Philipians 2: 1-11

Philippians 2:1-11

Main Idea of the Passage:

In Philippians 2:1-11 Paul has two main subjects that he is addressing for the church in Philippi, exhortation towards unity and living a humble minded life that Jesus exemplified while on the earth. Paul ties these two ideas together by explaining that unity among the church begins with humility.

Outline of the Passage:

Verses 1-2 The author is giving a definition as to what faith really is as things hoped for and things not yet seen. For it was by faith that the great men and women of the bible were held in high esteem with God.

Verses 3 It was by faith that God created the world, giving a good example of how God called things into existence from the invisible.

Verses 4-5 Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain because it was founded upon faith, placing Abel in high esteem with God because of his faith. Enoch was translated into heaven because of his great faith, which like Abel placed him in very high esteem with God.

Verses 6 Without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone that comes to God must believe that He is and that he is a rewarded for those who seek Him.

Verses 7-11 Noah believed God when he spoke to him warning him against the coming flood. Noah trusted in and believed God’s words and took God’s words on faith, and Noah was rewarded. Abraham obeyed God when He asked him to go to a place he had never seen to receive an inheratance that would pass down to his heirs. Abraham looked for a place that was founded and made by God. Abraham believed God’s words and took God’s words on faith. Sarah was able to conceive a child years past child bearing age, because she believed in God’s words and took them on faith.

Exegetical notes for context:

Historical-Cultural Context

* The author of the letter of Hebrews is uknown. Many believe that Paul was the author of Hebrews due to it’s content which lead to the book of Hebrews being canonized as a Pauline book. (Ellingworth 4)

* Other purposed possible authors are Clement, Luke, or perhaps someone assocated with Paul, being Barnabas or Apollos (O’Brian)

* It is widely accepted that the letter of Hebrews was written somewhere between A.D 50-A.D. 90. (O’Brian)

* The location of Hebrews is also unknown. The most plasuable options are believe to be Spain, Judea, Jerusalem and Rome. Jerusalem and Rome are considered to be the most likely. (Ellingworth pg 29)

* The time, and place of Hebrews is unknown which makes it difficult to determine the recipiants in which it was written to. The general belief is the book of Hebrews was written to both a Jewish and Gentile audince who were really struggling with their belief in Jesus and their Christian expereince due to general weariness, repeatative sins and possible persecution.

* Due to their current struggle the recipiants appeared as if they were starting to revert back to old ways of Judaism or Hellenistic syncretism which was all based more on rules and regulations as oppose to a relationship with Jesus.

Literary Context

* The book of Hebrews

* Paul’s letter to the Philippians can be broken into six major sections (Fee 38)

* Introductory matters 1:1-11

* Paul’s Affairs: Reflections on Imprisonment 1:12-26

* The Philippians’ Affairs: Exhortation to Steadfastness and Unity 1:27 – 2:18

* What’s Next Regarding Paul’s and Their Affairs 2:19 – 30

* The Philippians Affairs – Again 3:1-4:3

* Concluding Matters 4:4-23

* There is some belief that the letter to the Philippians was not a single letter, rather a combination of several letters that were possible not even written in the order in which we read them today. The main bases for this belief is based on two factors

* The change of tone the writing at the beginning of chapter 3

* The thank you portion in chapter 4 appearing to be an afterthought, which was not keeping in the sequence of how letters or epistles were written during this time. (O’Brian 11-12)

* In versus 2:6-11 Paul’s writings follow a perfect poetic pattern of two stanza’s which can be divided into three lines each, with each line containing three syllables, yet with one break in the pattern in vs. 8.

* This pattern in writing leads to the idea that his words were possible a creed or hymn that the church at this time was well familiar with and used as a liturgy.

* The break in the pattern in vs. 8 gives the idea that Paul was looking to express his importance on Jesus death on the cross. (Klein 435-436)

Exegetical Notes for Content

* In versus one and two Paul is linking with the previous versus about unity as stated in 1:27-30 by using the statement “therefore” making these verses a larger section on the idea of unity. (Hawthorne 97) Paul gives a conditional statement as to how the congregation is to live in unity based upon what they had presumable been experiencing in coming into a relationship with Jesus. * Therefore – Strong’s # 3767 – OUN. Then, accordingly, consequently, these things being so.

* Same – Strong’s # 846 – autoB. Himself, herself, themselves, itself, the same.

* Vs 1 contains four “if ” statements which are used as a way for Paul to capture their experience and advocate unity among the believers in Philippi.

