Class Notes, Phil 2:1-11

Phil 2:1-2 (NIV) If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

• Paul starts out with four "if any 's." Without discussing the reasons, why should he start out "if any," what is he suggesting, what does it sound like he is doing?
• He seems almost sarcastic (you should already know this) or maybe rhetorical (super obvious)
• It is a harsh reminder that we have experienced a lot by being united in Christ
• Constable suggests that "since you have" might be a better reading

• "Love begins when someone else's needs are more important than my own" (anonymous).  Paul lists four reasons for taking a particular action, how might believers experience these?
• Encouragement from being united with Christ
• Seeing Christ change another person's life
• Seeing another's enthusiasm to walk with God
• Listening to how God spoke to another believer
• Comfort from his love
• God loves us despite our sin
• God's love is unconditional
• God's love is never ending
• Fellowship with the Spirit
• Hearing God speak to our heart
• Seeing God lead or give direction regarding some matter
• Tenderness and compassion
• Recognizing that God deals with us in mercy and grace -- not giving us what we deserve but what we don't deserve
• Experiencing tenderness and compassion from other believers when going through a tough time

• Assuming that at least one of those characteristics is true, what does Paul ask?
• To make his joy complete -- suggests that if he has any fault with them, and it would not be many faults, the one area to grow is this area, i.e., whatever follows
• To be like-minded
• Suggesting that some persist in goals that are at odds or cross-purposes with the church.  Example of hiring music pastor in old church
• If related to previous 4, then like-minded is a reminder that we are all united with Christ, and we should seek Christ's mind in the matter
• To have the same love
• Not sure how the negative might look
• If related to previous 4, then it is for everyone to be comforted by the fact that we are each one equally loved by Jesus -- no one is loved more or less
• To be one in spirit
• This sounds like a lack of unity
• If related to previous 4, then it is a realization that all members fellowship with the same Spirit.  If there is disagreement over an issue, it cannot be that the HS is giving two different answers to two different persons
• To be one in purpose
• This sounds as if there are multiple purposes, that are in some way conflicting with each other in the church
• If related to the previous 4, then there multiple purposes do not result in tenderness or compassion to those with different purposes, but rather rudeness and hostility

Phil 2:3-4 (NIV) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

• Paul gets to the roots of most issues of disunity, what are they?
• Selfish ambition -- seeing something as an opportunity to gain (respect or material gain)
• Vain conceit -- thinking that I know better what is the right course because of my spirituality, wealth, knowledge, or status

• Paul suggests corrective actions
• Exercise humility
• Consider others as more important (RSV) than yourselves
• Look to others interests (in addition to our own)

• APPLICATION: Ask a series of questions
• What am I expecting to get out of this decision?
• Why am I so emotional about this decision?
• What is the person who is adversarial wanting to get?
• Why is that person so adamant about his position
• How could help the person, assuming it is not unscriptural?

Helper	Servant
A helper helps others when it is convenient	A servant serves others even when it is inconvenient
A helper helps people that he or she likes	A servant serves even people that he or she dislikes
A helper helps when he or she enjoys the work	A servant serves even when he or she dislikes the work
A helper helps when the circumstances are convenient	A servant serves even when the circumstances are inconvenient
A helper helps with a view to obtaining personal satisfaction	A servant serves even when he or she receives no personal satisfaction
A helper helps with an attitude of assisting another	A servant serves with an attitude of enabling another

(Constable, Notes on Philippians, 2010)

Phil 2:5-8 (NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death —

even death on a cross!

• Paul then uses Jesus as the supreme example for us in the area of humility.  First of all, he calls it an attitude
• What do we see in Jesus' example
• He was God -- He didn't make much of that claim (interesting he does, but it just lacking enough that people criticize believers that Jesus didn't claim to be God)
• Contrast is Adam who considered equality with God something to be seized (Constable, 2010)
• He made himself nothing (Greek word, kenosis) -- He didn't just drop down a step or two on the ladder, he went all the way to the bottom and became a servant
• Finally, he expresses his humility through his obedience unto death.  Why is that significant?
• Because he was unjustly accused and tried
• It is one thing to exercise humility but quite another thing when you are the victim of injustice

• APPLICATION: Humility is an obedience issue, not just a nice to have thing to add to our Christian life when we make it to that level

Phil 2:9-11 (NIV) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 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.

• What is the result of Jesus' humility?
• God the father rewards him with ultimate status

• Three things
• God is our rewarder.  One can not please God without that realization:
• Heb 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
• God is our judge -- he will pay back the wicked for injustice
• God is our example.  Jesus set us an example for how we are to live