Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
[Therefore, if you ….make my joy complete by being like-minded]… being one in spirit…
Summary: This passage challenges us to explore the meaning of the word Paul used for “one in spirit.”
Nestled between the “same love” and being “of one mind,” Paul inserted today’s passage: “… being one in spirit.”
Have you ever wondered why the text reads “spirit,” and not “Spirit?”
Continue reading “Philippians 2:2d – Spiritual Harmony”[Therefore, if you ….make my joy complete by being like-minded]… having the same love…
Summary: Having the “same love” as Christ is a challenge. Understanding why helps us to focus our efforts on serving God’s will.
Paul’s sentences are famously long and convoluted. In this passage, he begins with a series of “if’s,” and then, when he reaches his “then,” he asks his readers to “make my joy complete by being like-minded.”
Continue reading “Philippians 2:2c – Two Kinds of Love”
… by being like-minded…
Summary: When Paul asks us to be like-minded, he challenges the very essence of our human desire to be in charge.
In this passage, Paul is imploring the Philippians to express their connection to Christ (Philippians 2:1) and complete Paul’s joy by demonstrating like-mindedness.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:2b – The Road to Like-Minded”
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Summary: Paul’s thoughts are sometimes complex. In this meditation, we take a 30,000-foot view of Paul’s thoughts in his passage in hopes of seeing the “bigger picture.”
If you have read this blog for any length of time, you are probably shocked to see a meditation that is based on two entire verses at once. Never fear! We will, no doubt, dissect this in future meditations. However, given the complexity of Paul’s thought here, I thought it best to begin with an overview.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:1-2 – Paul’s Request”