Philippians 2:1-13

The Voice

2 If you find any comfort from being in the Anointed, if His love brings you some encouragement, if you experience true companionship with the Spirit, if His tenderness and mercy fill your heart; then, brothers and sisters, ²here is one thing that would complete my joy—come together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love. ³Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. ⁴Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interests first.

⁵In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember:

⁶Though He was in the form of God,
    He chose not to cling to equality with God;
⁷But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new;
    a servant in form
    and a man indeed.
The very likeness of humanity,
⁸He humbled Himself,
    obedient to death—
    a merciless death on the cross!
⁹So God raised Him up to the highest place
    and gave Him the name above all.
¹⁰So when His name is called,
    every knee will bow,^[a]
    in heaven, on earth, and below.
¹¹And every tongue will confess^[b]
    “Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,”
    to the glory of God our Father!

Paul describes a community where every person considers the needs of others first and does nothing from selfishness; it pulls together rather than pulls apart, and it is a body that knows its purpose and lets nothing interfere with it. It is an extended spiritual family where others line up to become part of this sacred assembly and to make it their home because they feel encouragement and know they are truly loved. So Paul urges the Philippians to strive for this radical unity and fulfill his joy by having the mind of Jesus who humbled Himself, became a servant, and suffered the death of the cross. Jesus becomes the example of humility and service, leading to the kind of unity Paul imagines.

¹²So now, my beloved, obey as you have always done, not only when I am with you, but even more so when I can’t be. Continue to work out your salvation, with great fear and trembling, ¹³because God is energizing you so that you will desire and do what always pleases Him.

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