Philippians 2 Commentary

Philippians 1 Commentary

Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV)

¹ So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reflection Questions

Philippians 2:1-2

• How do “encouragement in Christ”, “comfort from love”, “participation in the Spirit”, and “affection and sympathy” lead a person to “being in full accord and of one mind” with other believers?  Which of these do I need to experience at a greater level? How can I be in “full accord” and “of one mind” with other believers within this body of Christ?

Philippians 2:3-4

• What does it look like to “count others more significant than” myself?  Who are the people whose interests I need to look after?

Philippians 2:5-8

• Reflect on what Jesus is like based on vv. 6-8. How does this contrast with what human beings are like? In what ways does “grasping” characterize my life?

Prayer