Gospel Togetherness

The opening word, “therefore” (1), links the unity of the church in Christ with its public witness spoken about in the previous verses. Both dimensions–external and internal–flow out of living as citizens of heaven, and both are essential to Christian life and mission. So it is that Paul seeks to strengthen the identity of the Philippians by exhorting them to oneness, humility and service towards one another (2-4), all flowing out of the great blessings they have from being one with Christ and sharing in the Spirit (1).It’s relatively easy at one level to say we should be like-minded, one in purpose, humble and selfless, but what do these qualities look like in real life? What might it mean in practice to “value others above yourselves” (3)? Practical outworking will differ depending on time and place, but it will certainly be that which contributes to the community as a whole, which is prepared to play second fiddle to others, and which follows the pattern of Christ, as Paul goes on to show.