Immanuel - Mankato Bible Class
Study of Philippians – Lesson 7
February 18, 2001
Philippians 2:1-4

Literal Translation: "Therefore if (there is) any consolation in connection with Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy that you share a common opinion, having the same love, united in spirit, having one determination." (Verses 1-2)

Paul ended chapter one with a reminder that Christians may well have to "suffer for His (Jesus’) sake." He then continues with a series of conditional phrases, "Therefore if (there is) any consolation in connection with Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy…." All of these conditions are true for the child of God. Consider the following thoughts:

• We do have "consolation" in connection with Christ! The word suggests that our Savior calls us to His side so that He can be near to comfort and to encourage us. Think on Jesus’ invitation to us when He says, "Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Consider as well Jesus’ promise to us, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). George Stoeckhardt, a faithful Christian professor in the LC-MS years ago, wrote concerning these words: "Every true exhortation is based upon Christ, upon what He is and what He has done for us. The Apostle calls upon the Philippians to be moved to action for Christ's sake. Christ must always be the chief motivation for Christian action. Christians undertake every project to glorify Christ. Christ ever moves them to humble obedience" (Lectures on The Epistle to the Philippians, p. 26f.).
• We do have the "comfort of love!" The Greek word used for "comfort" is similar to that used for "consolation" in that they both imply being "side by side." "Consolation" literally means "to call to one’s side" for encouragement, while "comfort" stresses "talking to someone who is by one’s side." Love’s clearest expressions involve closeness--a hug, a word of encouragement, a hand to help someone up, the giving of a gift. God saw our needs and sent His Son to walk side by side with us in our world to accomplish His work of redemption and thereby to gain the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life. Scripture speaks of that love moving us to love (cf. Ephesians 6:32; 1 John 4:7-11).
• We do have the "fellowship of the Spirit!" This is one of the most amazing gifts of God, and yet so frequently we are totally oblivious to it! Jesus promised His disciples on Maundy Thursday not to abandon them, but rather to send them the "Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth!" At that same time He said that the Spirit would "dwell with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit does dwell within us. We can be certain of that fact when we examine our faith and know that we believe in Jesus, for as Paul says, "No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Spirit’s presence "seals" us as God’s own, and is the guarantee that we will be saved (cf. Ephesians 1:13-14). He can be and is to be a powerful presence in our lives instilling His fruits—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (cf. Galatians 5:22-23).
• We do have (or at least ought to have) "affection" and "mercy!" Where hearts have been impressed with the grace of God, there will be "affection" and "mercy" as a natural response. John writes, "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). How do we demonstrate our love for God? John responds, "He who loves God loves his brother also" (1 John 4:21). Paul experienced the "affection" and "mercy" of his brethren in Philippi, as demonstrated by their ongoing concern for his welfare and their generous support of his work. In the same way, his heart went out to them with the hope that he might once again be of service to them. So it is among Christian brethren, who are members of the same spiritual body and are charged with the task of "edifying" one another "in love" (Ephesians 4:16).

All of these conditions being true, Paul urges the Philippians to "fulfill my joy" by striving for four things. First, "share a common opinion"—in other words consider all of the truths Paul had revealed and come to a common understanding of their meaning and intended purpose. Second, "have the same love"—having received God’s love in Christ, strive to live that love in their dealings with each other. Third, "unite in spirit"—having come to faith in the gospel rejoice in the strong bonds of fellowship it creates among Christian brethren (cf. 1 John 1:1-4). Fourth, "have one determination"—having come to a common opinion based upon the teachings of God’s Word, share a common vision and goal of the mission God entrusted to them!

Paul's call for unity centers on a common understanding of God's Word and the fruits of love, which flow from such a unity. Such a unity, unfortunately is a rare commodity today. F.W. Wenzel remarks regarding this: "Where no harmony of doctrine exists in a Christian congregation, there also likemindedness cannot exist….A union without unity or likemindedness is not a union. In contrast to this demand for unity, church members have often sought a workable basis for agreement in a compromise between dissenting brothers. Each party gives and takes. A compromise in external matters may prove satisfactory enough, but a compromise in doctrine can never establish a harmony of soul. One cannot readily discard a part of one's faith if this faith is to be based on the clear words of Scripture without at the same time denying a truth of Scripture. One cannot with the mouth agree to a compromise in doctrine and in one's heart hold the compromise to be false" (The Wenzel Commentary Book II, p. 63).

Literal Translation: "Nothing through selfish ambition! Nothing through conceit! Instead, with humility let each one consider the other better than himself; not looking out for his own (interests), but also for the (interests) of others." (verses 3-4)

Paul is such a realist! He understands the power and the potential for good, which lies in genuine faith. He, therefore, appeals to it. At the same time, he also understands the power and potential for bad, which lies in our sinful flesh (cf. Romans 7:18-24). He, therefore, states starkly—"Nothing through selfish ambition! Nothing through conceit!" Paul does not even use verbs here, almost as if he recognizes the all too common problem of unspiritual rivalry among believers, and he wants to rid the Philippians of any unnecessary friction before it get started!

The faithful Christian will approach fellow believers with humility, recognizing the God has given each person individual and specific gifts, which may well be better than his own. But that matters not at all, for all gifts have been given by God for mutual edification. Consequently, every gift is to be prized and used to God’s glory for the growth of His kingdom. They are not to be envied, or denied, or left unused with the result that the body as a whole is deprived of blessing.

Harlyn Kuschel writes concerning two key concepts touched on here by Paul, "Lowliness, or humble-mindedness, is a key New Testament concept, a distinctive mark of the committed Christian. Lowliness is the opposite of the selfishness and pride of our corrupt and sinful natures. First century society placed little value on lowliness. It regarded it, in fact, as the equivalent of cowardice and equated pride and self-assertiveness with manhood. The non-Christian world today thinks the same way. Books and classes offering assertiveness training and ever more effective methods of exercising power and 'looking out for number one' are tremendously popular and profitable. But the attitude of a heart changed by God's grace is no longer 'me first and everybody else after me, if at all.' Rather it is an attitude that humbly and lovingly places the interests of others before one's own….Harmony becomes practical among Christians in helpfulness, when each believer strives to do those things that serve and help the neighbor in every possible way. The world's way is to look out for oneself. It considers the need of others only when it sees some ultimate advantage for itself, but believers' concern for their neighbors' interest will supersede concern for their own. And again, what a sure means that will be of promoting God-pleasing harmony among Christians" (The People's Bible-Philippians, 40-41).

Discussion Topics:

1. Discuss how we might as individual Christians promote greater unity within our Christian homes and congregations.
2. Discuss the nature and importance of the twin virtues--humility and helpfulness. How might we foster the growth of these virtues among us?

[PDN]