Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 16

Paul Exhorts the Philippian Believers to be Humble Minded like Christ

Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. KJV

Since the death of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, the condition of the visible Church has changed dramatically, we now have some hundreds and thousands of Christian Denominations that were never the intent of our Lord Jesus Christ, for as we declared in the last study (John 17:20-23), He prayed for us to be one, however, within these various Denominations there is an unspoken, unwritten, and unshakeable reverence of the Apostle Paul as having been perhaps the greatest Christian Evangelist, Teacher, and Missionary ever in the Body of Christ. Paul, if he were alive today, would not accept, acknowledge, or account this honor to himself, but instead he was as close to being humble as our Lord Jesus Christ was in my opinion. Paul’s desire was the same as our Lord’s when it came to how believers functioned or interacted with one another in the Church and more importantly in the world at large. This is why we see Paul exhorting these Philippian believers and every true believer of every generation to, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3). When Paul says nothing here at the beginning of this verse, he is being emphatic meaning “not even one thing”. The nothing refers to doing things (among one another) through strife or vainglory.

The English word strife is translated by the Greek word eritheia meaning quarrels or angry disputes causing dissention and contention; intrigue, that is, crafty and involved plots to achieve your (usually sinister) ends. In other words, to Paul, the idea of the Church of Jesus Christ having people in her midst that would sink to such low level as to plot against another part of the Body of Christ was unthinkable to Paul, that would be like the hands plotting against the eyes of the physical body to gouge them out, this would bring hurt and harm to the entire physical body, and so is it when members of Christ Body quarrel or wrangle amongst one another to hurt or harm the individual, but it likewise hurts and harms the entire Body of Christ. It is Paul’s desire to see every follower of Christ to no longer behave as mere carnal men or baby Christians as he warned and reprimanded the Corinthian believers with these words, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

The English word vainglory Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word kenodoxia (only use of this word in the Bible) meaning empty glorying, that is, self-conceit. The Apostle Paul never looked upon the things done through his hands either writing, witnessing, healing, casting out demons, comforting, praying, etc. as being performed or done in or by his own ability, talent, or endowment. Paul wanted these Philippian believers and we believers today to be fully aware and fully acknowledge that everything done “in us” or “by us” is all of God the Holy Spirit working out Christ plans, procedures, and purposes here on the earth for the Glory of God the Father as our Lord Jesus told us with these words, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:7-8). Paul wants every believer to understand that whatever is accomplished through them is not of their doing at all, but all the glory belongs to God. After this same Apostle wrote so eloquently to the Galatian believers detailing to them the fruit of the Holy Spirit in contrast to the works of the flesh, he concluded that chapter with these words, “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:26).

So is it this contrast Paul wants believers to have literally oozing out of our spirits to and for one another, therefore, he uses the English phrase “in lowliness of mind” which is translated by one Greek word tapeinophrosune meaning humiliation of mind, that is, modesty: - humbleness of mind, humility (of mind), lowliness (of mind). How does the Apostle Paul define this “lowliness or humbleness of mind”? with the very next words put in black ink on white paper, and that is by each person having a desire, disposition, and determination to “let each esteem other better than themselves” and this attitude carried into action will squash, squelch, and squeeze out all factions that seek the vainglory of individuals over giving God all the Glory for all things done in the Church. This is the way the Apostle Paul looked upon himself verses others as he informed us with these words, “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8-9). The Love of God is in direct opposition to a heart that is self-seeking desiring to receive praise from men and not from God and it does not reside in such a person redeemed by the Blood of Christ as Paul described for us with these words, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

My own Personal Note: “It is the man of God or woman of God that sees their sinfulness, infirmities, and weaknesses, in the light of the Perfection of the Word of God and the Perfect life of our Lord Jesus Christ, and knows that they are nothing without Christ and therefore, we are ‘lowly of mind’ when we see our continual dependence on Christ moment by moment of each and every day as sojourners and pilgrims here on the earth.”

“Have always a humbling view of yourselves, and this will lead you to prefer others to yourselves; for, as you know your own secret defects, charity will lead you to suppose that your brethren are more holy, and more devoted to God than you are; and they will think the same of you, their secret defects also being known only to themselves. Adam Clarke

“A Christian should not seek his own honor and applause, and to have his own will, and a point in a Church carried his own way, but should consult the honor of Christ, the good of others, and the peace of the Church; he should not look upon his own gifts, he may look upon them, and ascribe them to the grace of God, and make use of them to His glory, but not to admire them, or himself for them, and pride himself in them, and lift up himself above others, neglecting and taking no notice of the superior abilities of others.” Dr. John Gill

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…