1If then there is any comfort in Christ, any help given by love, any uniting of hearts in the Spirit, any loving mercies and pity, 2Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in harmony and of one mind; 3Doing nothing through envy or through pride, but with low thoughts of self let everyone take others to be better than himself; 4Not looking everyone to his private good, but keeping in mind the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, 6To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God; 7But he made himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made like men; 8And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross. 9For this reason God has put him in the highest place and has given to him the name which is greater than every name; 10So that at the name of Jesus every knee may be bent, of those in heaven and those on earth and those in the underworld, 11And that every tongue may give witness that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12So then, my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you, give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts; 13For it is God who is the cause of your desires and of your acts, for his good pleasure. 14Do all things without protests and arguments; 15So that you may be holy and gentle, children of God without sin in a twisted and foolish generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, 16Offering the word of life; so that I may have glory in you in the day of Christ, because my running was not for nothing and my work was not without effect. 17And even if I am offered like a drink offering, giving myself for the cause and work of your faith, I am glad and have joy with you all: 18And in the same way do you be glad and have a part in my joy. 19But I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may be comforted when I have news of you. 20For I have no man of like mind who will truly have care for you. 21For they all go after what is theirs, not after the things of Christ. 22But his quality is clear to you; how, as a child is to its father, so he was a help to me in the work of the good news. 23Him then I am hoping to send as quickly as possible, when I am able to see how things will go for me: 24But I have faith in the Lord that I myself will come before long. 25But it seemed to me necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, who has taken part with me in the work and in the fight, and your servant, sent by you for help in my need; 26Because his heart was with you all, and he was greatly troubled because you had news that he was ill: 27For in fact he was ill almost to death: but God had mercy on him; and not only on him but on me, so that I might not have grief on grief. 28I have sent him, then, the more gladly, so that when you see him again, you may be happy and I may have the less sorrow. 29So take him to your hearts in the Lord with all joy, and give honour to such as he is: 30Because for the work of Christ he was near to death, putting his life in danger to make your care for me complete.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Exhortations to a kind, humble spirit and behaviour. (1-4) The example of Christ. (5-11) Diligence in the affairs of salvation, and to be examples to the world. (12-18) The apostle's purpose of visiting Philippi. (19-30) 1-4 Here are further exhortations to Christian duties; to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, according to the example of the Lord Jesus. Kindness is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family. Several motives to brotherly love are mentioned. If you expect or experience the benefit of God's compassions to yourselves, be compassionate one to another. It is the joy of ministers to see people like-minded. Christ came to humble us, let there not be among us a spirit of pride. We must be severe upon our own faults, and quick in observing our own defects, but ready to make favourable allowances for others. We must kindly care for others, but not be busy-bodies in other men's matters. Neither inward nor outward peace can be enjoyed, without lowliness of mind. 5-11 The example of our Lord Jesus Christ is set before us. We must resemble him in his life, if we would have the benefit of his death. Notice the two natures of Christ; his Divine nature, and human nature. Who being in the form of God, partaking the Divine nature, as the eternal and only-begotten Son of God, #Joh 1:1|, had not thought it a robbery to be equal with God, and to receive Divine worship from men. His human nature; herein he became like us in all things except sin. Thus low, of his own will, he stooped from the glory he had with the Father before the world was. Christ's two states, of humiliation and exaltation, are noticed. Christ not only took upon him the likeness and fashion, or form of a man, but of one in a low state; not appearing in splendour. His whole life was a life of poverty and suffering. But the lowest step was his dying the death of the cross, the death of a malefactor and a slave; exposed to public hatred and scorn. The exaltation was of Christ's human nature, in union with the Divine. At the name of Jesus, not the mere sound of the word, but the authority of Jesus, all should pay solemn homage. It is to the glory of God the Father, to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; for it is his will, that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father, #Joh 5:23|. Here we see such motives to self-denying love as nothing else can supply. Do we thus love and obey the Son of God? 12-18 We must be diligent in the use of all the means which lead to our salvation, persevering therein to the end. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. Work out your salvation, for it is God who worketh in you. This encourages us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain: we must still depend on the grace of God. The working of God's grace in us, is to quicken and engage our endeavours. God's good-will to us, is the cause of his good work in us. Do your duty without murmurings. Do it, and do not find fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it. By peaceableness; give no just occasion of offence. The children of God should differ from the sons of men. The more perverse others are, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless. The doctrine and example of consistent believers will enlighten others, and direct their way to Christ and holiness, even as the light-house warns mariners to avoid rocks, and directs their course into the harbour. Let us try thus to shine. The gospel is the word of life, it makes known to us eternal life through Jesus Christ. Running, denotes earnestness and vigour, continual pressing forward; labouring, denotes constancy, and close application. It is the will of God that believers should be much in rejoicing; and those who are so happy as to have good ministers, have great reason to rejoice with them. 19-30 It is best with us, when our duty becomes natural to us. Naturally, that is, sincerely, and not in pretence only; with a willing heart and upright views. We are apt to prefer our own credit, ease, and safety, before truth, holiness, and duty; but Timothy did not so. Paul desired liberty, not that he might take pleasure, but that he might do good. Epaphroditus was willing to go to the Philippians, that he might be comforted with those who had sorrowed for him when he was sick. It seems, his illness was caused by the work of God. The apostle urges them to love him the more on that account. It is doubly pleasant to have our mercies restored by God, after great danger of their removal; and this should make them more valued. What is given in answer to prayer, should be received with great thankfulness and joy.