CHAPTER 2

(A.D. 64)

EXALTATION

¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ (should have been translated, since there is consolation [encouragement] in Christ), if any comfort of love (having the God kind of love), if any fellowship of the Spirit (refers to a common interest and a mutual and active participation in the things of God, in which the Believer and the Holy Spirit are joint-participants), if any bowels and mercies (being tenderhearted and having compassion),

²Fulfil ye my joy (the Spiritual Growth of the Philippians would be his joy), that you be like-minded (unity of mind and of heart), having the same love (the God kind of Love), being of one accord, of one mind. (If the Cross of Christ is the Object of such Faith, these things will be done.)

³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory (forming sides); but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than them selves (which a correct viewpoint of the Cross will bring about).

⁴Look not every man on his own things (means to look only at ones own things), but every man also on the things of others (an interest in the affairs of others).

⁵Let this mind be in you (refers to the self-emptying of Christ), which was also in Christ Jesus (portrays Christ as the supreme example):

⁶Who, being in the form of God (refers to Deity, which Christ always was), thought it not robbery to be equal with God (equality with God refers here to our Lords co-participation with the other members of the Trinity in the expression of the Divine Essence):

⁷But made Himself of no reputation (instead of asserting His Rights to the expression of the Essence of Deity, our Lord waived His Rights to that expression), and took upon Him the form of a servant (a bondslave), and was made in the likeness of men (presents the Lord entering into a new state of Being when He became Man; but Him becoming Man did not exclude His Position of Deity; while in becoming Man, He laid aside the expression of Deity, He never lost possession of Deity):

⁸And being found in fashion as a man (denotes Christ in mens eyes), He humbled Himself (He was brought low, but willingly), and became obedient unto death (does not mean He became obedient to death; He was always the Master of Death; rather, He subjected Himself to death), even the death of the Cross. (This presents the character of His Death as one of disgrace and degradation, which was necessary for men to be redeemed. This type of death alone would pay the terrible sin debt, and do so in totality.)

⁹Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him (to a place of supreme Majesty; Jesus has always been Creator, but now He is Saviour as well), and given Him a Name which is above every name (actually says, The Name, referring to a specific Name and Title; that Name, as Verse 11 proclaims, is Lord):

¹⁰That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow (in the sphere of the Name, which refers to all it entails; all of this is a result of the Cross, the price paid there, and the Redemption consequently afforded), of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (all Creation will render homage, whether animate or inanimate);

¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (proclaims Lord as the Name of Verse 9; it means Master of all, which again has been made possible by the Cross), to the Glory of God the Father. (The acknowledgment of the Glory of Christ is the acknowledgment of the Glory of the Father.)

LIGHTS

¹²Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed (he commends them for their constant obedience), not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence (they continued to obey the Gospel, even though Paul was not personally present among them), work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling. (This refers to going on to maturity, to the ultimate conclusion of total Christlikeness.)

¹³For it is God which works in you (Divine enablement) both to will and to do of His good pleasure. (This refers to the Holy Spirit, Who energizes the Saint, making him not only willing, but also actively desirous of doing Gods sweet Will.)

¹⁴Do all things without murmurings (mutterings of discontent) and disputings (questioning the Word of God, which is brought on by murmurings):

¹⁵That you may be (may become) blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (what the Holy Spirit expects of us), among whom you shine as lights in the world (the Saints are to be luminaries, which can only be done by constantly exhibiting Faith in the Cross);

¹⁶Holding forth the Word of Life (holding forth so as to offer); that I may rejoice in the Day of Christ (Rapture of the Church), that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain (that the Gospel has not been wasted on these people; regrettably, it is wasted with many, if not most).

¹⁷Yes, and if I be offered upon the Sacrifice and service of your Faith (Ill give myself for you), I joy, and rejoice with you all. (The rejoicing is in their Faith properly placed in the Cross of Christ.)

¹⁸For the same cause also do you joy, and rejoice with me.

COMMENDATION

¹⁹But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you (he was a disciple of Paul), that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. (The Apostle desired up-to-date information regarding the Church at Philippi.)

²⁰For I have no man like-minded (the Apostle is saying most Preachers had wrong agendas), who will naturally care for your state (speaks of a heart that has one thing in mind, that is doing the Will of God).

²¹For all seek their own (doesnt mean there were no genuine Preachers in Rome, but there were none of the caliber he needed), not the things which are Jesus Christs (again pertains to the Will of God in all matters).

²²But you know the proof of him (Timothys character has met the test, and has been approved), that, as a son with the father, he has served with me in the Gospel (the original Greek says, as a son to a Father).

²³Him therefore I hope to send presently (refers to a delay, but it is hoped it will not be long), so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. (As soon as he knows his status, as it regards his release or continued incarceration, he will send Timothy.)

²⁴But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. (It seems this expectation was fulfilled, for Paul was released a short time later.)

²⁵Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus (presents the Brother who brought the Love-Offering from the Philippians to Paul in Rome), my Brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger (accolades given by Paul, but yet sanctioned by the Holy Spirit), and he who ministered to my wants. (The Apostle held the service of Epaphroditus in high regard.)

²⁶For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness (due to his sickness), because that you had heard that he had been sick. (This indicates that Epaphroditus is now much improved.)

²⁷For indeed he was sick nigh unto death (he almost died): but God had mercy on him (proclaims the manner in which everything is received from God all by the Mercy of God); and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. (This proclaims the fact that if the man had died, it would have been a great loss to the Apostle and to the Work of God.)

²⁸I sent him therefore the more carefully (Paul hopes to send Epaphroditus to Philippi very soon), that, when ye see him again, you may rejoice (presents the fact of the recovery or the healing of this man), and that I may be the less sorrowful (Pauls sorrow has been alleviated).

²⁹Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness (it seems there had been a problem in the Church in Philippi as it regards Epaphroditus, but the man has so proven himself to Paul that the Apostle can recommend him highly); and hold such in reputation (give honor to whom honor is due, and Epaphroditus is to be held in honor):

³⁰Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life (it seems he became very ill because of overwork), to supply your lack of service toward me. (This evidently refers to something the Philippians couldnt do because of circumstances, but which Epaphroditus did on their behalf.)