Bible Studies for Life By Jim Barnette, Ph.D.
Samford University and Brookwood Baptist Church, Mountain Brook
Following with Joy
Philippians 2:1–11
No passage in Philippians has received more scholarly attention than this one. It is a hymn that serves as one of the earliest witnesses to the nature and mission of Jesus. Most agree that the hymn was authored by someone other than Paul and was used regularly in first century Christian worship. We can picture the singers of the hymn bowing on cue at the phrase “at the name of Jesus” as they confess “Jesus Christ is Lord” — perhaps during baptism or the Lord’s Supper.
Follow with love and purpose. (1–2)
Paul exhorts the Philippians to behave in a humble way that makes his joy “complete.” Clearly the Philippians have already brought him joy (see Phil. 1:4–6, 4:1). Paul’s primary hope is that they will live “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27). The verb in the phrase “being of one mind” refers to attitude, rather than intellectual thought. Church members should share a common disposition and what that disposition is will be spelled out in verses 5–11. The command to have a unified attitude is amplified by the next three phrases: They are to “have the same love” (that is, the same love of Christ), to be “one in spirit” and one in purpose.
Follow with humility. (3–4)
“Selfish ambition” may be rendered partisanship or factionalism. We are not to be concerned with receiving honors or advantages for ourselves. We are to be concerned that our brothers and sisters are being honored and served. “Empty conceit” literally means “empty glory.” Those who have illusions about themselves are “vainglorious;” this is a contrast not only with the latter part of the verse, but also with the true glory that comes at the climax of this passage in verse 11.
Paul urges the Philippians to regard others as better than themselves. This exhortation is not meant to foster false modesty or a lack of self-esteem, but to encourage the recognition and needs of others. His choice of the Greek word for “considering/regarding” is significant, as the same verb will be used again in verse 6 of the attitude of Christ.
Follow the example of Jesus. (5–11)
Many translations render that Christ’s equality with God was not something to be “grasped.” However, the New Revised Standard Version offers the better word, “exploited.” Equality with God was not something Jesus needed to grasp; Jesus was already equal with God. However, Jesus chose not to exploit His divine nature by attaining glory through avoiding the suffering that He faced on our behalf. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness to give up His mission to the cross; but rather than exploit His divinity to His own advantage He “emptied” Himself of that advantage. Paul uses the verb for “empty” elsewhere in the sense of “to nullify” (see Rom. 4:14; 1 Cor. 1:17; 2 Cor. 9:3). So here Jesus’ emptying of Himself refers not to the surrendering of His divinity but rather the nullifying of His privileges.
The name bestowed upon Jesus, “the name that is above every name,” is clearly the name of God. Perhaps the fact that this name is not clearly specified is deliberate. By tradition, the name of God could not be spoken or written. Since the Jewish tradition commonly uses “the Lord” as a substitute for the divine name, we are not surprised to find in verse 11 the universal proclamation that “Jesus Christ is Lord.” One day this confession will be voiced by every living creature on bended knee. “Every knee shall bend … and every tongue confess” is taken from Isaiah 45:23, where they refer to the worship of God. All glory will go to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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