New Testament / Philippians

  • The Blessing of Repetition

    Philippians 3:1

    God is gracious to us in our weaknesses, and, understanding that we are quick to forget, repeats Himself often in Scripture. In many ways, the Bible is a very repetitive book, and that is a good thing. Thus, we should ...Read More

  • The Return of Epaphroditus

    Philippians 2:25–26

    The depth of Epaphroditus’ love for his brothers and sisters in Christ is seen in that his chief worry was not about his own health but that his fellow believers would not have to suffer too much emotional pain in ...Read More

  • The Proven Worth of Timothy

    Philippians 2:21–24

    Paul could be confident in Timothy’s worth as a fellow minister because of the ways he had proven his character over time (Phil. 2:22). As we consider our service in the church, we should also be aware that ...Read More

  • Paul’s Commendation of Timothy

    Philippians 2:19–20

    Paul’s sending of Timothy illustrates his great love for his congregation and is an example that Christian leaders will especially want to follow. It is good to appoint and send others on one’s behalf to help those under ...Read More

  • Paul’s Love for His Audience

    Philippians 2:17–18

    Our love for those who minister to us should be part of what motivates our obedience to the Lord. As we grow in holiness, we help to show our pastors, Sunday school teachers, and other church leaders that their labor ...Read More

  • Clinging to the Truth

    Philippians 2:16

    Today’s passage tells us that as we live a life that reflects the gospel, we not only become the lights that we already are in Christ but also encourage those who give the gospel to us. Our church leaders ...Read More

  • Lights to the World

    Philippians 2:14–15

    Since we are already lights to the world in Christ Jesus, we can, by His Spirit, show forth the glory and goodness of God in line with the Father’s plan. We will fail from time to time and need ...Read More

  • The Work of God Through Us

    Philippians 2:12–13

    Augustine says that “[we] are to work with fear and trembling so that [we] will not, by attributing the good working to [ourselves], be elated by the good works as if they were [our] own” (ACCNT 8, p. 245). Even ...Read More

  • The Exaltation of Christ

    Philippians 2:9–11

    If Jesus’ path to glory involves humbling Himself for the sake of His people, then one of the greatest ways we can bring Him glory is to remind the world of the clearest evidence of His humiliation — His death on ...Read More

  • The Incarnation of the Son of God

    Philippians 2:7–8

    Advocates of a kenotic Christology say the Son of God set aside certain divine attributes when He became incarnate. Such is impossible, for then He would not be fully God and could not save us. John Calvin comments, “Christ, indeed ...Read More

  • The Form of God

    Philippians 2:5–6

    At the very beginning of Paul’s hymn to Christ, we have a powerful assertion of the deity of our Lord and Savior. The Jesus whom we serve is not just another man among men or one great teacher among ...Read More

  • Proving Our Salvation

    Philippians 2:1–2

    Scripture often warns the people of God about those who cause dissension for dissension’s sake — people who cause problems not because they stand firm for the truth but because they are factional and generally disagreeable (Titus 3:10–11 ...Read More

  • Belief and Suffering

    Philippians 1:29–30

    If we are surprised when persecution comes, then we will find it more difficult to endure it and experience the grace of God in our suffering. Yet as we remember that both belief and suffering are granted to us by ...Read More

  • A Sign of Destruction and Salvation

    Philippians 1:28

    We do not earn our place in heaven through the consistent endurance of persecution and harassment. Rather, such endurance proves that we have the faith that can alone lay hold of the benefits of salvation, for “the one who endures ...Read More

  • A Life Worthy of the Gospel

    Philippians 1:27

    We can by no means overestimate our need of the Christian community for our own faithfulness to our Savior in this world. All of the greatest leaders in church history had the support of fellow believers, and they were thereby ...Read More