章节研读

Philippians 2 — Unity and the Humility of Christ

Paul exhorts the Philippians to humility and unity, grounds that call in a poetic account of Christ who emptied himself and was exalted, and closes with pastoral notes about Timothy and Epaphroditus.

经文

  1. 1.所 以 ， 在 基 督 裡 若 有 甚 麼 勸 勉 ， 愛 心 有 甚 麼 安 慰 ， 聖 靈 有 甚 麼 交 通 ， 心 中 有 甚 麼 慈 悲 憐 憫 ，If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,
  2. 2.你 們 就 要 意 念 相 同 ， 愛 心 相 同 ， 有 一 樣 的 心 思 ， 有 一 樣 的 意 念 ， 使 我 的 喜 樂 可 以 滿 足 。make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
  3. 3.凡 事 不 可 結 黨 ， 不 可 貪 圖 虛 浮 的 榮 耀 ； 只 要 存 心 謙 卑 ， 各 人 看 別 人 比 自 己 強 。doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;
  4. 4.各 人 不 要 單 顧 自 己 的 事 ， 也 要 顧 別 人 的 事 。not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
  5. 5.你 們 當 以 基 督 耶 穌 的 心 為 心 ：Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
  6. 6.他 本 有 神 的 形 像 ， 不 以 自 己 與 神 同 等 為 強 奪 的 ；who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,
  7. 7.反 倒 虛 己 ， 取 了 奴 僕 的 形 像 ， 成 為 人 的 樣 式 ；but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;
  8. 8.既 有 人 的 樣 子 ， 就 自 己 卑 微 ， 存 心 順 服 ， 以 至 於 死 ， 且 死 在 十 字 架 上 。and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
  9. 9.所 以 ， 神 將 他 升 為 至 高 ， 又 賜 給 他 那 超 乎 萬 名 之 上 的 名 ，Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;
  10. 10.叫 一 切 在 天 上 的 、 地 上 的 ， 和 地 底 下 的 ， 因 耶 穌 的 名 無 不 屈 膝 ，that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth,
  11. 11.無 不 口 稱 耶 穌 基 督 為 主 ， 使 榮 耀 歸 與 父 神 。and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
  12. 12.這 樣 看 來 ， 我 親 愛 的 弟 兄 ， 你 們 既 是 常 順 服 的 ， 不 但 我 在 你 們 那 裡 ， 就 是 我 如 今 不 在 你 們 那 裡 ， 更 是 順 服 的 ， 就 當 恐 懼 戰 兢 做 成 你 們 得 救 的 工 夫 。So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
  13. 13.因 為 你 們 立 志 行 事 都 是 神 在 你 們 心 裡 運 行 ， 為 要 成 就 他 的 美 意 。for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
  14. 14.凡 所 行 的 ， 都 不 要 發 怨 言 ， 起 爭 論 ，Do all things without murmurings and questionings:
  15. 15.使 你 們 無 可 指 摘 ， 誠 實 無 偽 ， 在 這 彎 曲 悖 謬 的 世 代 作 神 無 瑕 疵 的 兒 女 。 你 們 顯 在 這 世 代 中 ， 好 像 明 光 照 耀 ，that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,
  16. 16.將 生 命 的 道 表 明 出 來 ， 叫 我 在 基 督 的 日 子 好 誇 我 沒 有 空 跑 ， 也 沒 有 徒 勞 。holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.
  17. 17.我 以 你 們 的 信 心 為 供 獻 的 祭 物 ， 我 若 被 澆 奠 在 其 上 ， 也 是 喜 樂 ， 並 且 與 你 們 眾 人 一 同 喜 樂 。Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:
  18. 18.你 們 也 要 照 樣 喜 樂 ， 並 且 與 我 一 同 喜 樂 。and in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me.
  19. 19.我 靠 主 耶 穌 指 望 快 打 發 提 摩 太 去 見 你 們 ， 叫 我 知 道 你 們 的 事 ， 心 裡 就 得 著 安 慰 。But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
  20. 20.因 為 我 沒 有 別 人 與 我 同 心 ， 實 在 罣 念 你 們 的 事 。For I have no man likeminded, who will care truly for your state.
  21. 21.別 人 都 求 自 己 的 事 ， 並 不 求 耶 穌 基 督 的 事 。For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
  22. 22.但 你 們 知 道 提 摩 太 的 明 證 ； 他 興 旺 福 音 ， 與 我 同 勞 ， 待 我 像 兒 子 待 父 親 一 樣 。But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.
  23. 23.所 以 ， 我 一 看 出 我 的 事 要 怎 樣 了 結 ， 就 盼 望 立 刻 打 發 他 去 ；Him therefore I hope to send forthwith, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me:
  24. 24.但 我 靠 著 主 自 信 我 也 必 快 去 。but I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come shortly.
  25. 25.然 而 ， 我 想 必 須 打 發 以 巴 弗 提 到 你 們 那 裡 去 。 他 是 我 的 兄 弟 ， 與 我 一 同 做 工 ， 一 同 當 兵 ， 是 你 們 所 差 遣 的 ， 也 是 供 給 我 需 用 的 。But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need;
  26. 26.他 很 想 念 你 們 眾 人 ， 並 且 極 其 難 過 ， 因 為 你 們 聽 見 他 病 了 。since he longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick:
  27. 27.他 實 在 是 病 了 ， 幾 乎 要 死 ； 然 而 神 憐 恤 他 ， 不 但 憐 恤 他 ， 也 憐 恤 我 ， 免 得 我 憂 上 加 憂 。for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
  28. 28.所 以 我 越 發 急 速 打 發 他 去 ， 叫 你 們 再 見 他 ， 就 可 以 喜 樂 ， 我 也 可 以 少 些 憂 愁 。I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
  29. 29.故 此 ， 你 們 要 在 主 裡 歡 歡 樂 樂 的 接 待 他 ， 而 且 要 尊 重 這 樣 的 人 ；Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy; and hold such in honor:
  30. 30.因 他 為 做 基 督 的 工 夫 ， 幾 乎 至 死 ， 不 顧 性 命 ， 要 補 足 你 們 供 給 我 的 不 及 之 處 。because for the work of Christ he came nigh unto death, hazarding his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

