Abstract
The “Christ Hymn” in Philippians 2:6–11 is widely thought to be a song or creed used in the worship of the early church. If this is true, then Paul quoted rather than composed these verses. No matter who wrote them, they do stand out from the surrounding context as a lyrical and fascinating reflection on the story of Christ, his identity, and his experience. These verses have often been mined for Christological information, and as a part of that endeavor the meaning of individual words and phrases has been hotly debated. However, the most helpful approach for the preacher is not to ask what precise details these lines give us about Christ’s preexistence or divine nature, but rather to ask why Paul includes these lines in this particular place in the letter. In other words, what message is Paul trying to convey to his particular audience at this particular moment through the inclusion of this hymn?
Paul is writing to a community living in a Roman colony in Macedonia. This is a community Paul founded, and one for which he has a strong and enduring affection. Paul expresses his thankfulness for the congregation and praises its members for their faith (3:3–11). The major theme of the letter is joy.
While much was going well in this beloved community, there were also sources of trouble. Paul writes from prison, the consequence of preaching the gospel, which leads him to some rather serious reflections on life, death, and the nature of ministry (1:12–26). There are also hints of problems for the Philippians. Paul references the Philippians’ “opponents” and writes that the Philippians are sharing in the same privilege of suffering for Christ (1:28–30). The community is experiencing some kind of persecution for following Paul’s counter-cultural gospel.
In addition, while the relationship between Paul and the community seems to be strong, Paul identifies some disagreements within the community. Paul seems worried that problems related to the gospel and circumcision might trouble this community (3:2–4). Also, some leaders of the community were having disputes with each other (4:2–3).
Into this context Paul brings the “Christ Hymn.” In the verses that introduce it, Paul urges the Philippians to “be of the same mind” and to look to the interests of others with humility (2:2–4). In verse 5 Paul writes, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” and the hymn immediately follows. It is just as important to understand this introductory context as it is to understand the hymn itself, why Paul included the hymn, and what guidance he wanted the community to draw from it. The verse could also be translated, “Have this way of thinking among you that was also in Christ Jesus…” There is something about the way Christ thought, as described in the hymn, that Paul wants the Philippians to imitate.
What is this way of thinking that Paul wants the Philippians to consider? The hymn states that Christ “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited.” Books have been filled with ideas about what, precisely, it means that Christ was “in the form of God,” but what is important to Paul is not precise details about Jesus’s “nature” and “substance,” but rather the fact that he did not grasp after what was, in fact, rightfully his. If Christ, who could have claimed equality with God, did not put himself above others but took the form of a slave, becoming obedient even to the point of death, then certainly the Philippians ought to do so as well. Christ gave up his divine status in obedience to God.
Here we might return to the verses that Paul used to introduce the hymn, and recall that one of the things Paul is urging the Philippians to do is to “look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others” (2:4). Jesus is, of course, the ultimate model for this way of thinking. Paul himself also tried to live by this way of thinking and modeled it for his congregations. Once again we remember that Paul was writing this letter from prison, suffering for his proclamation of God’s message of love and freedom. Later in the chapter Paul will even describe his experience in sacrificial language, saying that he is “being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and offering of your faith” (2:17). Paul places the needs of the community above his own, even to the point of imprisonment and risk of death. This results from his patterning his life on Christ’s way of thinking, which was to be obedient to God in humble service to others, even to the point of death.
One of the things Paul is concerned about in this letter is dissension in the congregation. This is why he emphasizes unity, including the specific appeal to Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord (4:2–3). Paul apparently feared that disagreements in the community might lead to more serious theological and social problems. Paul’s solution to the problem of dissention is to urge the community to embrace unity in Christ. Unity in this case does not mean uniformity of thought or practice, but rather the bond shared by members of a community who listen to one another, take care of one another, and love one another. This is made possible by following the example of Christ as laid out in the hymn, and living “in Christ” through the Holy Spirit.
But Paul is also concerned about problems imposed from outside of the community, since he says the Philippians are experiencing the same kind of suffering that he is. The second half of the hymn addresses this suffering with hope. The Philippians are suffering as a consequence of their obedience to God. Jesus is their forerunner in that kind of suffering, since his obedience led to death, even on a cross. What is life like for those who are obedient to God? In the short term the prospects seem rather bleak—persecution, suffering, even death. But the future is secure. This all hinges grammatically on the “therefore” at the beginning of verse 9. Jesus’ obedience even to the point of ignominious death on a cross is the reason why “God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name.” If Jesus was thus vindicated, those who follow him will surely be vindicated as well. This gives hope to those suffering persecution for their faith. Placed where it is in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, the hymn invites its hearers to a communal life of unity in the midst of uncertainty and suffering, bound together by hope.
Although there is much that separates us from the ancient context of the Philippians, there is also much to which we can relate, including the “beloved yet troubled” nature of the community in Paul’s eyes. I hope that not many of us feel our communities are as theologically and socially dysfunctional as the Corinthians and Galatians at their worst. Yet, like the Philippians, we know that all is not perfect in our communities. There are challenges and disagreements, both from within and imposed from the outside. We know this even as we celebrate and give thanks for all the positive things our communities mean to us. Paul wants the Philippian community to pattern its life together on the movement and mindset of Christ’s life. What happens if our communities trace this pattern as well? Individually we have all kinds of rights, but when should we subvert those rights for the sake of others, as Christ did in his life and death? How can we do a better job of listening patiently to those with whom we disagree? What do communities characterized by humility look like? Where are we falling short of the way of thinking that Christ shows us in our life together? Through the Holy Spirit, the words of this hymn can also call us to a communal life of unity in the midst of uncertainty and suffering, bound together by hope.