Philippians 2
Outline:
I. \\1:1-2\\ Introduction
II. \\#Php 1:3-4:23\\ Paul’s Heart
A. \\#3-10\\ Paul’s Relationship to the Philippians
1. \\#3-5, 7-8\\ Paul’s Love for the Philippians
2. \\#6, 9-11\\ Paul’s Desire for the Philippians
B. \\#1:12-30\\ Paul’s Concern for the Philippians
1. \\#12-26\\ Paul wanted them to understand.
2. \\#27-30\\ Paul wanted them to stay strong.
C. \\#2:1-17\\ Paul’s Challenges to the Philippians (Round 1)
1. \\#2:1-11\\ Be Likeminded
a. \\#1\\ An "IF" Condition:
b. \\#2-11\\ A "THEN" Conclusion:
2. \\#2:12-18\\ Work Out Your Salvation
a. \\#12\\ The Challenge
b. \\#13-18\\ The Task
c. \\#16-18\\ The Goals
D. \\#2:19-30\\ Paul’s Personal Request to the Philippians
1. \\#19-24\\ Concerning Timothy
2. \\#25-30\\ Epaphroditus
E. \\#3:1-21\\ Paul’s Challenges to the Philippians (round 2)
1. \\#3:1\\ Rejoice in the Lord
2. \\#3:2-16\\ Beware of Titles
3. \\#3:17-21\\ Follow Paul’s Example
I. Paul’s Challenges (Round 1)
A. \\#Php 2:1-11\\ Be Likeminded
1. \\#1\\ An "IF" Condition:
a. \\#1\\ If there be any consolation in Christ…
(1) The words consolation and comfort used in this
verse are similar.
(2) This word also has the idea of understanding.
(3) We might say, "If there be any comfort and
understanding in Christ…."
b. If there be any comfort of love…
(1) This is the only time this word is used in the
Bible.
(2) It has the idea of comfort and encouragement.
(3) We might say, "If there be any comfort and
encouragement in love…."
c. If there be any fellowship of the Spirit… - If we
feel the Holy Spirit or if He is real to us.
d. If any bowels and mercies…
(1) Bowels were to these what the heart is to us, a
symbol of love.
(2) We might say, "If there be any love and
mercy…."
2. \\#2-11\\ A "THEN" Conclusion:
a. \\2\\ "be likeminded"
(1) Paul was elaborating on a thought he introduced
in \\#Php 1:27\\.
(2) To be likeminded is for all to think alike or in
similar fashion.
(3) The longer a Christian is saved, the more like
Jesus he should think.
(4) Doing so would fulfill Paul’s joy or make him
happy.
(5) But Paul drew more conclusions.
b. "have the same love"
(1) That could mean that we should all love with the
same kind of love, the Jesus loved us with.
(2) But it probably means that we are to love every-
one with the same love, not showing partiality
to some.
c. "being of one accord.
(1) Doing or working toward the same end.
(2) Paul wanted the church to do more than to think
alike. He also wanted them to work together.
d. "be of one mind"
(1) That is about as close to being "like minded" and
"being of one accord" as you can get without
repeating yourself.
(2) However, I believe the one mind that Paul was
speaking of is Christ’s mind.
(3) Sadly, churches and believers can think alike and
be working toward the same goal—AND BE MOVING
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
(4) If we all have Jesus’ mind, that will not be
possible.
(5) Paul spelled this out in a few verses:
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also
in Christ Jesus:
e. \\#3\\ Having no strife or vainglory.
(1) Having no strife means that we should not be
contentious, argumentative, difficult.
(2) Having no vainglory means that we should not be
conceited, prideful, having an overestimation of
ourselves.
f. "esteem other better than themselves"
(1) Instead we should give others and their well
being higher consideration than our own.
(2) Joy - Jesus first; Others second; Yourself last.
g. \\#4\\ "Look not… on his own things" - The command
is that we not be selfish and self-centered, focusing
only on ourselves.
h. "but… on the things of others"
(1) This is not a challenge to be envious or a thief!
