Tag: Philippians

Of No Reputation Part 1

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Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men

‘Made himself of no reputation’ – The “Kenosis” of Christ: [Greek: kenoo] to empty out, drain. It is translated “make void” (Rom. 4:14; 1Cor. 9:15); “make of none effect” (1Cor. 1:17); “be in vain” (2Cor. 9:3); and “make of no reputation” (i.e., He emptied Himself; 2:7).

Of what did Christ empty Himself? It could not have been His divine nature, for He was God not only from all eternity (Mic. 5:1-2; John 1:1-2; Heb. 1:8; Rev. 1:8-11), but God manifest in flesh during His life on earth (Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Mat. 1:18-25; John 1:1-2, 14; 1Tim. 3:16). Christ emptied Himself of: [1] Equality with God (2:6-7; John 14:28; 1Cor. 11:3). [2] God-form or God-body, the spirit body that He lived in from eternity, to take human-form (2:6-8; 3:21; Mat. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; 24:37-40; John 1:14; Zech. 13:6; Gal. 4:4; Rom. 8:3). [3] Immortality of body (1Cor. 15:3; Ps. 16:10; 1Pet. 2:24; 3:18). As God, He could not die for our sins or take our place as a substitute (1Cor. 15:20-22). [4] The glory that He had with the Father before the world was (2:5-11; John 12:23; 17:5; Mat. 16:27). [5] His authority in heaven and on earth, which was given back to Him after the resurrection (2:9-11; Mat. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-23; 1Pet. 3:22). [6] His divine attributes and outward powers that He had with the Father from eternity. He had no power to do miracles until He received the Holy Spirit in all fullness (John 2:11; 3:34; Isa. 11:1-2; 42:1-7; 61:1-2; Luke 3:21-22; 4:16-21; Mat. 12:28; Acts 10:38). He could do nothing of Himself in all His earthly life. He attributed all His works, doctrines, powers, etc. to the Father through the anointing of the Holy Spirit (John 8:28).

To be continued…

This Mind Be in You

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Philippians 2:5-6 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God

‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.’ Let the mind of self-emptying be in you which was in Christ (2:7). We are warned to have the same attitude as Christ if we want to be His followers (1Pet. 2:21-23).

‘Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.’ Seven steps in His humiliation: Christ was consecrated to humble Himself (2:5). Christ laid aside His divine form (2:6). Christ made Himself of no reputation (2:7). Christ took the form of a servant (2:7). Christ was made in the likeness of human beings (2:7). Christ humbled Himself (2:8). Christ became obedient unto death (2:8). These points to the humiliation of Christ’s kenosis, the emptying of Himself, so He could become the best human example for how a man should live (Heb. 4:15).

‘Being’ [Greek: huparcho] though existing; subsisting. He existed as God from all eternity (Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Mic. 5:2; John 1:1-2; Heb. 1:8; Rev. 1:8-11).

‘Form’ [Greek: morphe] is the outward form that strikes the vision; the external appearance. The passage should read, “who, existing in the form of God (by which He from eternity had appeared to the inhabitants of heaven), yet not thinking that this equality with God should be clung to or retained, He emptied Himself of it, to assume the form of a servant and become like man” (2:6-7).

Consolation in Christ

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Philippians 2:1-4 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil you my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

‘If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies.’ Four questions to consider: If there is any consolation (encouragement) in Christ. If any comfort of love [Greek: paramuthion] stimulating force. If any fellowship of the Spirit. If any bowels and mercies. [Greek: splangchnon and oiktirmos] (2Cor. 6:12; Rom. 12:1). ‘Fellowship’ [Greek: koinonia] communion (1Cor. 10:16; 2Cor. 6:14; 13:14); communicate (Phm. 1:6; Heb. 13:16); fellowship (1:5; 2:1; 3:10; Acts 2:42; 1Cor. 1:9; 2Cor. 8:4; Gal. 2:9; Eph. 3:9; 1Jn. 1:3, 6-7); contribution (Rom. 15:26); and distribution (2Cor. 9:13).

‘Fulfil you my joy’ – Make my joy complete (accomplished by doing the twelve things of Philippians 1:2-16.

‘Same love, being of one accord, of one mind.’ Love in the same degree and be in agreement in all things for the Master. Not everyone with his own opinion but in the unity of what the gospel said.

‘Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory.’ Never oppose each other by acting for personal gain or from vanity.

‘But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.’ Have a humbling view of yourselves, knowing your own secret faults and true self.

‘Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.’ Do not be selfish glorying in your own gifts and graces. Be just as interested in the blessings of others and rejoice to see them blessed.

This Confidence

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Philippians 1:25-30 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. Only let your conversation be as it become the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. 

‘And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith.’ Here again, Paul expresses confidence in his release (1:19, 25-26). He was released after two years (Acts 28:30).

‘Conversation’ [Greek: politeuomai] to exercise citizenship; behave like citizens. Translated live in Acts 23:1 [politeuma] is used of citizenship in Philippians 3:20. The gospel regulates the lives of heavenly citizens.

