Philippians
About this date: Dates are broad scholarly estimates of composition or final editing, not dates of the events narrated. Traditional attributions and scholarly assessments can differ.
Paul writes to a community that supports him while he is imprisoned. Gratitude, partnership, conflict, joy, and a call to share Christ's mind appear together. The famous Christ passage in chapter 2 is part of an appeal for communal humility.
Key points
- Paul's imprisonment does not prevent his concern for the congregation's partnership.
- Philippians 2:5-11 should be read with the exhortation in 2:1-4.
- The final thanks names concrete material support for mission.
Scripture
- Philippians 1:3-26 — Partnership, imprisonment, and the advance of the gospel open the letter.
- Philippians 2:1-18 — The Christ hymn sits within a call to humility and faithful work.
- Philippians 3:7-16 — Paul describes knowing Christ and pressing toward the goal.
- Philippians 4:10-20 — The closing thanks addresses financial partnership.
Primary sources
Philippians 2:5 states:
The passage about Christ's self-emptying begins as an instruction about the community's own attitude.
Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,
Passage context and translation
The Christ hymn sits within a call to humility and faithful work.
Before the excerpt
each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
After the excerpt
who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Sources and further reading
- Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles: canonical books and Apocrypha
- Catholic Catechism §120: canon and book list
- Orthodox Church in America: canon of Scripture
- Orthodox Church in America: Old Testament historical books
- USCCB Bible introductions: historical and literary notes
- USCCB introduction to Philippians