Charles Ellicott Commentary Philippians 2:1

"If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions," — Philippians 2:1 (ASV)

If there is therefore any consolation...—In the fourfold division of this verse, we trace, first, a reference to unity with Christ and to a spiritual effect following from it; next, a similar reference to communion with the Holy Spirit and a corresponding spiritual result.

1. “Consolation” is properly encouragement—the stirring up of spiritual activity—ascribed in Acts 9:31 to the action of the Holy Spirit, but here viewed as a practical manifestation of the life flowing from union with Christ. Out of it comes naturally the “comfort of love,” that is, as always, the deep and thankful sense of comfort in His love, overflowing into comfort, lovingly given to our fellow believers. On this “encouragement” in Christ, both received and given out to others, St. Paul dwells at length (2 Corinthians 1:3–7).
2. Next, he speaks of “communion of the Spirit” (the very word used in 2 Corinthians 13:13), by which, indeed, we are brought into that unity with Christ; and of this, still keeping to the main idea of love, he makes the manifestation to be in “bowels and mercies”—that is, both in strong affection and in that peculiar form of affection which is directed towards suffering, namely, compassion or pity.

The whole passage is full of a grave and persuasive eloquence characteristic of this Epistle. No absolute distinction is to be drawn between the two elements of the sentence; but it may be noted that the “consolation in Christ” is exhibited in the action which visibly follows His divine example, “the communion with the Holy Spirit” is shown by the inner emotion, not seen, but felt.