Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

is always room for more! If the Philippian believers were able to do all the things he desired for
them as a group in the previous verse (Latin: implement), his happiness would be filled to the point
of overflowing. The Culminative Aorist tense points to the greatest blessing an apostle or a teacher
can experience: the attainment of ultra-supergrace status by his students. Nothing is as rewarding to
a teacher than for his students to abound in the spiritual life. So Paul goes over the same attributes in
the previous verse with a fine brush, reiterating both the individual and corporate goals in the
spiritual life. This time Paul uses three characteristics, making it easier to portray the progressive
nature of momentum in the Christian life.
The purpose and result of the consistent intake, metabolization and application of Bible doctrine is
so believers might (Potential Subjunctive mood) keep on thinking the same category of things. The
Iterative Present tense points to the consistent application of doctrine from a position of strength; this
means the believer is able to make one good decision after another. On the inside, the believer is
learning Bible doctrine on a daily basis and is creating a super-structure in his soul, a complete
systematic theology from which to make appropriate decisions. On the outside, the believer is able to
draw from the correct theology in his soul to make decisions from divine viewpoint. This is the
Christian way of life; this is our highest priority in life. If we are able to concentrate and persevere
according to this mandate, we have the opportunity of growing exponentially in the spiritual life.
The consistent use of doctrinal rationales enables a believer to reach supergrace A, called
“occupation with Christ.” Paul wants all the believers in Philippi to reach supergrace, so that they
function corporately with virtue love. He also wants them to be united in soul rapport by attaining
supergrace B (Latin: unanimity). And lastly, he hopes they will continue their spiritual momentum
(Tendential Present tense) by concentrating on one thing, Bible doctrine. When they “have the mind
of Christ,” which is maximum doctrinal saturation of the soul, they will have reached the pinnacle of
the spiritual life, ultra-supergrace. If they reach this stage in the spiritual life, they will be
functioning corporately with one purpose and one objective. There will be unity in the Spirit
(operating from the same base of operations), unity in thought (fulfillment of the priestly function)
and unity in action (fulfillment of the ambassadorship function).
REVELANT OPINIONS
"Minding the same thing" is active minding, the minding of love, αγαπη, which is always bent on an
intelligent purpose. Some think that this participle presents an advanced idea. (R.C.H. Lenski) When
Paul says that Christ is the pattern for Christian living, he is not talking about imitation. He is talking
about impartation. That is, the mind of Christ should be in us, and it can be there only by the power
of the Spirit of God. To be of one mind is to let the mind of Christ be in you. That permits
differences of expressions, differences in gifts, differences in methods of service, even differences in
minor doctrines. We won’t be beating each other on the head because we disagree on these things. If
we have the mind of Christ, we will agree on the major tenets of the faith. (J. McGee)
Paul knew how to exercise authority when it was necessary, but at present he prefers to use
entreaties, because he knew that these would be better fitted ... for persons who were more
compliant. (J. Calvin) Notice the chiastic arrangement - two stated ideas are virtually synonymous,