* These four “if” statements were not written with the expectation of being accepted by the readers as suggestions rather to be taken as truth and instructions to be followed. (Melick 93) * Vs 2 Paul makes the statement “fulfill my joy” by having * The same mind * The same love * United in Spirit * One purpose * In versus three and four Paul begins to paint a picture of how unity among the church first begins with humility. * Humility – Strong’s # 5012 – tapeinofrosune. The having a humble opinion of one’s self, a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness, modesty.

* This is where Paul begins to tie the idea of unity with humility.

* Hawthorne stated that “Unity is impossible if each is out for himself, each is promoting his own cause, each is seeking his own advantage” (68) * Paul expresses the above concept by explaining that the members of the church at Philippi should not be self- serving rather they should be looking to fulfill the needs of each other, which is the only way to unity.

* In versus five – eight Paul gives the example of Jesus as the type of humility he is explaining to the Philippians by utilizing a possible hymn or creed that the church was already familiar with. * Equality – Strong’s # 2470 – isoB. Equal, in quantity or quality * Attitude – Strong’s # 5426 – froneo. To have understanding, be wise, to feel, to think, to have an opinion of one’s self. * Grasped – Strong’s # 725 – arpagmoB. The act of seizing, robbery, a thing seized, booty, to deem anything a prize. * In verse five Paul begins his explination of humility by expressing the importance of taking on the attitude of Jesus. In the original Greek the word attitude comes with the connotation of belief. The Bible is a book about faith and belief and how those affect our relationship with God. Paul was stating here that they were to take on the same beliefs as Jesus as they continue in their walk with Him. * In verse six Paul begins to detail and describe the beginnings of Jesus humility. Paul tells how Jesus existed and or preexisted in the form of God, yet He did not regard His position as possession, rather He looked at His position as something that is to be attained. * In verse seven and eight Paul stated that Jesus emptied himself by taking the from of a servant and becoming in likeness of a man. Those were Jesus first two actions in walking out His humility. His final step of humility came with His death on the cross. All of the steps Jesus took were voluntary in His part. He chose a path of humility. * In versus nine through eleven Paul expands upon the idea of humility and completes verses 5-8 by the use of therefore expressing how God honors the actions of humility towards others. * Paul expresses how Jesus’ voluntary actions in humility towards others sets the foundation for His exultation and gives context as to why God gave Jesus the name above every name. * Paul continues to explain the context of God in giving Jesus the name above every name by expanding upon His glory by stating every knee bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Application Titles are very important in our culture today. They tell us who we are and give definition as to what is expected of us. As important as titles are in helping to determine what our roles our in any given context, there is always a large problem that arises in a culture that is bent on titles, and that is the idea title leadership. Title leadership at its core is based on the idea of entitlement, as if something is due them because of the title they carry. Not because it is what’s right, or moral, or best for everyone else, but because they say so, and their title enforces the decision. On the other hand there is service leadership. Service leadership pays no attention to titles. At the core of service leadership you find humility, compassion, and regard for others. The description Paul gives about Jesus in Philippians 2 is probably the most profound example of service leadership I have ever seen. I can’t think of a title that would command more respect on this earth or in heaven than the title of God. In our culture today, if God were the CEO of heaven, it could have been very easy for Him to speak from a title position and say, “you know what, these people made this mess, let them figure it out”. Thank God that’s not what He did. God didn’t look at His role from a position of entitlement as He could have. Rather he looked at His role from the position of humility and service. Imagine that, the same God who created the universe, and everything in it, placed service to others as the example of leadership and a means of creating unity and harmony amongst mankind. And, because of His service leadership, Jesus, who was God in the flesh, will be forever be praise with the name that is above all names. 1 Peter 5:6 states that if we humble ourselves under God’s hand in due time He will lift you up. How does Peter’s statement and Paul’s description of Jesus example challenge your current idea of humility as it refers to leadership and service towards others?

Bibliography

Fee, Gordan D. Philippians. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995

Hawthorne, Gerald. Philippians. World Biblical Commentary. Rev. and exp. by Ralph P. Martin. Nashville: Nelson, 2004.

Jeffers, James S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era. Downers
Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Melick, Richard R. Jr. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman, 1991 Niswonger, Richard L. New Testament History. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988.

Strong’s, James. The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Nashville: Thomas Nelson/Word, 1990.

Bibliography: Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995 Hawthorne, Gerald P. Martin. Nashville: Nelson, 2004. Jeffers, James S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1999. Nashville: Broadman, 1991 Niswonger, Richard L. New Testament History. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988. Strong’s, James. The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Nashville: Thomas Nelson/Word, 1990.