New Testament Commentary - Philippians 2

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 2 Saints should be of one mind and one spirit—Every knee shall bow to Christ—Saints must work out their salvation—Paul faces martyrdom with joy.	Saints shoul be of singleness of heart and mind—Every knew bows to Christ—The Father exalts and names Jesus—Saints work out their salvation—Pauls faces martyrdom with joy in Christ.	The Anointing The Father anointed Him and consecrated His life, exalting Him to the highest priesthood of being God, to act in the stead of the Father in all things ~ Leviticus 16:32
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ^a, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any ^abowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same ^alove, being of ^bone ^caccord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through ^astrife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each ^besteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.	1^a consolation in Christ To have the 'spirit' of Christ into one's life, to accept him and bring his countenance upon us, is to fill of his great love and to imulate it in our own life. This consciecousness and awareness of Christ in one's life is to feel of that great benevolence, love, mercy and fellowship of the Spirit. And it does bring a unity of heart and mind into ones own life to have received Christ into one's life and very being.	1^a GR tender affections of the heart and compassion 2^a TG Benevolence ^b TG Unity ^c Rom. 12:10 (10-18); Moses 7:18 (18-21) 3^a TG Strife ^b TG Humility; TG Love; TG Respect
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus^a: 6 Who, being in the ^aform of God, thought it not robbery to be ^bequal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a ^aservant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in ^afashion as a man, he ^bhumbled himself, and became ^cobedient unto ^ddeath, even the ^edeath of the cross.	5^a Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus This is a key in understanding the doctrine of the 'oneness', the unity of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. It is a key in understanding the oneness and unity of the Godhead. They are indeed three separate and distinct beings, but they are on one mind. They are of the same order of that perfected righteousness in mind, heart, and soul. This does not prevent the existence of individuality. Rather it is the unity of being united in perfected righteousness in mind, heart and soul. This is the same oneness and unity that each of us can come to, uniting us with Jesus and the Father of our spirits in that unity of righteousness of mind, heart and soul.	14^a Zechariah 10:7 (6-12); D&C 109:60-61; D&C 133:34; TG Israel, Joseph, People of ^b Septuagint; crosing his hands
God Hath Given Him a Name ( ~ Given Him a Name .. that at the name of Jesus ~ ) When God the Father elected Jehovah and anointed him to be our Ministering God of the temporal estate, He not only anointed him with power, the power of God, but also bestowed upon Jehovah a new name being Jesus or Jehoshua. This may be deduced by what is said here in verses 9 and 10 and the fact that Adam knew that name 'Jesus' as having been given Jehovah by God the Father (Moses 6:50-52), Enoch knew that name 'Jesus' by which men must approach unto God (Moses 7:50), and Noah knew that name 'Jesus' as the name in which the ordinances of salvation were to be performed (Moses 8:23-24). And if you will, the fourth vision of Zechariah clearly sets forth the council of judgment before God the Father between Jehovah named as Jehoshua and Lucifer named as Satan (Zechariah 3). Further Biship Eusebius of Caesarea also knew that Jehovah had first been given the name of Jehosuha and that Moses did rename Oshea the son of Nun by that name after that name of Jesus of Jehoshua by which Jehovah had so previously been known (EH Book I.3.4).
9 Wherefore God also hath highly ^aexalted him, and given him a ^bname which is above every name: 10 That at the ^aname of Jesus every ^bknee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is ^aLord^a, to the glory of God the Father^b. God Hath Given A Name There is but one name given under heaven by which man may be saved. And that name is Jesus the anointed of the Father from before the foundation of the earth. It was in the preexistence that the Father so named Jehovah to the end that Salvation is found only in him and none other. That is what the name means, 'Jehovah is Salvation'. Adam knew him by that name in his day. Enoch knew him by that name in his day. Moses knew his name and placed it upon the Ephraimite heir who became Israel's prophet of the promised land, Jehoshua [Jesus]. Thus Moses was a type of John the Baptist, the Levite who proceeded, and Joshua was the type of 'Jesus' who followed the Levite priest, bring Israel safely through the waters of baptism (Jordan), into the promised kingdom. Zachariah was shown in vision the day Jesus [Jehoshua] and Satan stood before God and Jesus as the anointed high priest was clothed in the garment of that priesthood authority by which he act in the stead of the Father in all things. This is what the yearly performance of the Day of Atonement in the Law of Moses did represent as further explained by Paul in Hebrews. And this is the name JESUS, which Noah as Gabriel did insure that the child was so named both stating it to Mary and Joseph. (See Commentaries Zachariah 3, Leviticus 16, Hebrews 9.)	11^a every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord Every knee will bow and every tongue confess tht Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. 11^b to the glory of God the Father In the preexistence, Christ volenteered freely according to his own agency to perform as the redeemer of mankind. He was the firstborn of the Father, the the proper heir. And his superior intelligence, proper obedience and humility before God the Father allowed to Father to so select him to be the Savior of the world. And it was the son as Jehovah who stated, 'Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.' The Son in performing the will of the Father does return all glory to his Father's name. And thus the Father does exalt him, making him one with the Father. Every Tongue Confess Every Knee Shall Bow It was proclaimed before the foundation of the world that the day would come that all would confess and subject themselves before Jesus Christ at that final day. Zechariah saw in vision the High Council judgement of Lucifer and the proclamation of Jehoshua, that is Jesus Christ, in the preexistence before the foundation of the world (See Zechariah Chapter 3). It was at that time God the Father named his son Jehovah, 'Jehoshua' (Jehovah Is Salvation). At that time, before all happened, it was set out in heaven the course of events concerning this earth. And as repeated in such scriptures as Isaiah 45:23 (21-25), Mosiah 27:30-31, Romans 14:11, D&C 76:110, D&C 88:104, Revelation 20:12 (D&C 128:6), Mosiah 16:10, Alma 11:41, Mormon 9:2; all will be brought to stand before Christ to be judged and all will