(2) It is a command to help care for the things of
others—even above your own possessions.
i. \\#5-11\\ "Let this mind (Jesus’ mind) be in you"
(1) Jesus’ mind is the mind we are to possess, and He
is the example of how we are to put others
before self.
(2) \\#6-7\\ Verse 6 is a glorious verse, but its
wording is somewhat confusing; yet things clear
up when verse 7 is read with it.
(a) \\#6\\ Jesus was "in the form of God."
i. This is talking about His
preincarnation forms.
ii. Some think that Jesus BECAME God.
iii. This verse seems to squash that idea.
(b) "thought it not robbery to be equal with
God:"
i. The verse is telling us that Jesus
could have had a thought while He was
in His preincarnate form.
ii. The thought pertains to His equality
with God.
iii. Paul will go in the next verse to tell
us that Jesus never HAD this thought
and actually did the OPPOSITE of it;
however, the thought is difficult to
understand.
iv. It is difficult because the use of
the word "robbery" confuses us.
v. So let’s look at the next verse (the
context) and see if Jesus’ opposite
action explains the thought.
(c) \\#7\\ "BUT made himself of no reputation"
i. Despite this thought, Jesus—in doing
the opposite of it—made Himself a
servant.
ii. He did not hold onto His reputation,
but set aside who He was and was made
into the image of a human being.
(d) What might the thought that Jesus could have
logically had, but never did be?
i. That His reputation of being God was
too valuable to let it be lost or
taken from Him.
ii. If something is lost or taken from us,
we might say we have been robbed.
iii. Hence, the thought that Jesus never had
was that His reputation of being equal
should not be stolen from Him.
iv. This is the kind of mindset that God’s
wants us to have.
(3) \\#8\\ Paul went on to describe just how humble
Jesus was.
(a) "he (continued) to humble himself"
(b) He "became obedient unto death."
(c) Even to the cruel "death of the cross."
(d) This statement also confuses some.
i. Why would God the Son, if He is equal
to God the Father, have to humble
Himself to the Father and obey Him?
ii. That question comes from the
misconception that to be submissive
somehow lessens a person. IT DOES
NOT.
iii. Jesus humbled Himself to be obedient so
that the plan of the Father, the Son,
and the Spirit could be accomplished.
iv. Doing so did not lessen the deity of
any member of the Godhead.
(4) \\#9-11\\ However, because Jesus took such a
humble role in the plan of God, the Godhead
decided to give to Jesus the most exalted role.
(a) \\#9\\ His name is to be exalted above all
names.
(b) \\#10\\ And at His name, every creature
everywhere will bow.
(c) \\#11\\ And confess that Jesus is LORD.
(5) Doubt who Jesus is if you wish, but throughout
all eternity His name will be honored and
recognized above all others!
B. \\#Php 2:12-18\\ Work Out Your Salvation
1. \\#12\\ The Challenge
a. \\#12\\ "as ye have obeyed" - Not as they had obeyed
Paul but Christ.
b. "in my absence"
(1) Paul had never "stayed" with the Philippians for
long, probably just months.
(2) The absence he spoke of here was the possibility
of his death.
c. "work out your own salvation"
(1) To work out is not the same as to work FOR.
(2) God had put salvation into the Philippians. Paul
was encouraging them to work that gift out of
their soul and into their lives.
(3) "fear and trembling" - We should be conscious of
the fact that God is watching and will be
judging us how well this is done.
2. \\#13-16\\ The Task
a. \\#14-15\\ Without murmuring and disputing
(1) \\#14\\ Do not murmur - Murmuring is
complaining.
(2) Do not dispute - Disputing is being
argumentative.
b. \\#15\\ So that…
(1) We may be "blameless," without fault, in the
eyes of the world. No one likes someone is
always complaining. It nothing else, it will
hurt our testimony.
(2) We may be "harmless," without incidents. Being
argumentative will cause problems sooner rather
than later.
(3) We may be examples of "the sons of God," needing
no "rebuke" or correction even though we must
live in a "crooked and perverse" world.
(4) We may "shine as lights" of hope and civility.
c. \\#16\\ "Holding forth the word of life"
(1) To hold forth the word of life is to live a life
so that the Word that gives life can be seen.
