✝
← Bible
ARCBLIVREKJVVBL

Philippians 2

KJV · Chapter 2/4

1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

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

14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

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

20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

23Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

24But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

25Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

26For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

27For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

28I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

30Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Paul urges the Philippians toward humility and unity, presenting the supreme example of Christ, who emptied himself of his glory to become a servant and die on the cross, and was afterward exalted by God. He also shares his plans to send Timothy and Epaphroditus to the church.

Explanation

The heart of this chapter is the so-called “Christ hymn” (v.6-11), one of the most studied passages in the entire New Testament, which describes Christ’s path: existing in equality with God, he willingly emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, humbling himself to the point of death on a cross, and for this he was exalted to the highest place, receiving a name above every name. Paul uses this example as a practical model for life in community: instead of seeking their own advantage, believers should “consider others better than themselves” and work out their salvation “with fear and trembling,” knowing that it is God who works in them both to will and to act. The mention of Epaphroditus, who nearly died while serving Paul, humanizes the text with a real example of sacrifice and mutual care among the early Christians. The application today is to pursue genuine humility, following Christ’s pattern in relationships and service.

Fun facts

  • Many scholars believe that verses 6-11 were originally a hymn or creed already used in the worship gatherings of the earliest Christian communities, which Paul incorporated into the letter, making it one of the earliest records of organized Christian praise about the nature of Christ.
  • The Greek word “kenosis” (to empty oneself, v.7) gave rise to an entire field of theological study called “kenotic Christology,” which discusses how Jesus, being God, voluntarily limited himself by becoming human.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Philippians 2:1Paul stacks up four emotional reasons — comfort in Christ, consolation of love, fellowship of the Spirit, affection and compassion — as the basis for the attitude he asks for in the next verse.
  2. Philippians 2:2Paul asks the Philippians to make his joy complete by living in real harmony: same mindset, same love, same purpose, truly united, not just on the surface.
  3. Philippians 2:3Paul gives the antidote to rivalry and vanity: genuine humility, which treats the other person’s interest as more important than one’s own, the practical basis for unity.
  4. Philippians 2:4Paul continues the instruction: each one should look not only to their own interests, but also to the interests of others, a direct call to let go of selfishness.
  5. Philippians 2:5Paul introduces the hymn that follows by asking the Philippians to have the same mindset as Christ, turning a theological poem into a practical model of humility.
  6. Philippians 2:6This passage opens a hymn the church at Philippi probably already sang before Paul even wrote the letter. “Form of God” describes Christ’s condition before coming into the world, and “robbery” is the idea of seizing something by force, like grabbing a position that isn’t yours — Paul says Christ, holding that status, felt no need to cling to it.
  7. Philippians 2:7After saying Christ did not cling to His divine condition, the hymn describes the opposite: He “made himself of no reputation,” voluntarily giving up every appearance of power and privilege, and took the lowest rung of the social ladder of the time, that of a servant. It’s a deliberate contrast with the previous verse — from one end of the scale to the other.
  8. Philippians 2:8The hymn keeps describing Christ’s complete descent: after becoming human, He went even further, accepting obedience unto death, and the worst possible death of that era, crucifixion.
  9. Philippians 2:9After describing Christ’s descent all the way to death on a cross — the most humiliating penalty in the Roman Empire, reserved for slaves and rebels — the hymn turns and shows the ascent: God exalts Him to the highest position that exists. “A name which is above every name” means that no title, not even the emperor’s, stands above His.
  10. Philippians 2:10Continuing the hymn about Christ’s exaltation, Paul describes a universal submission: every creature, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, will bow at the name of Jesus.
  11. Philippians 2:11The hymn ends with a universal confession: every tongue will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, but this happens to the glory of God the Father, not in competition with Him.
  12. Philippians 2:12Read alone, this verse seems to say salvation depends on personal effort, but the next verse completes the thought: it is God who works in you both to will and to do. Paul is asking the Philippians to take their faith seriously and responsibly, not to earn salvation on their own.
  13. Philippians 2:13Paul balances the previous verse’s call to work out one’s own salvation: it is God who works within believers, both the willing and the doing, according to His own good pleasure.
  14. Philippians 2:14Paul asks for a simple practical attitude: do everything without murmuring or arguing among themselves, the opposite of the rivalry condemned earlier in the chapter.
  15. Philippians 2:15Paul describes the result of this obedience: a blameless life that stands out, shining like lights, in a generation he describes as crooked and perverse.
  16. Philippians 2:16Paul ties this exemplary life to his own future pride: if the Philippians “hold forth the word of life” with firmness, he will be able to boast, on the day of Christ, that his work was not in vain.
  17. Philippians 2:17A drink offering was the custom of pouring wine or oil over a sacrifice as part of the ritual, both in Judaism and in the pagan cults of the time. Paul uses the image to say that if his own life is poured out — that is, if he is executed — it would be an addition to the sacrifice of faith the Philippians are already offering, not a reason for sadness.
  18. Philippians 2:18Paul returns the invitation from the previous verse about the drink offering of his own life: just as he rejoices, he asks the Philippians to rejoice with him for that same reason.
  19. Philippians 2:19Paul announces practical plans: he hopes to send Timothy soon, both to help the Philippians and to bring back news that will encourage Paul himself.
  20. Philippians 2:20Paul praises Timothy with a strong comparison: no one else shares the same genuine concern for them that he does.
  21. Philippians 2:21Paul makes a general criticism, perhaps about other available co-workers: most seek their own interests, not the interests of Christ, which makes Timothy even rarer.
  22. Philippians 2:22Paul contrasts that majority with Timothy’s proven track record, who served alongside him in the gospel like a son helping his father, not like just any subordinate.
  23. Philippians 2:23Paul explains the delay in sending Timothy: he plans to send him as soon as he knows how his own situation will turn out, likely the trial he faces.
  24. Philippians 2:24Paul adds another personal expectation: he trusts that, besides sending Timothy, he himself will also be able to visit the Philippians soon.
  25. Philippians 2:25Paul introduces Epaphroditus, calling him brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, someone sent by the Philippians themselves to help Paul in his needs.
  26. Philippians 2:26Paul explains why he is sending Epaphroditus back: he was longing for home and distressed knowing that the Philippians had heard about his illness.
  27. Philippians 2:27Paul confirms that Epaphroditus really was seriously ill, nearly dying, and credits the recovery to God’s mercy, which spared both him and Paul from further sorrow.
  28. Philippians 2:28Paul explains the urgency in sending Epaphroditus back: he wants the Philippians to see him alive and rejoice, which will also relieve Paul’s own worry.
  29. Philippians 2:29Paul asks that they receive Epaphroditus with genuine joy and hold him in honor, recognizing the value of what he went through.
  30. Philippians 2:30Paul explains the reason for that honor: Epaphroditus risked his own life for the work of Christ, precisely to supply the help the Philippians could not give Paul in person.

Chapters

1234

Our apps

Our apps →

Bible in Stories

The Bible told as a story, with audio and videos.

📱 Get the app

World in Stories

True stories of humanity that sound made up.

App StoreGoogle Play

Feito! Pequenas Vitórias

A light daily routine for people who lose track of the day.

App StoreGoogle Play