1If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, 2make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 4each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
5Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14Do all things without complaining and arguing, 15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, 16holding up the word of life, that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain. 17Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18In the same way, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing. 20For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you. 21For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22But you know that he has proved himself. As a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News. 23Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me. 24But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.
25But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need, 26since he longed for you all, and was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick. 27For indeed he was sick nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. 28I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor, 30because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
This is by far Paul’s most personal epistle. No serious argument has been brought against Pauline authorship. Historically, virtually all of the early church fathers considered this epistle written by Paul. Moreover, Paul identifies himself and Timothy as the senders of this letter. Finally, Paul founded the church at Philippi during his second missionary journey ca. A.D. 51. While there are disputes as to where Paul penned this letter, if he wrote it while in house arrest in Rome, and setting aside arguments from distance, there would be plenty of opportunities for Paul to visit Philippi.
Furthermore, Paul urged an unnamed “true companion” to “help” two women that were in some sort of disagreement. While speculative, this unnamed helper is either Timothy, Silas, Epaphroditus or some other friend of Paul’s. Thus, when Paul calls the person commissioned with the task of delivering the letter to the Philippians, he uses the key term “my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier”. This certainly does sound like Timothy. Regardless of his identity, this unnamed “fellow worker” delivered the Philippian’s gift to Paul.
Paul’s love for this body of believers is quite apparent, and as said earlier, it is a very intimate letter. Paul’s attitude is one of joy and care for his flock, regardless of his current circumstances. Apparently, as said before, there was a disagreement between two leading women at the Philippian church. Thus, when he speaks of unity, including having the attitude of servanthood and humility—as seen in Christ (Phil 2:1-11), Paul pleads for this church body to be “like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (2:2).
This personal and caring tone is not as evident in his other letters. Paul also urges them to avoid legalism and to appreciate the finalization of the finished salvific work of Christ. The Philippian believers also had a deep love for Paul. This church was one of the few churches that supported Paul while in missionary travel. Paul expressed his gratitude by calling their stewardship a “sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.” Thus, it is clear, that the Philippian believers recognized Paul’s apostleship and divine calling.