Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 22

Paul Warns the Philippians of Complaining

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputing’s: KJV

The Apostle Paul after declaring that it is God working in these Philippian believers and we believers today, immediately exhorts them to, “Do all things without murmurings and disputing’s” (Philippians 2:14). Paul concludes that if each member of Christ Body His Church has God working in the inner man or inner woman, then the result of this should void, nullify, or cancel out complaining against one another. Paul did not want them to repeat the same ungrateful mistakes and error in judgement as the children of Israel did shortly after God the Father brought them out of the bondage of over 400 years of slavery to the Egyptians as documented for us by these words written by Moses, “And the whole congregation of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, And said to them, ‘Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’” (Exodus 16:2-3) (Amplified Bible). The English word murmurings is translated by the Greek word goggusmos which means a grumbling or a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone; showing an unhappy, ungrateful, and critical attitude.

In other words, the Apostle Paul’s desire here was to point out to these Philippian believers and we believers today the absolute disgust, disdain, and dissatisfaction this disposition of believers bring to the heart of God the Father who gave up the most precious thing to Him, that being His Beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ to die for our sins. This ungrateful and critical attitude was what many of the Israelites demonstrated after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and this greatly displeased God to the point that they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and the entire generation of grumbling murmurers all died in the wilderness, never getting to see the promise land flowing with milk and honey as the Apostle documented and declared to the Corinthian believers with these words, “Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did--and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death).” (1 Corinthians 10:10) (Amplified Bible). The English word disputing’s Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word dialogismos which means to reckon thoroughly, that is, (generally) to deliberate (by reflection or discussion): that is, (internal) consideration (by implication purpose), or (external) debate: to take an inventory, that is, estimate (literally or figuratively):

In other words, the Apostle Paul wants them to shun debating, that is, arguing with one another over things which are not essential to their growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and to edifying or building one another up in the faith as Paul declared to the Roman believers with these words, “As for the man who is a weak believer, welcome him [into your fellowship], but not to criticize his opinions {or} pass judgment on his scruples {or} perplex him with discussions.” (Romans 14:1) (Amplified Bible) and likewise as the Apostle Peter declared with these words to the saints, “Above all things have intense {and} unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ’s body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him).” (1 Peter 4:8-9) (Amplified Bible).

Although many people feel that murmuring and complaining are not to be considered so-called big sins, however, they are hindrances to love and we see that our Heavenly Father feels very different about these so-called little sins for this is what He said directly to the ungrateful Israelites in the wilderness, “And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘How long will this evil congregation murmur against Me? I have heard the complaints the Israelites murmur against Me. Tell them, As I live, says the Lord, what you have said in My hearing I will do to you: Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness--of all who were numbered of you, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against Me, Surely none shall come into the land in which I swore to make you dwell, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.’” (Numbers 14:26-30) (Amplified Bible). The first disciples/Apostles were guilty of failing in this area also (just as we are today) as documented for us by the Gospel writer Mark, “And they arrived at Capernaum; and when [they were] in the house, He asked them, ‘What were you discussing {and} arguing about on the road?’ But they kept still, for on the road they had discussed {and} disputed with one another as to who was the greatest.” (Mark 9:33-34) (Amplified Bible).  

Disagreements within the Church are bound to occur and they cannot be avoided, but those who engage in secret murmuring and behind the back complaining against their fellow brothers and sisters “in Christ” have caused strife to begin growing in the congregation like cancer and this is at all times to be avoided as the Apostle Paul instructed Brother Timothy and Titus with these words to them respectively, “But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife {and} breed quarrels. And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone {and} mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled {and} suitable teacher, patient {and} forbearing {and} willing to suffer wrong.” (2 Timothy 2:23-24) (Amplified Bible) and to Titus “But avoid stupid {and} foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and wrangling about the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile. [As for] a man who is factious [a heretical sectarian and cause of divisions], after admonishing him a first and second time, reject [him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him], Well aware that such a person has utterly changed (is perverted and corrupted); he goes on sinning [though he] is convicted of guilt {and} self-condemned.” (Titus 3:9-11) (Amplified Bible).

My own Personal Note: “Paul throughout all of his letters never shied away from warning or even rebuking the recipients of each letter when he learned that they may have strayed off into the wilderness (as the Israelites did) in order to draw them back to Christ and the truth of His Word as in another example of these words written to the Ephesian believers, ‘Let all bitterness and indignation {and} wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful {and} helpful {and} kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.’ (Ephesians 4:31-32) (Amplified Bible).”

“The ‘murmurings’ are not against men but against God. The ‘disputing’s’ are not wrangling with others but the division of mind in one’s self-questionings, hesitations, and the like. So the one are more moral, the other more intellectual, and together they represent the ways in which Christian men may resist the action on their spirits of God’s Spirit, ‘willing,’ or the action of God’s providence on their circumstances, ‘doing.’ Have we never known what it was to have some course manifestly prescribed to us as right, from which we have shrunk with reluctance of will? If some course has all at once struck us as wrong which we had been long accustomed to do without hesitation, has there been no ‘murmuring’ before we yielded? A voice has said to us, ‘Give up such and such a habit,’ or ‘such and such a pursuit is becoming too engrossing’: do we not all know what it is not only to feel obedience an effort, but even to cherish reluctance, and to let it stifle the voice?” Alexander MacLaren

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…