‘Striving together’ [Greek: sunathleo] wrestling together, not in contention with, or against one another to build up human establishments which oppose each other in the gospel, but in union against the enemies of the gospel.

‘Adversaries’ – From this, it appears that the congregation was going through persecution.

‘Salvation’ [Greek: soteria] Here and in Philippians 2:12 it refers to the salvation of the soul. In Philippians 1:19 it refers to Paul’s deliverance from prison.

‘Conflict’ [Greek: agon] a contest for a prize; a struggle; battle. Run with patience the race set before us (Heb. 12:1).

‘Saw in me’ – read Acts 16:19-40 for Paul’s trial here.

To Live is Christ

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Philippians 1:21-24 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 

‘For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’ Here Paul expresses perfect resignation to whatever he had to face (1:21-24). His life was about living for Christ to the fullest and death was to be united with Him forever! What a testimony.

‘I wot not’ [Greek: gnorizo] translated make known 16 times; declare 3 times; certify (Gal. 1:11); give to understand (1Cor. 12:3), and do to witness (2Cor. 8:1).

‘Am in a strait’ [Greek: sunecho] am being pressed. I am under pressure between two desires, that of living and of dying.

‘Betwixt’ [Greek: ek] of, out of, from, with. Out of 921 times used it is only translated betwixt here, and between (John 3:25).

‘To depart, and to be with Christ …’ Seven outstanding facts are noted here (1:21-24): To live means gain to Christ (1:21). To die is personal gain (1:21). There is no gain for man or God if one went into extinction of being, unconsciousness, or soul sleep. All are unscriptural. To live in the flesh is to continue bearing fruit (1:22). This proves that one dwells in a body. Having a desire to depart (1:23). This confirms the fact of the departure of one at death. To be with Christ (1:23; 2Cor. 5:8). Far better (1:23). A far better place and state of being (Rev. 21:4; 22:3). To abide in the flesh is more needful for Christians than to die (1:24). This explains what departure from the body means – that at death the body dies and the inner man leaves the body to go to paradise if one is a Christian, or to hell if one is unsaved. The body without the spirit is dead (Jas. 2:26); to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2Cor. 5:8); to depart is to be with Christ (1:23) and be in paradise with the spirits of just men made perfect (Luke 16:19-31; 2Cor. 5:8; 12:2-4; Rev. 6:9-11).

Salvation

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Philippians 1:18-20 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 

‘What then?’ Paul claims here that it mattered not to him how Christ was preached, provided He was preached. The apostles were commanded to get the Word of Christ out, as long as they stayed away from fiction (1Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2Tim. 4:4; Tit. 1:14) and focus on what He taught (Matthew chapters 5-24) and the examples that He set (1Pet. 2:21-23).

‘Pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached.’ The Jews served God with pretence, but He was still preached whether they accepted Him or not. In John 15: 22 Christ stated that if He had not come and proved to them beyond doubt that He was the Messiah they would not have had the sin of rejecting Him, but now they have no excuse for this sin. They wilfully hated both Jesus and God the Father (John 15:22-24).

‘Salvation’ [Greek: soteria] deliverance. This refers to his temporal safety and freedom from chains and imprisonment. This he expected through their prayer and the continued supply of the Holy Spirit.

‘Earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.’ He had the utmost confidence in God that he would be upheld by grace in all his trials. He was ready for either life or death, providing Christ would be magnified in the outcome.

The Furtherance of the Gospel

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Philippians 1:12-17 But I would you should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 

‘The things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.’ My sufferings for Christ have furthered the gospel by provoking others to zeal for Christ (1:12-19). Everything we do must further the gospel in others’ lives (Mat. 5:16; 7:12), thus must our attitude always be like Christ’s was when He chose to lay His life down (1Pet. 2:21-23) even though He did nothing to please others, only that which God commanded (John 14:10).

‘Palace’ [Greek: praitorion] is the court in Rome where Paul was tried before Caesar. Here it refers to Caesar’s palace. The apostle’s defence caused his doctrines to be known in the palace and all other places (4:22).

‘Affliction to my bonds’ – from 2Timothy 1:16 we see that others were ashamed of Paul in chains. His life had been one of suffering and labour for Christ. Now from all appearances, he was abandoned by his friends and in the hands of ruthless men. He was in prison and in chains, yet he was triumphant overall and unshaken in his faith. He felt no evil and feared no man or devil. Sin had lost its power, death its sting, the grave its victory, and hell its torments. No murmuring came from his lips or bitterness from his heart. He was a man’s man and God’s faithful servant, ready to die for the cause of Christ and the gospel.

Your Love May Abound

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Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 

‘That your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.’ Five requests for congregations in Philippi (1:9-11): Increased love in knowledge and judgment. Approval of excellent things. Sincerity to the end. Without offence till the day of Christ. Filling with fruits of righteousness.

