Paul’s letter to the Philippians is among the most fascinating of his letters. It is written to the church in Philippi in northern Greece. Paul wrote the letter from prison. While the date of writing and exact location of his imprisonment are not perfectly clear, it is likely that it was written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome in 61 AD. 

The letter itself is only four chapters. It can be read in just a few minutes. However, it is packed with cultural references that we easily miss as modern readers. It is helpful to understand a little bit about the city of Philippi in order to unpack many of these references and recognize the full impact of Paul’s arguments. Philippi was an important trading city located on the main road from Adriatic Coast to Byzantium. Moreover, while located in Greece it was considered a “Roman” city. This means it was a multicultural city comprised of Romans, Greeks, and even some Jews. There was also a clear class system comprised Roman citizens, free men, and slaves. Keep in mind that Roman citizenship comported specialized privileges and that Paul himself is only in Rome because of his legal appeal to Caesar which was a privilege of his own citizenship status.

The Mindset of Christ

Philippians itself is in many ways a multicultural letter drawing upon aspects of all three cultures. The key to the letter comes in the beginning of chapter 2 in what are probably the most famous lines of the letter. Here, Paul instructs the Philippians to have the same “attitude” or sometimes translated “mindset” as Christ. Paul then illustrates this mindset by recording what is likely one of the oldest Christian hymns in the history of the Church.

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

When one reads it closely, they see that this great hymn contains two distinct movements. The first involves a downward movement or descent. A movement from higher to lower. Christ, descending not just from heaven to earth, not just taking the form of man, but descending to the lowest form of humanity - a slave. Yet, not just a slave, but one put to death in the lowest of forms, death on a cross. 

The second movement involves an elevation by God in which the natural order is put under the feet of Jesus, “that every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth” and even those “under the earth”.

It is hard for modern readers to see how striking this mindset would be for the Philippians. Philippi itself was named for King Philip the father of Alexander the Great (the first great conqueror of the world).  It was now subject to the Romans after becoming a Roman colony under Caesar Augustus. It was Caesar Augustus who instituted the practice of Emperor worship thereby elevating himself to the status of God. 

Paul also taps into the intellectual history of the Greeks by rooting Christ’s actions in the virtues of obedience and humility. However, even this turns the natural order on its head as humility was the one virtue which the Greek intellectual tradition had not elevated. 

Finally, Paul connects this emptying of Christ to the liturgical history of the Jews. 

But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith… (Philippians 2:17)

Hence, Paul sets before the Philippians two ways. The way of self-elevation or the way of humility. The way of the world and the way of Christlike sacrifice in honor of God, offering that the way of Christ elevates us to the true citizenship (i.e., our highest order). 

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)

Paul’s Life: A Mirror of the Mindset of Christ

Following the great hymn, Paul then presents three examples of those who have taken the mindset of Christ in Timothy (whose very name in Greek means “honoring God”, Epaphroditus (a member of their own community), and himself. 

Chapter 3 describes Paul’s own descent and hopeful reascent in his own life’s circumstances. 

If anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I.

Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of the law a Pharisee, in zeal I persecuted the church, in righteousness based on the law I was blameless.

[But] whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrection and [the] sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:4-11)

Hence, Paul’s own life reiterates the downward movement and the reascent of Christ. Moreover, it is the model which all Christians must employ in order to receive heavenly citizenship. 

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us… our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:17, 20)

Chapter four then extols the freedom of being citizens of heaven. The natural order is now subject to him through Christ. Prison chains cannot truly bind him. 

I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need.

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Philippians 4:12-13)

True strength comes through emptying oneself so that one can be elevated (empowered) by God.