Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

KJV
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem other better than themselves.
TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS
Paul continues to exhort the Philippian believers by advising them not to do anything (Latin:
nihilism) motivated by selfish ambition, creating strife (Latin: contention) where contentment is
better suited for the occasion. He also advises them not to do anything on the basis of false doctrine,
which evidently had caused some error among them, and a few had become conceited or vain about
their spiritual status. Instead, they are to function by means of grace orientation and genuine
humility. We are all called to keep on regarding each other (Iterative Present tense) as having
surpassed ourselves (Circumstantial Participle) in the spiritual life. In other words, we are not to
succumb to spiritual competition and we are to treat our fellow believers with courtesy and respect.
If we observe a fellow believer struggling, it does not necessarily mean they are under divine
discipline; they may be engaged in suffering for blessing or testing that will eventually propel them
to supergrace or beyond. So it is better to assume that the person who is struggling in “no man’s
land” is merely fighting a battle that will take them to the next level in the spiritual life.
REVELANT OPINIONS
This often happens to believers in "no-man's land" who are under pressure and heading towards
ultra-supergrace. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.) We are to have “a readiness to see and rejoice in the spiritual
progress of fellow believers.” (P. O'Brien) One can hardly endure that others could be on a level
equal to your own, for there is no one that is not eager to have superiority. (J. Calvin) The dangers
besetting the Philippian community are here defined; they are named as intrigue or factious
squabbling and vainglory. (J. Collange) “Selfish ambition” belongs to Paul’s vocabulary of social
evils and here it denotes a mercenary spirit. (P. O’Brien)
Philp. 2:3 Doing (ellipsis) nothing (Acc. Dir. Obj.) on the
basis of (prep.; motivated by) selfish ambition (Adv. Acc.;
strife, contentiousness, wages for a day laborer) nor (neg.
particle) on the basis of (prep.) delusion (Adv. Acc.;
conceit, false doctrine, vanity, error, illusion), but
(adversative) by means of genuine humility (Instr. Means;
grace orientation to reality) be regarding (h`ge,omai, PMPtc.NPM,
Iterative, Imperatival, Deponent) each other (Acc. Dir. Obj.;
reciprocal pronoun) as having surpassed (u`pere,cw, PAPtc.APM,
Descriptive, Circumstantial; not succumbing to spiritual
competition, being considerate to others who are in no-man's
land) yourselves (Gen. Adv.; reflexive pronoun),
WHO
Philippians 2:3 mhde.n kat evriqei,an mhde. kata. kenodoxi,an avlla. th/| tapeinofrosu,nh|
avllh,louj h`gou,menoi u`pere,contaj e`autw/n