Every Knee Should Bow

Philippians 2 begins with an appeal. If they have found help in Christ, any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, then Paul asks them to make his joy full by being of one mind. He describes humble love: doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself. Each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Then Paul gives one of the greatest passages about Christ in the Bible. Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus. Though He existed in the form of God, He did not consider equality with God something to hold on to. He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name. At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul applies this. Believers are to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, not by their own strength: For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and arguing. Then they will be children of God without defect, seen as lights in the world, holding up the word of life. Paul commends Timothy, who served with him as a child serves a father. He also sends Epaphroditus, who was sick nearly to death, but God had mercy on him.