First Corea first principles look at the Bible
Book 50 of 66 · Letter of Paul

Philippians

A thank-you note from prison. Paul may be about to die, yet the word “joy” keeps coming back. He asks a church he loves to think of others first, as Jesus did, and to be content with what they have.

The big idea

In short: be content with enough, and look out for others. “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (4:11). “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (2:4).

Jesus is the model: he “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant” (2:7).

The rule underneath: Law 8 · Enough, and give

Be content with enough; give freely from it.

Keep it: You are free, and others get help.
Break it: Greed is never full, and money starts to own you.

Shows up in: Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Luke, 1 Timothy

Other rules in this book: Power serves, Love the actual person

Live it: Playbook 06 · How to handle money

3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.Philippians 2:3-8 · KJV

At a glance

What it is
A letter from Paul and Timothy to the church in Philippi, a Roman colony in northern Greece. 4 chapters.
Who wrote it
Paul. Nearly all scholars agree.
When and where
From prison (1:13), probably in Rome about AD 60–62. Some scholars suggest Ephesus in the mid-50s. debated
Why he wrote
The church had sent him a gift by a man named Epaphroditus (4:18). Paul thanks them, and sends Epaphroditus home after he nearly died (2:25–30).
Read it in
About 15 minutes.

What it says

1 · Joy in chains. Paul thanks God for the church’s partnership. Prison has helped spread the message (1:12–14). He could live or die: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21). He expects to stay for their sake.

2 · The mind of Christ. “In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (2:3). Then a poem about Jesus, who did not grab at equality with God but became a servant and died on a cross (2:6–8). God raised him up, so “every knee should bow” (2:10). Paul holds up Timothy and Epaphroditus as people who put others first (2:19–30).

3 · Loss and gain. Paul lists his old status: born Jewish, a Pharisee (a strict keeper of the law), blameless by the law (3:5–6). He counts it all “but dung” compared to knowing Christ (3:8). He has not arrived: “I press toward the mark” (3:14).

4 · Peace and enough. Two women leaders, Euodias and Syntyche, are asked to make peace (4:2). “Rejoice in the Lord alway” (4:4). Don’t worry; pray, and God’s peace “shall keep your hearts and minds” (4:6–7). Think about what is true, just, and lovely (4:8). Paul has learned to be content in hunger or plenty (4:11–12). Then: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (4:13).

11Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.Philippians 4:11-13 · KJV
Go deeper
  • Original words. Autarkēs, “content” (4:11), was a favorite word of Greek Stoic thinkers. It meant needing nothing outside yourself. Paul changes it: his enough comes “through Christ” (4:13). Harpagmos, “robbery” (2:6), means something to grab or hold onto for your own gain.
  • Structure. Thanks and news (1), the mind of Christ (2), warning and goal (3), peace and thanks for the gift (4).
  • The poem. Many scholars think 2:6–11 was an early hymn Paul quoted. It moves down (God, servant, death) and then up (raised, every knee bows).
  • How the laws interlock. Law 8 is 4:11–12. Law 11 is the poem: the highest one goes lowest (2:6–8). Law 2 is 2:4.

Hard parts

“I can do all things” (4:13)

What it says Right before it, Paul says he knows how to be hungry and how to be full (4:12). The “all things” is getting through both.

The rule underneath Enough, and give. The verse is about contentment, not winning.

What people added The verse is widely quoted as a promise of success. Many teachers point out that in context it is about surviving need and plenty. Readers differ on how far to stretch it.

How it has been used: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow wrote “Phil 4:13” on his eye black in the 2008 college football season. In April 2010 the NCAA banned messages on eye black; the press called it the “Tebow rule.”

“Work out your own salvation” (2:12)

What it says “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you” (2:12–13).

The rule underneath Grace comes first, and it has to show up in how you live.

What people added Some readers stress the effort. Others stress that God is the one working. “Your” is plural, so some read it as the church working things out together. debated Churches have split over how grace and effort fit together; this page does not settle it.

Translation notes that change meaning

  • 4:6 “Be careful for nothing.” In 1611 “careful” meant full of care, worried. Modern versions say “Don’t be anxious about anything.”
  • 2:6–7 “made himself of no reputation.” The Greek says he “emptied himself.” Christians have long debated what he emptied himself of. debated

Where it leads

One thing to do

This week

A week of enough

Pick one area where you always want more: clothes, gadgets, food, screen time. For seven days, buy or add nothing new in it. Each night, list three things you already have that are enough. Write in your journal what the wanting felt like by day seven.

How to read it. Read it in one sitting. Circle every “joy” and “rejoice,” and remember where Paul is writing from.