(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Unity and the Anointed’s Attitude
- Therefore, if there’s any encouragement in the Anointed, if any ^loving comfort, if any partnership of the Spirit, if any affections and compassions,
- fulfill my joy: so you might have the same understanding; having the same ^love, united in your souls with one understanding.
- Doing nothing from selfish ambition nor from baseless pride, but from humility; esteeming one another far more than yourselves, and
- each man not only looking out for their own interests, but also for each others’.
- Have this understanding in you which was also in Jesus the Anointed:
- Who, being in the form of God, didn’t consider being equal with God something to be grasped,
- but emptied Himself; having taken the form of a slave and having come in the likeness of men.
- And having been found as a man in form, He humbled Himself by having become obedient even to death, and even death on a cross.
- Therefore, God also exceedingly exalted Him and graced Him with the name above every name,
- so at the name of Jesus, every knee might bow,1quotation/allusion to Isaiah 45:23 in the heavens and on the earth and under the earth,
- and every tongue confess that Jesus the Anointed is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Obedient and blameless
- So then my beloved, just as you always obeyed – not only as in my presence, but now much more in my absence – work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
- For God is the One working in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.
- Do all things without grumbling and disputing,
- so you might become blameless and pure children of God; unblemished in the midst of a crooked and *perverted generation among whom you shine like lights in the world,
- holding fast to the word of life, so my boast on the day of the Anointed might be that I didn’t run in vain and didn’t exhaust myself working in vain.
- But even if I’m poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and ministry of your faith, I’m glad and rejoice with all of you.
- And you also do the same; be glad and rejoice with me.
Sending Timothy
- Now, I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so I also might be encouraged by knowing the news concerning you,
- for I have no one like-minded who will genuinely care for the matters concerning you.
- For all seek their own interests, not the interests of Jesus the Anointed.
- But you know his proven worth, that like a father with a child he served with me in the gospel.
- Therefore, I indeed hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see to the things which concern me.
- And I’m *confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.
Commending Epaphroditus
- Now, I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus back2“back” Philippians 4:18 makes it clear that the church at Philippi sent Epaphroditus to Paul with gifts, and thus he was sending him back. This context would’ve been obvious to the original readers and adds significant clarity to the next few verses, so was included. to you (my brother, and fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and a minister in my need)
- since he was longing [to see] all of you and distressed because you heard that he was sick.
- For he was also sick almost to death, but God had mercy on him. And not only on him, but also on me so I wouldn’t have grief upon grief.
- Therefore I sent him more eagerly, so having seen him again you might rejoice and I might be less grieved.
- Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and hold such men in honor
- because he even came near to death for the work of the Anointed, having disregarded his life so he might fill up your deficit towards my ministry.
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