The book of Philippians is often described as the “friendship letter” due to Paul’s warm tone and considerate warnings to be aware of false missionaries. Paul thoroughly describes what living a Christian life should look like and describes it as remaining unified under the gospel, rejecting opposing teachings, and enduring suffering for one’s beliefs. Paul then addresses that followers must do their best to imitate Christ and portray themselves in the way Christ once did. Throughout this passage, Paul covers a lot.

Throughout the Christ Hymn (2:6-11), Paul addresses various stages in the life story of Jesus. He specifically addresses how Jesus is God taking the form of man on Earth. He then explains how Jesus humbles himself and takes “the form of a slave” by being a human himself. It then touches on Jesus being obedient to God and following the will of God by completing the most extreme act of humbling by dying on the cross. However, because Jesus did humble himself and obey, God then exalted him and redeemed Jesus for all he had done by giving him glory among everyone. The themes of this hymn outline that if one humbles themselves before the Lord and before others, the Lord will exalt them and repay them for their good deeds.

Not only is this a letter to the Philippians, but Paul also specifically addresses Euodia and Syntyche. Paul urges them “to be of the same mind in the Lord” (4:2). This entire letter is basically a set of instructions set in place for God’s people to follow and how they should portray themselves and how they should live their lives as followers. They are to guide those who struggle (4:3), and Paul speaks frequently about rejoicing in God and allowing Him to have full control over one’s life. They are to allow God to remove their worries and anxieties because He has already planned everything out. All they have to do now is rejoice in Him and give Him the glory that is due.

Paul also addresses the issue of false teachers in 3:2, 18-19. Paul addresses the issue of the false missionaries to put importance on the followers of Christ to stick together and to not allow any sort of false teaching separate the followers and create division. He wants the followers to make sure that they keep their eyes and ears open to any sort of false teaching and to not allow it to sway their belief system and create discord among the group. With connection to the hymn, it insinuates that one must humble themselves before God and to take the form of a slave. However, the false teachers are only in it for themselves and what they can get out of it. Their goal is not to glorify God, but rather to portray themselves as being the god in which people worship, rather than striving to be like God. Their goal is to gain followers for themselves, not God.