这段经文的意思

Verses 1-4 frame the chapter as a conditional appeal: if the realities of Christ, love, the Spirit, and mercy are actually present among you, then act on them. The demands — same mind, same love, one accord, looking to others rather than self — are not abstract ideals but the demonstrated fruit of those prior realities. Faction (G2052) and vainglory are rejected precisely because they contradict the consolation and fellowship just invoked.

Verses 5-11 form one of the earliest christological confessions in the New Testament. Christ did not exploit equality with God; he emptied himself into servanthood and went to crucifixion death. The Father's response — universal acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as Lord — is presented as the warrant for the believers' mutual submission in v. 3-4. The pattern descends (form of God → form of servant → death) and then ascends (exaltation → name above every name → cosmic confession).

Verses 12-30 apply the hymn practically: work out salvation while God works in (vv. 12-13); do so without grumbling (v. 14); shine as lights (v. 15); hold forth the word of life (v. 16). The closing narrative about Timothy's faithful service and Epaphroditus's near-fatal illness (vv. 19-30) shows the same pattern from the hymn: servant-work risked for the gospel, then recognized and honored.

背景

Philippians is a prison letter (likely written from Rome around 60-62 AD) to a congregation Paul had founded. Chapter 1 concluded with a call to boldness and a note that Christ is proclaimed whether from sincere love or from rivalry (Php 1:15-18). Chapter 2 then turns the question inward: if the gospel can survive factions among preachers, what about factions among the church itself? The chapter therefore transitions from external circumstances to internal community life.

The Christ passage (vv. 6-11) appears almost like quoted material — possibly pre-Pauline — that Paul incorporates to anchor his ethical appeal theologically. Whether Paul composed it directly or adapted an existing confession is debated; commentators are divided, and this material does not decide the issue. Most agree that it functions here as ground for the admonition in vv. 1-5. Chapter 3 will then resume the autobiographical note and chapter 4 closes with the famous exhortation to rejoice.

原文关键词

  • G2052 Greek ἐριθείαν (eritheian) appears in v. 3 as part of the contrast with lowliness of mind. The word denotes faction, party-spirit, or intrigue — striving rooted in self-interest rather than in love. Paul uses it here alongside vainglory to define what the unity of v. 2 must exclude.
  • G2842 Greek κοινωνία (koinōnian) in v. 1 carries the sense of shared participation, not mere association. Translated fellowship (KJV) or participation, it presses the idea that the Holy Spirit is not a private possession but a bond the believers hold in common. The same root gives κοινωνία the concepts of partnership and benefaction in other Pauline letters.
  • G2758 Greek κενόω (kenoō), rendered emptied himself in v. 7, does not specify what was emptied. The clause precedes taking the form of a servant, so commentators variously connect it to status (the divine prerogatives), or to will (voluntary self-limitation). The text deliberately avoids a precise inventory; the point is the move itself — from equality with God to obedience unto death.

相关经文

  • Romans 12:10 Romans 12:10 closely tracks Philippians 2:3-4 with the same twin ideas: tender brotherly love and preferring one another in honor. That the same pair appears across distinct Pauline letters suggests Paul treats mutual deference as a settled community habit, not a localized plea for Philippi.
  • Isaiah 45:23 Isaiah 45:23 — God's own oath that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear — supplies the Old Testament background that Paul alludes to in Philippians 2:10-11. Paul reworks the Isaiah passage about YHWH so that the universal homage is rendered to Jesus Christ as Lord. This is one of the strongest New Testament texts on Christ's divine identity and lordship.
  • Hebrews 13:21 Hebrews 13:21 echoes Philippians 2:13 almost word-for-word in pattern: God works in you what is pleasing in his sight. Both texts pair divine enablement with the call to active obedience. Together they anchor the doctrine that 'work out your own salvation' (v. 12) does not contradict God's working in (v. 13); the two are simultaneous, not competitive.

常见问题

Is Philippians 2:6-11 a hymn Paul originally composed for this letter, or was it an existing confession?

Scholars are divided. Many point to its rhythmic, almost strophic structure, its apparent seam with vv. 5 and 12, and early adoption in later creeds to argue it is a pre-Pauline confession Paul incorporates. Others read it as a carefully crafted Pauline composition placed at the rhetorical center of the chapter. The provided material does not adjudicate the debate.

What does 'emptied himself' (G2758, kenōō) actually mean?

The text does not specify what was emptied. Because the clause precedes taking the form of a servant and goes on to death on a cross, the emptying is typically read as voluntary self-limitation — by status or by will — that makes obedience unto death possible. This chapter does not attempt a precise inventory. Hellenistic readers may also have heard the term as a contrast between exaltation and genuine humiliation rather than as a metaphysical claim.

Does 'work out your own salvation with fear and trembling' (v. 12) teach salvation by works?

The immediately following verse supplies the framing: it is God who works in you both to will and to work. The chapter therefore sets human effort and divine agency as simultaneous, not competing. 'Working out' is the outworking of salvation already secured — obedience within the relationship, not an alternative ground for salvation.

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