[Therefore, if you ….make my joy complete by being like-minded]… and of one mind.
Summary: This text challenges us to examine the original text and the concepts that underly Paul’s message.
To begin this meditation, let’s look at Paul’s words in the New Living Translation:
“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” (Philippians 2:2, NLT)
Notice the way they have handled the translation. The NIV says, “…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Instead of being “like minded,” they use “agreeing wholeheartedly.”
In place of “same love,” the NLT uses “loving one another.”
When the NIV says “being … of one mind,” the NLT encourages us to work together “with one mind and purpose.”
The reason for the difference is that the original language employs concepts that blend a biblical perspective of our invisible self with philosophical ideas used by the Greeks to describe the same concept. If Paul had written in Hebrew or Aramaic, this might not have been an issue; however, the Gentile world would not have understood.
The problem with using Greek words for biblical ideas is that they carry intellectual fleas; connotations that carry unintended meanings. The NLT’s translation adds the word “purpose” to more completely capture Paul’s intent. While we might not all agree on what it means to be of “one mind,” being of “one purpose” is harder to argue with.
So what “purpose” does Paul have in mind?
Paul expands on this idea as we continue reading his letter, but for now, let’s look at the Scriptural foundation for his thoughts. Jesus summarizes “all the Law and the Prophets” this way:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-40)
It is not complicated, but it is challenging to understand.
If we are “born again” (John 3:3), we are spiritually reunited with God (Luke 15:11-32). Our bodies (the “flesh”) remain corrupted (Romans 7:21-24). The flesh seeks to serve its own interests while our “born again” selves seek to serve God.
Paul’s passion is for us to focus on serving God. All together, all the time.
Application: Serve God by working toward unity in fellowship with the believers you serve with.
Food for Thought: How do we, as the church, get to a place where we are of “one mind and purpose?”
How do we, as the church, get to a place where we are of “one mind and purpose?”
The first thing God did when establishing of the early church was give people a united, common language. In Acts 2:8-11, the Holy Spirit empowered the believers to once again speak the same language. This ability was taken away at the tower of Babel.
Genesis 11:7, Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.
Being of one mind and one purpose comes from God. Unity is a sign of spiritual maturity, disunity is a sign of chaos. Unity strengthens the Church and produces the “one mind” that is seen in miracles and great power. God desires all believers enjoy fellowship of one spiritual mind and purpose as we express love toward one another while exercising the various gifts and ministries given to each by our one God. As we build unity we will see more and more of Christ revealed in our fellowship with each other.
1 Corinthians 12:12 teaches, For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
Colossians 3:14, And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Romans 15:5-6, May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ron,
That is such an interesting point about Acts 2:8-11. Thank you for sharing that insight!
Your question this morning brought up in my mind times I worked on various projects, groups, or committees. Whereas everyone believed they were like-minded and working toward a common purpose, each person believed their part in the completion of the project was the pivotal one. That is to say that oftentimes both the ringleader and the clowns believed that the success of the circus centered on them. In a real sense too, so did the person selling peanuts.
I think too often we confuse being a follower of Christ, and through Him a child of God, and a slave of Christ, and therefore His servant, with being religious, exchanging the Gospel for good habits. We revert back to our own works as righteous, rather than the righteousness of Christ. I think this is where disunity in the Body comes from. Christ is the cornerstone, He is the One that transforms our lives, and therefore humbling ourselves and following His lead brings one “mind and purpose.” Recognizing that what He asks of us today may not be what He asks of us tomorrow. Our identity is not in what we have been asked to do; our identity is in Him.
I can think of three things that can keep the Body centered on Christ and therefore of one mind and purpose:
Go, Gather, and Grow.
Go:
Mark 16: 15-16 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Gather:
Matthew 18:18-20 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Grow:
Ephesians 4:15-16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Chris,
Your comparison with a circus is both humorous and humbling! Thank you!
Your summary, “Go, gather, and grow,” is a timely reminder, too. Well said.