Philippians 2: The Humility of Jesus, the Path to Unity

Introduction

"We live in a society that is highly connected digitally, yet at the same time disconnected on a personal and emotional level." With this observation, Jonathan Anthony, a preacher at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Australia, opens this message in the series on a gospel-centered life, drawn from Paul's letter to the Philippians.

The text is Philippians 2:1-11. In it, Paul urges a Church threatened by division to pursue unity, and he gives it a model: the humility of Jesus, who emptied himself even to death on a cross.

The preacher draws out four aspects of unity in Christ. And from the very start he sets a choice before us: to be part of the solution, a contributor and a participant, rather than a spectator.

Message Outline

1. A Church Born in a Roman Colony

Paul preached in some fifty cities and towns, and founded between fourteen and twenty churches across the Roman Empire, in Turkey and in Greece. Over his three missionary journeys, he traveled about ten thousand miles (roughly sixteen thousand kilometers).
Philippi was a former Roman colony, nicknamed "little Rome" at the time. In 42 BC, the Battle of Philippi, a decisive civil war, brought an end to the Roman Republic. Rome then settled retired soldiers there.
The city was deeply loyal to Rome, and its people worshiped the Roman and Greek gods. It was a lively city, full of commerce, travelers and soldiers.
The Church in Philippi faced persecution from outside, division between Jewish and non-Jewish believers inside, the threat of false teachers, and anxiety over Paul's imprisonment.
It had sent Epaphroditus to Paul with gifts. He fell gravely ill and stayed longer than planned. When he was able to leave, Paul entrusted this letter to him.

2. Understanding the Foundational Truth of Unity

In verse 1, Paul lays down four "ifs": "If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion."
In the Greek construction, the preacher explains, this "if" expresses neither doubt nor condition. It reads as "since." The Philippians had already received these blessings in Jesus when they received the gospel. They are the foundation of unity.
The first word, paraklèsis, is close to paraklètos, the name given to the Holy Spirit. It means standing beside someone, counseling them, encouraging them. Retired soldiers knew what it meant to stand beside a comrade.
The second, paramuthion, speaks of comforting, of soothing, of speaking words that calm sorrow and anguish. Think of the soldier who finds himself next to a wounded comrade on the battlefield: he calms him and brings him comfort.
The third, splanchna, denotes deep, sincere and active compassion. These are not empty words, but a movement of the heart toward someone in distress or need.
The last, koinônia, is fellowship: sharing, connection, closeness. The preacher recalls the dinner the Church organized the night before for widows and women on their own, a true moment of fellowship.
He quotes Billy Graham: the Church is not only a building or a group, it is the spiritual fellowship of all who belong to Jesus Christ. And the preacher adds: "If we belong to Christ, we also belong to one another."

3. Embracing the Path of Unity

Verses 2 and 3: being of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Doing nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but regarding others as better than yourself.
These principles run against the current. They require real intention, especially in the West, in a culture centered on self, on one's own needs and happiness. "We have become very isolated."
The preacher cites the Australian Communications and Media Authority: 99.7% of Australian adults have access to the Internet, 93% of households have a connection and 97% of the population owns a mobile phone. When he asks who still uses a landline, about twelve people raise their hands.
A society digitally connected but personally and socially disconnected: loneliness, isolation, depression, anxiety and mental health problems are on the rise.
"Beware of an individualistic religion." Christianity is a family experience: when God saved you, he saved you to be part of his family and to belong to a community.
The Bible is a book of Eastern thought, centered on family, tribe and community. The preacher cites the African philosophy of ubuntu: "I am because we are." And the proverb that it takes a whole village to raise a child.
Paul calls us to come out from among them and be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17), and not to be conformed to this present age, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). The Greek word, metamorphoô, evokes the caterpillar that becomes a butterfly.
"What occupies your thoughts? What occupies the thoughts of our young people? Who speaks to them and shapes their ideas?"

