Phil 2:1 If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ,
if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if
any tenderheartedness and compassions, (2) Make my joy
full, that you think the same thing, having the same love,
joined in soul, thinking the one thing.
4:14 Nevertheless you did well to have fellowship with me
in my affliction.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The predicate in 2:1-4 is "make my joy full." Since this book
is concerned with the experience and enjoyment of Christ,
which issue in joy, it is also a book filled with joy and
rejoicing (1:4, 25, 18; 2:17-18, 28-29; 3:1; 4:1, 4). Among
the Philippians there was dissension in their thinking (4:2),
dissension which troubled the apostle. Hence, he asked them
to think the same thing, even the same one thing, that they
might make his joy full.
In 2:1-4 we see the fellowship between the believers and the
apostle. The traffic in Philippians 1 is one-way traffic from
the apostle to the believers. Now in chapter two we see the
traffic from the believers to the apostle. Fellowship
requires such two-way traffic. This two-way traffic is for
the experience of Christ. Because Paul was rich in the
experience of Christ, he could present an account of his
experience to the believers in chapter one. This was his
fellowship to them. Now in chapter two he asks the believers
in Philippi to return the fellowship to him. Paul appealed to
the Philippians that if there was any encouragement in
Christ, any consolation of love, any fellowship of spirit,
any tenderheartedness and compassions toward him, they would
make his joy full. Paul could rejoice over the Philippians,
but something about them kept him from rejoicing in a full
way. Paul could say, "Philippians, I have joy concerning you,
but my joy is not full. There is something among you which
hinders me from rejoicing in a full way. I beg you to make my
joy full."
He had given them such positive fellowship in the preceding
chapter. Now he wanted them to return this fellowship. Such a
return of fellowship would be the believers' support to the
apostle. Their encouragement, consolation, and
tenderheartedness would support Paul in his imprisonment.
Therefore, Paul appealed to the Philippians to make him happy
to the uttermost. Paul needed their encouragement,
consolation, and fellowship to be a support to him. If the
Philippians would render him such support, they would make
his joy full.
Without relationship we have not the completness of fellowship. Intimacy requires transparency one heart reaching to the others through the spirit, One Spirit the Spirit of unity, truth, love, trust, breaking of bread. As we bring revealed truth as you have done it causes us to break bread in the spirit of truth. So I thank you my friend for sharing what you have been given, I take and eat the bread of life you have shared.
one man set free,
Jeffrey
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