Philippians 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
In modern vernacular consolation is often thought of in terms of being given a consolation prize because you didn’t win the big prize or a prize of value.
How about we just remove any confusion. Let us read it this way; If there be any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,…
Does that help? It might help remove confusion but it also removes the object of consideration, Christ. The Greek word here is parakaleō where the most frequent word with this meaning, lit. denotes “to call to one’s side,” hence, “to call to one’s aid.”
If that sounds familiar it is because we covered it yesterday in encouragement. Like I said, the word covers a wide range of emotions. The use here denotes a walking with, being alongside, and once again begins a longer lists of effects solicited by that action.
V2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
The following verse brings all those effects into focus. It would please Him greatly if we could all share in this experience together, being in agreement, and not holding ourselves apart. I added this last thought because I have already peeked at the next verse.
V3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
It is that holding of the door, you first, no you first, no you first, that is the essence of God’s goal in Christ, that we would have a desire to go nowhere without you. The ultimate in leave no man behind.