confess and all well bow before Him. This was set out from before the foundation of the world by the design of God. And it will be so fulfilled. It was know and prophesied from the days when Jehovah was named and anointed by the Father to so be that Greater Redeemer unto whom all would come to, through and be subjects of unto the judgements of God.	9^a TG Exaltation ^b Mal. 1:11; Heb. 1:4; TG Name 10^a Mosiah 27:31; D&C 76:110 (106-111); D&C 88:104 (103-104) ^b Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:11 11^a TG Jesus Christ, Messiah From Before the Foundation of the World ~ I AM All was prepared, set forth and declared from before the foundation of the world. It was there that the Father consecrated and anointed His Son to act in his stead in all things as forshadowed by the performances of the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16;32). He so established and named His Son Jehovah to be the Redeemer as Jehoshua, that being the very name, the only name, by which man might be redeemed and receive exaltation. Know ye not by which name, by whose name ye are called? As members of the Chruch of Jesus Christ, we ought to well know by whose name we are so called. Adam knew that name and was called by it, Enoch and Noah also. Moses knew that name and changed the name of the son of Nun to so reflect it, he being a type of the Messiah to come. And though lost to understanding, the Jews still knew that by that name would the Messiah be known, and so was the Christ so distinguished by the conveyed commandment through the Elias of God in the Angel called Gabrial, who we know to be Noah, the representative ancestral father of man since the days of the flood.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, ^awork out your own ^bsalvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you^a both to will and to do of his good pleasure.	13^a it is God which worketh in you If one is open to receive the mind and will of God into their own person, then that mind and will worketh in them to the end of performing those things that are of God. This is the exercise of faith unto righteousness and wherein faith without these 'good works' is the evidence of a faith which is dead. If one does not exercise his faith in Christ to the end of performing righteousness and good works, but does that speak of what that faith realy is. You can not serve two masters. If ye do wickedness it is not the exibition of Christ in you, it is not the evidence that you are exercising that faith in Jesus; rather it is an exhibition and evidance that you are exercising a mind and will of he who is not Christ, he that is not of God. Faith and good works, faith and righteousness are one and the same. The one shows forth itself as the evidence of the presence of the other. Good works and righteousness is the evidence of the possession of faith in Christ. Wickedness and the lack of good works is the evidence of faith that is dead.	14^a Zechariah 10:7 (6-12); D&C 109:60-61; D&C 133:34; TG Israel, Joseph, People of ^b Septuagint; crosing his hands
14 Do all things without murmurings and ^adisputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the ^asons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse ^bnation, among whom ye ^cshine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain^a, neither laboured in vain.	16^a that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain The stark reality of this life is that we are indeed working out our own salvation. That which we sow, that also shall we reap. What you practice and do here is what will be your reward in that day of Christ when ye come to stand before Him and are judged by the evidence of your works. Do your fruits, do your works speak that you have come to Christ and are workers of good works and righteousness or do they testify of you that you are workers of evil and wickedness? Your works do testify to him and to yourself of what it is that you have done in respect to Christ. It is evidence of your faith in Christ. If you have exercised Christ in your life unto righteousness and good works, then you will rejoice in the day of Christ. If you have not so properly exercised your faith in him and your works of evil do speak against you, then you have run the course in vain and will be found unacceptable before God.
17 Yea, and if I be ^aoffered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith^a, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.	&npsp;17^a if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith 'When ye are in the service of your fellow man, ye are in the service of God.' Paul's life was dedicated to the service of the faithful of the church. It was the 'sacrifice' which Paul did give, to service others in the name of faith in Christ. And as those who Paul did serve and sacrifice his life of service and efforts upon, did show forth that faith in Christ by their righteousness and works in Christ, so was Paul able to have joy and rejoice with them in Christ Jesus. 'If ye labor all the days of your life and bring but one soul unto God, how great will be your joy with them in the world to come.'
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21 For all ^aseek their ^bown, not the things which are Jesus Christ's^a. 22 But ye know the ^aproof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel^a. 23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.	21^a For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's The nature of man is to seek after their own mind and will. This is the nature of the natural man. All seek their own mind and they do not by their carnal nature seek after the things which are after the order of Jesus Christ. They all think more of themselves than of God and others. But to receive of the mind of Christ is to have received a different perspective. If one acts in accord with the mind and will of Christ, they seek after that which is God's and which worketh good works toward others and righteousness in the eyes of God. 22^a ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel The proof that one is a 'son' with the 'father' meaning Christ, is if they do 'serve' in the gospel. It is they act in accord with the mind and the will of God. That is if they do sacrifice their lives in the service of others in the name of Christ. It is by these good works and by this righteousness that ye may know them, whether they be of God or mammon. Are they anxiously engaged in performing good works of great righteousness, this is the proof, this is the proof exhibited forth of their faith in Christ. Without it you will know that they are not of such faith and that, that faith is dead in them.
25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you ^aEpaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier^a, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all ^agladness; and ^bhold such in ^creputation: 30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your ^alack of service toward me.	25^a companion in labor, and fellowsoldier To be of the mind of Christ is to be in the labor of God, to be a 'fellowsholdier' in the army of God.