Philippians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
In chapter 1, Paul has sought to encourage and challenge this church concerning his current condition. He was in prison for sharing the Gospel. Rather than be disheartened by that, Paul had learned to see things from God's perspective, who had put him there for a reason in His plan. Paul found joy in knowing that his being in prison was not a hindrance to the gospel, but actually another opportunity to share it. He wanted them to know that same joy. So, as he begins this paragraph, he calls on them to pull out all the resources God had given them: Christ, His love, the Holy Spirit, and their concern for him (Paul) and "be of the same mind." This was not just his generic call to unity, but a call for them all to have the same view of facing adversity as he had. They were not to be selfish in what they wanted out of life, or to think they were too good to suffer. Just as they had shown concern for him while in prison, he wanted them all to show concern for their fellow members as they struggled. They were not to fall into an individual mindset or faith. That would not be Christlike at all. Joy is found in faithfulness to Christ and one another.
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