Philippians
Chapter 2

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1 If there bee therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of loue, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels, & mercies;

2 Fulfill ye my ioy, that yee be like minded, hauing the same loue, being of one accord, of one minde.

3 Let nothing bee done through strife, or vaine glory, but in lowlinesse of minde let each esteeme other better then themselues.

4 Looke not euery man on his owne things, but euery man also on the things of others.

5 Let this minde bee in you, which was also in Christ Iesus:

6 Who being in the forme of God, thought it not robbery to bee equall with God:

7 But made himselfe of no reputation, and tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant, and was made in the likenesse of men.

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himselfe, and became obedient vnto death, euen the death of the Crosse.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and giuen him a Name which is aboue euery name:

10 That at the Name of Iesus euery knee should bow, of things in heauen, and things in earth, and things vnder the earth:

11 And that euery tongue should confesse, that Iesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloued, as yee haue alwayes obeyed, not as in my presence onely, but now much more in my absence; worke out your owne saluation with feare, and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you, both to will, and to doe, of his good pleasure.

14 Doe all things without murmurings, and disputings:

15 That yee may bee blamelesse and harmelesse, the sonnes of God, without rebuke, in the middes of a crooked and peruerse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world:

16 Holding foorth the word of life, that I may reioyce in the day of Christ, that I haue not runne in vaine, neither laboured in vaine.

17 Yea, and if I bee offered vpon the sacrifice and seruice of your faith, I ioy, and reioyce with you all.

18 For the same cause also doe ye ioy, and reioyce with me.

19 But I trust in the Lord Iesus, to send Timotheus shortly vnto you, that I also may bee of good comfort, when I know your state.

20 For I haue no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state.

21 For all seeke their owne, not the things which are Iesus Christs.

22 But ye know the proofe of him, That as a sonne with the father, hee hath serued with me, in the Gospel.

23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soone as I shall see how it wil goe with me.

24 But I trust in the Lord, that I also my selfe shall come shortly.

25 Yet I supposed it necessary, to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and companion in labour, and fellow souldiour, but your messenger, and hee that ministred to my wants.

26 For hee longed after you all, and was full of heauinesse, because that yee had heard that he had bene sicke.

27 For indeed he was sicke nigh vnto death, but God had mercy on him: and not on him onely, but on mee also, lest I should haue sorow vpon sorow.

28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that when ye see him againe, ye may reioyce, and that I may bee the lesse sorrowfull.

29 Receiue him therfore in the Lord with all gladnesse, and hold such in reputation:

30 Because for the worke of Christ he was nigh vnto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lacke of seruice toward me.

Viewing the original 1611 KJV with archaic English spelling
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Commentary for Philippians 2

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.

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

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