Philippians chapter 2

vs 1

Paul is obviously building up to a "do something" statement, but it's interesting to look at what he is saying they should have before what they do. Encouragement from their relationship with Christ. Comfort from Christ's love. Fellowship with his Spirit. Tenderness and compassion.

These are things you would expect Christians to have in droves, so Paul is basically saying "Come and do whatever I'm about to say next!"

vs 2

At first when I read this, I thought he wants them to have the same mind as him. That's probably true. But I think what he's actually calling them to is unity together (just like they're united to Christ), love together (just as they are comforted in Christ's love), one in Spirit (they are in fellowship in the same Holy Spirit), one in purpose (a purpose of tenderness and compassion no doubt).

vs 3

I don't like the NIV translation here at all. It is far too vague. The greek very obviously say "one another", not just "others". The NASB gets it much better, "with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves". It would be very out of character for Paul to make this statement about just anyone.

Now I am not saying that we are not to serve non-Christians - if Christ is our model, then we are to go to our enemies and serve them, just as Christ served us. Just don't prove it from this verse, which says "one another" quite clearly.

So with that in mind... Not just equal with you. Better than you. Our brothers and sisters in Christ deserve more of our resources than we do. Is that even possible?

vs 4

Now I guess you can make the argument that "others" here is not limited as "one another" is in the previous verse, but I think you could argue that vs 3 limits the focus of verse 4. Am I doing that? Not specifically. But it is a reasonable interpretation I think. One statement limits another in a way that in reverse the one cannot as easily expand the other.

vs 5

This verse summarises all that comes after it really.

vs 6-7

The KJV of verse 6 is completely whacked out, I reckon. Anyway, the point of these verses is to show us Christ's humility in the face of God and his position. So often I think we read these verses starting from verse 6. I mean, we read out verse 5, but I think we ignore it. We look at what these verses say about Christ. Which is good stuff, but the point of it is that "our attitude should be like Christ's". So when Paul says in verse 3 "be humble" he's now saying "Do it because Christ did it." Yes, Christ's act of humility is far greater than ours will be, but he's the type we follow.

vs 8

Paul stresses the deity of Christ in this verse by using the term "appearance of a man". This verse shows us the fullness of Christ's humility and also his obedience.

vs 9

Through his obedience and humility, he is exalted. And because his was ultimate humility and obedience, then his exaltation is also ultimate. Not only is he taken to the highest place (of respect and honour) but he is also given authority above all authority.

vs 10

This verse is an excellent verse to illustrate the meaning of the word "name". It's not just "label", it is "rank". He is given the name above every name, the rank above every rank, so that everything must bow the knee, even things that don't have knees, like fish. And worms. Actually, more likely it's angels, humans and demons.

And worms.