THE PRISON EPISTLES: NURTURE FOR OPPRESSED BELIEVERS

III. Philippians: Nurture In Living In Preoccupation With Christ

E. Nurture In Relating To Fellow Believers In The Humility That Comes From Christ

(Philippians 2:1-4)

I. Introduction

A. When Paul wrote the epistle to the Philippians, his readers were understandably concerned over his imprisonment as is evidenced by his remarks in Philippians 1:12-13.

B. Paul knew that one way to alleviate this concern was for the church at Philippi to foster much needed nurturing warmth in its own body, what was possible only when self-centeredness was replaced by humility.

C. Thus, he directed his readers in Philippians 2:1-4 to relate to one another in the humility that is in Christ, a passage we view for our own edification toward growing ever more nurturing as a body (as follows):

II. Nurture In Relating To Fellow Believers In The Humility That Comes From Christ, Philippians 2:1-4.

A. The "if" (conditional) clauses in Philippians 2:1 are all "first-class conditions" in the Greek text, meaning each "if" may be translated "since" to convey the idea of assured realities, Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 653.

B. Accordingly, the extensive command Paul would give in Philippians 2:2-4 would be based upon the truths presented in the Philippians 2:1 "if" (conditional) clauses, and we view those assured realities as follows:

1. First, believers possess "encouragement" (paraklesis, U. B. S. Grk. N. T., 1966, p. 683) in relationship to Christ from the Holy Spirit's ministry as the parakletos, cf. John 14:16; Ibid., B. K. C., N. T., p. 653, 323.

2. Second, believers possess "solace, consolation" (paramuthion, Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Eng. Lex. of the N. T., 1967, p. 626) in Christ's love for them graciously administered in saving them from God's wrath.

3. Third, believers possess "fellowship with the Spirit" (koinonia pneumatos, Ibid., U. B. S. Grk. N. T.) due to the Holy Spirit's permanent indwelling of the Christian, Ibid., B. K. C., N. T., p. 653; 1 Cor. 6:19.

4. Fourth, believer possess "tenderness and compassion" in Christ, the Holy Spirit's work in each believer to produce "a concern and love for other members of God's family," Ibid.

C. Armed with these spiritual possessions in Christ, Paul urged his Christian readers to live with the attitude of humility toward one another in Philippians 2:2-4 as follows:

1. Paul urged that his readers fulfill his joy in being of "the same mind, opinion" (phroneo, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 874) based on the Holy Spirit's encouraging ministry, the consolation of Christ's love, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the tenderness and compassion provided by the Spirit to be exercised toward one another, Philippians 2:1, 2a,b.

2. Paul urged that his readers fulfill his joy in "having the same love" based on the Holy Spirit's encouraging ministry, the consolation of Christ's love, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the tenderness and compassions provided by the Spirit to be exercised toward one another, Philippians 2:1, 2a, c.

3. Paul urged that his readers fulfill his joy in having "one attitude" (Ibid., other meaning) based on the Holy Spirit's encouraging ministry, the consolation of Christ's love, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the tenderness and compassion provided by the Spirit to be exercised toward one another, Phil. 2:1,2a,d.

4. Accordingly, thus armed in their approach and attitude toward relating to one another, Paul called for his readers to let nothing in their relationships be done out of "selfish ambition" (eritheia, Ibid., p. 309) or "conceit" (kenodoxia, Ibid., p. 428), but rather (alla is a strong adversative particle, Ibid., U. B. S. Grk. N. T., p. 684) in "humility, modesty" (tapeinophrosune, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 812) to let each esteem the other as "being better than, more excellent" (huperecho, Ibid., p. 848) than themselves, Phil. 2:3.

5. In addition, thus armed, Paul called for each reader not to "keep [their] eyes on" (skopeo, Ibid., p. 764) the things of themselves, but rather (alla, the strong adversative again) on the things of others, Phil. 2:4. Thus, they were concern themselves with the interests of others and not only their own interests. (Phil. 2:4 ESV)

Lesson: Toward a nurturing atmosphere in the local church, every believer is to arm himself with the awareness of his encouragement in Christ from the Holy Spirit's ministry, of his consolation in Christ's gracious love that saved him from God's wrath, of his fellowship with the Holy Spirit and of the tenderness and compassion the Spirit has equipped him to express in order to be of the same mind, to have the same love and attitude as fellow believers in order to relate to one another not out of selfish ambition and conceit, but out of humility. This attitude is to be directed to pay heed to the interests of other believers rather than paying heed only to one's own interests.

Application: May we thus recall our riches in Christ to relate to one another this way as a nurturing church body.