Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

The following exhortation also concerns unity, but this time the focus is turned on problems within the church. To encourage the fulfillment of this injunction, Paul listed four incentives. All are stated as “if” clauses, but the condition is assumed to be true (the “if” becomes almost synonymous with “since”). (1) As Christians, the Philippians were in a vital union with Christ, and this placed obvious obligations on them. They were responsible to heed the orders of Christ as issued by him either directly during his ministry or through his apostles. (2) The comfort and encouragement provided by love should prompt the Philippians to desist from divisiveness in any form and to join hands in common action. (3) The fellowship produced by the Holy Spirit should stimulate the practical exercise of unity. They have been made one by the Spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:13) and thus are partners with him and with each other. (4) The existence of tenderness and compassion among them would make the unity that was being called for the normal and expected thing.

“Encouragement” (GK 4155) means either “exhortation” or “consolation.” To understand the term in this context as implying more than just comfort is consistent with other Pauline statements on unity. In Eph 4:1–3 the unity of the believers is made the subject of an exhortation. The translation “encouragement” can convey both ideas.