 |  |
The Gospel in Philippians.
A | 1: 5. Fellowship from the first day.
B1 | 1: 7. Defence. "Ye partakers."
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C | 1: 12. Knowledge of Paul's unselfishness.
} Defensive.
B2 | 1: 17. Defence. "I am set."
/
D | 1: 27. Citizenship worthy of the gospel.
B2 | 1: 27. Striving together.
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C | 2: 21. Knowledge of Timothy's unselfishness. } Offensive.
B1 | 4: 3. Striving together.
/
A | 4: 15. Fellowship in the beginning of the gospel.
The whole atmosphere of this epistle is full of suffering for Christ's sake, engaging in
a conflict, seeking to walk worthy of the calling, running a race with the prize in view,
and stamped indelibly from first to last with unselfishness, the very opposite of the mind
of the flesh, the true result of having the mind of Christ.
Philippians 2: 6-11 was not written to teach the doctrine of the Godhead, but to
explain the meaning of the Apostle's words:--
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
The Apostle then proceeds to show how He did indeed "look not on His own things"
in any selfish way. He was in the form of God; He willingly took the form of a servant.
Not only so, He further humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, the shameful
and agonizing death of the cross. Here we find no word of explanation regarding what is
meant by the "form of God"; our attention is riveted upon His condescension, He emptied
Himself (made Himself of no reputation, A.V.). No doctrine is established by that death
on the cross, but the apostle presses on:--
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him."
This is the line of teaching he seeks to impress. This he immediately impresses by
saying, "Wherefore. . . . work out your own salvation." He does not question that that
salvation is theirs; he does desire that they should "work it out." To that end he brings
before them the example of Christ. The reference to obedience, both regarding Christ
and the Philippians, we must keep in mind as it will figure prominently presently.
The meaning of the word "work out" are illuminated by noting other occurrences. In
II Cor. 4: 8-12 we have a clear exhibition of one who bore about in his body the putting
to death of the Lord Jesus. In verse 17, however, the Apostle calls this terrible suffering
"light affliction, which is but for a moment," because he could see that it was "working
out a far more exceeding and aionian weight of glory." Again, the word occurs in a
context of conflict:--
"Wherefore take unto y the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having worked out all, to stand" (Eph. 6: 10-17).