4. Contemplating the Example of Jesus

Verses 5 to 8: existing in the form of God, Jesus emptied himself, took the form of a servant and humbled himself, becoming obedient even to death on a cross.
Crucifixion was a shameful death, forbidden to Roman citizens. For a Jew, being crucified meant being cursed by God. Yet the cross shows that there is no limit to what God does to display his love and to save humanity.
The word humility comes from the Latin humilitas, linked to the earth, the ground, the dust. In ancient Greece and Rome, humility was not a virtue: it was seen as a sign of weakness, defeat and lower social rank.
Jesus turned this idea upside down. "Humility is not weakness." For him, humility is submission and surrender to the Father's will. He gave himself even to death, at Golgotha, for our sins, for our freedom, for your forgiveness and mine.
The preacher quotes a book he read on the subject: "Humility can never be humiliated." People thought they were humiliating Jesus with a shameful death. But when he gave his life, there was great power in it.
Fully man and fully God, Jesus gave up all his heavenly privileges so that you and I could be saved. The preacher quotes John Dickson, in his book on humility: humility is the noble choice to forgo your status, to use your resources or your influence for the good of others.

5. The Exaltation That Follows the Descent

Verses 9 to 11: God highly exalted him and gave him the name which is above every name. Jesus' exaltation is the greatest reward for his humility, his submission and his obedience.
"Many of us only want the reward." They want neither the suffering, nor the sacrifice, nor the perseverance, nor the patience. Jesus was exalted because he was humble and obedient, according to God's plan.
True exaltation comes after humility, surrender, obedience and service for the glory of God. We too are called to live for the glory of God the Father.
"Every knee will bow": Paul is not speaking of universal salvation. Everyone will one day acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. If you know him, it will be in joy. If you have no relationship with him, it will be in despair. "The choice is yours."

6. A Mission Awaiting Us

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with 2.4 billion followers. Yet it declined between 2010 and 2020, especially in the West, under the effect of secularization and prosperity. According to the Pew Research Center, Islam is now the fastest-growing religion.
For the preacher, these figures say that the mission of proclaiming the gospel remains immense: there are still people to reach in order to tell them about Jesus.
He concludes with Ephesians 4:1-3: walking worthily of the calling we have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
"We have a job to do, a mission to accomplish." Will you say yes to God: "Lord, I want to be a partner in your kingdom and see the body of Christ built up in a unity that brings glory and honor to the Father"?
The message ends in prayer, with Revelation 11:15: "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!"

Key Takeaways

The foundation of unity is already given in Christ: encouragement, consolation, the fellowship of the Spirit and compassion.
To belong to Christ is to belong to one another as well. The Christian faith is not an individualistic religion.
The path of unity runs against the current: regarding others as better than yourself and letting yourself be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
The humility of Jesus is not weakness: it is a voluntary submission that opened the way to forgiveness.
True exaltation comes after descent. You cannot want the reward without the perseverance.

Personal Application

In your church life, are you more of a contributor and participant, or a spectator?
Take some time this week to pray: "Lord, how can I take part in your plan for the world? What can I do?"
Who around you needs you to stand beside them, to comfort them or to show them concrete compassion?
What is occupying your thoughts right now, and who is shaping the way you see others?
In what situation can you forgo your status, or use your resources or your influence for the good of another?

Verses Cited

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the "if" in Philippians 2:1 express doubt?

No. According to the preacher, in the Greek construction this "if" expresses neither doubt nor condition: it is understood as "since." Paul reminds the Philippians that they have already received in Christ encouragement, consolation, the fellowship of the Spirit and compassion. This is the foundation of unity.

Why is humility not weakness?

In ancient Greece and Rome, humility was seen as a sign of weakness, defeat and lower social rank. Jesus turned this idea upside down: for him, humility is submission and surrender to the Father's will. By giving himself even to death on a cross, he showed that humility is strength.

Does "every knee will bow" mean that everyone will be saved?

No. The preacher clarifies that Paul is not speaking of universal salvation. One day, everyone will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord: those who know him will do so in joy, those who have no relationship with him in despair. The choice is yours today.