Profundities From The Apostle Paul

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. . .

Several years ago a conversation came up dealing with the humility of Christ. Another minister and I were doing some work on the church building with some of the men of the church. We were all casually conversing about Christ's humility when I mentioned the above verse. The other minister looked at me and quoted another part of a verse in the Bible. The verse is found in 1Corinthians 2:16b, “. . .but we have the mind of Christ.” I did not reply at the time but I thought about his sudden response then and was reminded of his response when I started writing today.

Oftentimes, verses or parts of verses are taken out of context. Most everyone has taken a verse out of context, whether purposely (to make a point which should be explained) or ignorantly unintentional (usually the case). Philippians 2:5 is written in the context of encouraging obedient maturing believers to continue to have the mind of the humility of Christ. The Apostle Paul says to the Philippians in chapter, 2 verses 12 & 13, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” 1Corinthians 2:16 is written in the context of those who continue to remain as babes in Christ. The Apostle Paul says to the Corinthians in chapter 3 verse 1-4 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” Sound like humility? Think not!

The Corinthians were busy with envy, strife and division over who was the greatest minister or who was their favorite. Some even had a haughty spirit by saying, “I [am] of Christ,” (1:12) perhaps suggesting they did not need any other minister "to tell them what its all about" - only Christ. Carnality reigned among many of the believers in the Corinth church. Fleshly selfishness was prevalent and Paul wanted them to come back to the crucified Christ (2:1-5). He encouraged them to allow the Spirit to teach them the things of Christ and says to them in chapter 2 verse 16, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” Their haughtiness was confronted by the Apostle. Please forbear my interpretation of verse 16, “No one can know the mind of the God to be able to instruct Him, but we should and need to have the humble, servant mind of Christ” (my interpretation). Many of the Corinthians obviously did not have the mind of Christ when Paul wrote to them. Apparently, servanthood and humility were strangers to many of them.

Servanthood and humility are partners. Seeing the things of others and promoting their spiritual well-being is a sign of spiritual maturation. Esteeming others better than oneself is not a natural attribute of the fallen selfish attitude – it is an attitude of Christlike humility. Certainly one should not walk around with some type of voluntary pseudo humility that glorifies man. "Oh Lord its hard to be humble when your perfect in every way." So goes one song.

Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to the death of the cross. Was he ever disobedient? NO! He emptied himself of the glory he had in heaven and came down to the lowly birth of being in the fleshly body. He did no sin and there was no guile of any form in His mouth. Yet, he humbled himself and went to the cross for you and I – taking our sins upon Him. He obeyed His Father’s will by submitting to the crucifixion of the cross.

Am I submissive to the Father’s will today? Are you submissive to the Father’s will today? Do we esteem others better than ourselves? “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”