Paul Exhorts the Philippian Believers to be of One
Mind
Philippians
2:1-2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of
love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my
joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord,
of one mind. KJVPaul transitions from the revelation to these Philippian believers as well as we believers today from the non-popular truth of every true believer or follower of Christ being appointed to suffering for Him, His Gospel, and His Word, for we recall these words spoken by our Lord Jesus when He said, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26), to the reassuring truth that there is “consolation in Christ”. The English word consolation is translated by the Greek word paraklesis meaning to call near, invite, to render solace or the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment; giving relief in times of affliction in a form of comforting protection. In other words, Paul had just declared that we are redeemed to suffering for the sake of Christ and not to be healthy, wealthy, and have every one of our greedy fleshly needs met, however, those who belong to Christ will always be comforted, protected, and relieved by Him personally when we are agitated, afflicted, and attacked for His cause here on this earth, for we can recall from the Acts of the Apostles documented for us by Dr. Luke how our Lord Jesus did so with this very Apostle Paul when He came to Him in the city of Corinth and said, “Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.’ And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.” (Acts 18:9-11).
It is Paul’s desire to see them (by the grace from Christ Jesus) console one another in their individual and their collective suffering for the cause of Christ as he declared would be so to the Corinthian believers with these reassuring words, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). The second condition or mode of being or form of existence Paul wants them and us today to exhibit among one another is “comfort of love” meaning that by the love of God poured out in their hearts by the Holy Spirit given to them (Romans 5:5) they were to continually be comforting one another in their times of afflictions. The third condition Paul declares here is “if any fellowship of the Spirit”. The English word fellowship is translated by the Greek word koinonia meaning partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse or communion. In other words, Paul is pointing out to them and to us that if they and we have not grieved God the Holy Spirit “in us”, then He will always lead everyone along the same path according to the Word of God of which He (God the Holy Spirit) is the Author.
The fourth condition Paul wants to see exhibited and expressed by these Philippian believers among one another was “bowels and mercies” meaning pity, empathy, sympathy, that is, understanding and entering into another’s feelings; deep inward affection for another. In other words, the Apostle Paul wanted to witness them having such strong love, care, and concern for one another that they were showing one another tender mercy entering into the grief, affliction, sorrow, and sufferings of their fellow brothers and sisters “in Christ” as he declared to the Corinthian believers with these impassioned words, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10). When Paul was certain that these Philippian believers were responding to one another in the manner above then he declares that his disposition would be that of abounding joy. The Apostle Paul was most concerned for the Churches that were formed by the Holy Spirit through his declaration of the Gospel of Christ more so than his own suffering as he was at the time of writing this letter (2 Corinthians 11:28). Paul always wanted there to be “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3) among all believers everywhere, therefore, he says to these Philippian believers, “fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2).
Paul was most joyful when he saw fellow believers thinking as one with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and also as our Lord Jesus Christ prayed for us to be with these words to God the Father on our behalf, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:20-23). It is this harmony of thought, character, and actions that our Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul longs to see manifested in these Philippian believers and we believers today as it was early on in the birth of the Church of Christ as Dr. Luke records with these words, “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the Apostles gave witness to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the Apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.” (Acts 4:32-35).
My own Personal Note: “The Word of God assures us that we are eternally loved by our Lord Jesus Christ and always under His watchful eye and kept by the Power of God and nothing is able to separate us from this love ever, therefore, we should respond with a heart of love for Christ Jesus our Lord by comforting our brethren and sisteren whenever we can by that same comfort we receive from Christ Jesus during our own times of afflictions and stand fast and firm on these words written by Paul to the Thessalonian believers, ‘Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.’ (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).”
“If there be any comfort in the exercise of tender affection. That there is, no one can doubt. Our happiness is almost all centered in love. It is when we love a parent, a wife, a child, a sister, a neighbor, that we have the highest earthly enjoyment. It is in the love of God, of Christ, of Christians, of the souls of people, that the redeemed find their highest happiness. Hatred is a passion full of misery; love an emotion full of joy. By this consideration, Paul appeals to them, and the motive here is drawn from all the joy which mutual love and sympathy are fitted to produce in the soul Paul would have that love exercised in the highest degree, and would have them enjoy all the happiness which its mutual exercise could furnish.” Albert Barnes
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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