Philippians 2

There are two exercises that I find helpful to grasping the power of Paul’s words in the second chapter of Philippians.

First, imagine a snobby, very social conscious community. Everything in the community is about status, power and honor. The word humility is literally not in the vocabulary. That was life in the Roman colony of Philippi (Home of Alexander the Great.) Next remember we read in Acts 16 of Paul’s visit to Philippi where he was beaten and thrown into jail for proclaiming Jesus as Lord. Only after his release from jail did he reveal his Roman citizenship, a status that would have prevented him being beaten and jailed. Why did he wait? What qualities of life in a Christian community was he demonstrating for the new followers of Jesus in Philippi? Now read Philippians 2: 1-11.

Second. Compare these two translations of Philippians 2:4. The first is from the NLT and consistent with most English translations. The second is from the NRSV, which I think is the most accurate translation we have today.

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

Now, with these two exercises completed, process your reading today with the questions below.

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

24-Nov-11     Phil. 3