If we want to increase our love for God, we need to study His Word to get the necessary knowledge of Him and then we will experience this knowledge when discerning between judgement for either blessing or curse when we are doers of the Word and not just hearers (Jas. 1:22-26).

‘All judgment’ [Greek: aesthesis] discernment.

‘Excellent’ [Greek: diaphero] differ. We are to test all things and disapprove of those that differ from the gospel (1Thess. 5:22).

‘Sincere’ [Greek: heilikrines] pure, uncorrupted. The word means without wax, an allusion to finishing cloth with gummy materials hiding flaws until carefully examined by looking through it in sunlight. The Greek might be translated “sun-judged.”

‘Without offence’ [Greek: aproskopos] not striking against; not stumbling; void of offence to God or man; neither stumbling nor causing others to stumble (1:10; Acts 24:16; 1Cor. 10:32; 1Pet. 1:17).

‘The day of Christ’ – In the day when Christ comes to receive saints unto Himself (1:6, 10; 2:161Cor. 1:8; 5:5; 2Cor. 1:14).

‘Fruits of righteousness’ – Fruits of that justification which comes by faith and the new creature experience (2Cor. 5:17-18; Rom. 5:1-11).

In My Heart

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Philippians 1:7-8 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 

‘Meet’ [Greek: dikaios] righteous, just.

‘I have you in my heart’ – Interpenetration: The so-called doctrine of interpenetration, that is, persons entering physical into each other, is false. The Bible does speak of the Corinthians and Philippians being in Paul’s heart (1:7; 2Cor. 7:3); God being in Christ (2Cor. 5:19); Christ being in God (John 14:20); God and Christ being in each other (John 14:10-11); men being in both the Father and the Son (1Jn. 2:24); men being in Christ (2Cor. 5:17); men and the Spirit being in each other (Rom. 8:9); Christ being in men (Col. 1:27; Rom. 8:10); man and Christ being in each other (John 14:20); all creation being in God (Acts 17:28); and satan entering into men (Luke 22:3; John 13:27). However, these passages refer to being in union with, being consecrated to the same end – one in mind, purpose, and life. They do not teach the physical entrance of one being into another. It may be best understood by a man and woman becoming one in life together, being in each other’s plans, life, etc.

‘Defence’ [Greek: apologia] a verbal speech in defence (1:7, 17; Acts 22:1; 25:16; 1Cor. 9:3; 2Cor. 7:11; 2Tim. 4:16).

‘Confirmation’ [Greek: bebaiosis] making fast or sure; establishing. It is a legal term for a guarantee (Heb.6:16).

‘Partakers’ [Greek: sungkoinonos] joint-partakers of a thing. Translated partaker (1:7; Rom. 11:17; 2Cor. 9:1-15) and companion (Rev. 1:9).

‘Grace’ – is an eternal bond uniting all men who receive it (Rom. 12:3; John 1:17).

‘Bowels’ [Greek: splangchnon] inward parts. Used figuratively of the seat of affections (1:8; 2:1; 2Cor. 6:12; 7:15; Luke 1:78; Col. 3:12; Phm. 1:7, 12, 20; 1Jn. 3:17). Used literally in Acts 1:18.

And Peace, from God our Father

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Philippians 1:2 …and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Christians are to demonstrate virtuous thoughts, feelings and actions at all times of which peace is one of the most needed yet less exercised. These virtues we are to show before men are the perfections of wisdom, knowledge, justice, truth, love, patience, holiness, goodness, grace, joy, peace, faith, and other attributes and powers of the Divine Trinity. These virtues are to be demonstrated by Christians to angels and men (1Pet. 1:12; 1Cor. 4:9; Eph. 3:9-10)

1Thessalonians 4:11-12 instructs us to study [to work hard] to be quiet, and to do our own business and to work with our own hands. The thought is that of a disposition and life of peace, and contentment; even temperament; to be meek, and learn self-control in all things; not to permit anything to disturb or cause a display of temper tantrums or disturb the peace of others. There were a few idle, tattling people in their congregation, who, instead of working, went from place to place carrying on gossip, meddling with the business of others, and causing splits or divisions. Hence, the commands to quit such practices, to do their own business, let others alone, hold their peace, walk honestly toward the world, and work with their own hands so they would have no time to meander and gossip.

We have ten commands from Scripture that can cure all worry: Permit the peace of God to garrison or keep your heart and mind through Jesus Christ (Php. 4:7). Renounce all worry; then by prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, make all requests known to God (Php. 4:6; Jas. 4:7). Think on right things (Php. 4:8). Keep mind stayed on God (Isa. 26:3). Use the weapons of spiritual warfare (2Cor. 10:4-6). Put on the whole armour of God (Eph. 6:10-18). Have faith in God (Matt. 6:25-34; 7:7-11; 17:20; 21:22; Mark 11:22-24). Live and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-26; Rom. 6:14-23; 8:1-13). Do not cast away confidence (Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 6:11-12; 10:19-23, 35-39). Cast all your cares upon God (1Pet. 5:7).

‘From God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Another reference to two separate divine Persons in the Godhead.