Pentecost Season · Proper 21 · Year A
Philippians 2:1-13
Imitating Christ’s Humility
September 27, 2026
Overview & Insights
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)
Call for Mutual Consideration Paul’s concern for unity of mind and mutual consideration among the members of the Philippian church need not imply that there was an atmosphere of dissension there. The fact that two members are singled out by name and urged to agree in 4:2 could suggest (unless 4:2 belongs to an originally separate letter) that theirs was an exceptional case of conflict. We do not know what Epaphroditus had told Paul about the state of the church, but at this time Paul found sufficient evidence of quarrelsomeness and selfish ambition in some sectors of the Roman church to make him anxious that nothing of the sort should manifest itself at Philippi.
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Commentary
Working Preacher: Philippians 2:1-13 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis on the Christ hymn and the call to one mind.
CEP: Philippians 2:1-13 Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on humility, unity, and God working in us.
Enduring Word: Philippians 2 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the chapter.
Precept Austin: Philippians 2:1-4 Commentary Precept Austin
Verse-level study helps and Greek word notes on the call to like-mindedness.
BibleHub: Philippians 2:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on the exhortation and the Christ hymn.
Background & Word Study
BibleHub Interlinear: Philippians 2:1 BibleHub
Greek text with parsing for emptied himself, form, and exaltation.
Enter the Bible: Philippians Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the letter and its Christ hymn.
BibleProject: Philippians Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of Paul's prison letter and its call to unity.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is the Christ hymn?
Philippians 2:6–11 is an early hymn: Christ, being in very nature God, emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and was obedient to death on a cross, and so God exalted him. Paul holds it up as the pattern for humble, self-giving love.
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