Summarize

Paul begins by reminding them of blessings they have been given by Christ (Phil. 2:1-2).
He is not just asking them to think like one another. As he will soon explain, he wants them to be
like-minded with Christ to be encouraging, comforting, sharing, tender and compassionate, as
Christ is. The bottom line, he says, is to "do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit" (v.
3). Do not be motivated by selfishness or pride, for they destroy unity and are the essence of sin.
Instead, "in humility consider others better than yourselves." "Each of you should look not only
to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (v. 4). We may consider our own
interests, but we must also look out for others. This is the way of Christ. He, the best of all
humans, did not put himself first, but considered the needs of others. "Your attitude should be the
same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being
made in human likeness" (vv. 5-7). Paul is using these words to remind his readers of the
example they are to follow: someone who was divine, having the greatest of honor, yet who did
not cling to his rights and privileges. Though the Philippians had important rights as citizens of a
Roman colony, they were to focus on others, not themselves. Jesus willingly set his rights aside,
in humility becoming a human, serving our needs. His humility, his desire to serve, was
complete. He endured the most painful and most shameful form of death, just to serve our needs.
The result? God resurrected him and "exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name
that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on
earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father" (vv. 9-11).

Summarize
Paul in chapter 2 explains the power behind our salvation and transformation. As Pauls
missionary co-workers spread the gospel in this area, Paul wanted to help the new Christians be
well grounded in their beliefs so they would not fall for some counterfeit message. I want their
hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured
understanding and have the knowledge of Gods mystery, that is, Christ himself (2:2). Paul uses
the terminology of mystery but reverses it, because the mystery of Christ had been fully
revealed. Paul gives the complete message. When we are united with Christ, we are united with
the highest possible level. We are already in the palace and do not need to buy a ticket to a train
station that is only halfway there Pauls sufferings and labors (2:1) were evidence that he was
teaching not for his own benefit, but to benefit others. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge (2:3). We dont need speculations about intermediate levels of spiritual
power what we need is a better understanding of Christ! I am saying this so that no one may
deceive you with plausible arguments (2:4). The religious competition might sound
sophisticated, but Paul wants his readers to remain faithful to. The people are doing quite well,
but Paul wants to help them resist not only bizarre teachings, but also those that deviate from the
simplicity that is in Christ.
There are no additional secrets to learn all they need is to better understand the message they
already received, continue in it, and to be thankful for what God has given us in Christ!1
Christianity is not a search for the mysterious and the exotic it is a simple faith in a Savior
who died for us. It does not need to be complicated with extra ideas.