{"id":44064,"date":"2021-12-13T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=44064"},"modified":"2024-07-15T15:15:36","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T22:15:36","slug":"being-of-one-mind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/being-of-one-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"Being of One Mind"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a world where there is so much to divide us, how do we remain united as Christians? Paul provides direction on being of one mind in his letter to the Philippians. And, the ESV Expository Commentary Set<\/a> has great insight on this passage. Here are Paul’s remarks, followed by an excerpt from the commentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Philippians 2:1\u20134<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Section Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These four verses are one long sentence in Greek. The sentence has an \u201cif\u201d (2:1<\/a>)\/\u201cthen\u201d (v. 2ab<\/a>) structure, followed by a series of attitudes and actions showing how to live out the main idea (vv. 2c\u20134<\/a>), which is that, for Paul to experience fullness of joy, the Christians of Philippi must be unified<\/strong> (2:2ab<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This passage is linked to three sections of Philippians:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. the previous verses (1:12\u201330<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. the following verses (2:5\u201311<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. the final verses of the body (4:2\u20133<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    First,<\/em> these verses fit with the previous verses<\/strong> because they demonstrate that Paul practiced what he is preaching, as he seeks the interests of others above his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Second,<\/em> these verses describe the Christian mind<\/strong>, while the verses that follow describe the mind of Christ (2:5\u201311<\/a>). Christ preeminently lived out these principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Third,<\/em> this same command appears again as the climactic command<\/strong> at the close of the book\u2019s body, where Paul calls Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord (4:2<\/a>). We could bring out the similarity by translating as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Complete my joy so that you may think the same thing<\/strong> [to auto phron\u0113te<\/em>]. (2:2<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I urge Euodia and Syntyche to think the same thing<\/strong> [to auto phronein<\/em>] in the Lord. (4:2<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Section Outline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n