(2) Murmuring and disputing would hinder the
brightness of Word’s light!
(3) And if the Word of Life that was to shine through
the Philippian church was hindered, Paul would
feel like he had "laboured in vain."
(4) But if the Word of Life shone brightly through
them, Paul would "rejoice in the day of Christ."
3. \\#17-18\\ The Joy
a. \\#17\\ "…if I be offered… sacrificed… I joy, and
rejoice"
b. \\#18\\ "For the same cause also do ye joy and
rejoice"
(1) The same thing that would cause Paul to rejoice
if he died, namely the Philippians living such
a life that the Word of Life was visible through
them, would not only bring Paul joy, but them as
well.
(2) The thought of Paul’s death diverted Paul’s
thoughts back to something else that needed to
be said. He will return to his challenges after
he has said it.
C. \\#Php 2:19-30\\ Paul’s Personal Request to the Philippians
1. \\#19-24\\ Concerning Timothy
a. \\#19\\ "I trust… to send Timotheus" - Paul planned
to send Timothy to the church at Philippi to
encourage and strengthen the churches in that area.
b. \\#20\\ "Timothy is the best."
(1) "likeminded" - Timothy had Paul’s mindset
concerning the things of Christ.
(2) He "will naturally care for your state."
Timothy has a natural heart for Christians.
c. \\#21\\ "all seek their own, not… Jesus Christ"
(1) The others do not.
(2) They seek their own welfare instead of the things
of Jesus.
d. \\#22\\ "But ye know… him" - Timothy had been with
Paul and the Philippians knew they him.
e. \\#23-24\\ "Him… I… send… soon as I see how it
will go with me."
(1) Paul would send Timothy when he knew what would
the Emperor would do with him.
(2) \\#Php 1:19\\ Paul knew "that this shall turn to
my salvation…" - Paul expected a decision to
be made on his case soon.
(3) \\#24\\ "I trust… that I also… shall come"
And Paul had the thought that he would be freed
\\#Php 1:25\\, although he was far from certain.
2. \\#25-30\\ Epaphroditus
a. \\#25\\ "I… send to you Epaphroditus" - But Paul was
presently sending Epaphroditus.
(1) To Paul, "a brother…, companion in labor, and
fellowsoldier"
(a) Obviously a faithful co-laborer with Paul
although only mentioned in this book.
(b) "he… ministered to my wants" -
Epaphroditus had been especially helpful
to care for Paul’s needs in his present
situation.
(2) To the Philippians, "your messenger" - He will
carry this letter to Philippi.
(3) \\#Php 4:18\\ It was Epaphroditus who had
brought to Paul Philippi's most recent gifts.
b. \\#26\\ "For he longed after you all… because that
ye hard that he had been sick"
(1) Word had gotten to the church at Philippi from
the prison that Epaphroditus had been sick.
(2) Word had gotten from the church at Philippi to
the prison that they had been burdened for him.
c. \\#27\\ "he was sick nigh unto death"
(1) "but God had mercy on him"
(a) There is no doubt that God does all the
healing whether by direct miracle, with
doctors’ help, or by the immune system of
the body.
(b) But Paul does not indicate that he had a
part in the healing.
(c) Could a healer not heal any one at any time?
(2) "on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon
sorrow"
(a) Paul consider this an act of mercy upon him
as Epaphroditus was such a good friend and
needed aid.
(b) Paul also indirectly acknowledged that he
was having some sadness in his present
circumstances.
d. \\#28\\ "when ye see him again, ye may rejoice" - Paul
sent Epaphroditus to them not only to get this letter
to them, but so that they might see Epaphroditus was
well.
e. \\#29-30\\ "Receive him… and hold such in
reputation"
(1) Paul wanted the church at Philippi to be kind to
Epaphroditus and to honor all who are like him
in reputation.
(2) \\#30\\ What was his reputation?
(a) "for the work of Christ… not regarding
his life" - One willing to die while
serving Jesus.
(b) "for the work of Christ… to supply your
lack of service toward me" - One who would
help another for the cause of Christ.
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