered.
Paul undergirds such challenges with his words in 2:1-11 → to imitate Christ’s example. To choose not to cling to any status we may hold, just as He did not. Instead, because of His incredible love, He willingly laid aside His status for our sake and for the sake of the gospel.
Reflection Questions:
What connections do you see between Paul’s words in Phil. 2:1-11 and the primary passage of this week, 1 Cor. 9:19-23? Write down at least 3 connections.
God commands you and me, through the pen of Paul, to have the same mind as Christ Jesus and empty ourselves for the sake of others and the gospel. Where in your life do you see yourself disobeying this command? Where in your life are you resisting this call to servanthood?
How might adopting Christ’s mindset (2:5) help you become “all things to all people” in order to share the gospel, as Paul describes in 1 Cor. 9:19-23?
How does the example of Christ's humility (2:6–8) challenge the way you view leadership, influence, or success?
Take a few minutes to close by asking the Lord to help you to 1) Obey the words of this passage, and 2) Have faith to trust that this (completely counter-cultural perspective in comparison to the message of American individualistic society) route is the path to life.