The Believers’ Support To The Apostle
THE BELIEVERS' SUPPORT
TO THE APOSTLE
The first four verses of Philippians 2 are one long sentence. Verses 1 and 2 say, "If there is there fore any encouragement in Christ, if any conso lation of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any tenderheartedness and compassions, make my joy full, that you think the same thing, having the same love, joined in soul, thinking the one thing." In verses 1 and 2 the apostle appealed to the Philippians for their encouragement and consolation. He begged them to make his joy full, if they had any encouragement in Christ, any consolation of love, any fellowship of spirit, and any tenderheartedness and compassions to ward him.
The predicate in Philippians 2:1-4 is "make my joy full." Since this book is concerned with the experience and enjoyment of Christ, which issue in joy, it is also a book filled with joy and rejoicing (Phil. 1:4, 25, 18; 2:17-18, 28-29; 3:1; 4:1, 4). Among the Philippians there was dissen sion in their thinking (4:2), dissension which troubled the apostle. Hence, he asked them to