Author: Administrador

This passage invites us to reflect on what we value most. A recent Reuters poll reveals that Americans value “time” first, with “career,” “success,” and “money” coming in as close seconds for certain groups of people. What we value most is likely demonstrated by how we spend our time and how we spend our resources. … Continue reading “Philippians 3:4b-14 Commentary by Elizabeth Shively”

During a recent tour of the Holy Land, Pope Francis was accompanied by Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Muslim leader Omar Abboud. The three men embraced each other before the Wailing Wall (or Kotel, the remnant of the ancient wall that once surrounded the Herodian Temple). They had been working together to foster greater understanding between … Continue reading “Philippians 3:4b-14 Commentary by Christian A. Eberhart”

Paul pictures himself as a man in the middle, a man who has literally changed his pursuits almost in midstride, and is jubilant. Paul’s tells his own story in abbreviated and passionate terms. The story is framed on the verb dioko in Philippians 3:6, 12, and 14 and the verb teleioo in 3:12, the only … Continue reading “Philippians 3:4b-14 Commentary by Sarah Henrich”

Matthew gives us the story of Jesus’ passion. Paul gives us the meaning. The basic meaning that Paul gives us is this: the pre-existent Christ so humbles himself that he identifies with humanity all the way to the same physical death that human beings experience. Vv. 6-11, the famous Christ hymn, divides into two equal … Continue reading “Philippians 2:5-11 Commentary by Walter F. Taylor, Jr.”

Philippians 2:5-11 is one of the New Testament’s truly majestic texts. I encourage the preacher to consider this text for Palm Sunday instead of, or at least alongside, the Gospel lection of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The breadth of its Christology catches the breath of even the most jaundiced exegete. It should not frighten away … Continue reading “Philippians 2:5-11 Commentary by C. Clifton Black”

Paul was first and foremost a pastoral theologian. His preoccupation was for the spread of the gospel, but principally through the vitality of the communities of believers scattered through the Roman world. That was the lens through which he looked when he reflected on the story of Christ’s death and resurrection: what does that twinned … Continue reading “Philippians 2:5-11 Commentary by Sharon H. Ringe”

As a frequent worship planner in my congregation, I am often involved in the preparations for what is awkwardly called “Palm/Passion Sunday.” I always advocate for bringing the drama of this part of the Gospel story into the worship experience, but year after year our planning group struggles with the same issues: the right balance … Continue reading “Philippians 2:5-11 Commentary by Sandra Hack Polaski”

What’s in a name? From a biblical perspective — everything! A name was believed to represent the essence of a person’s character. On this eighth day of celebrating Jesus’ birth, we remember that he was circumcised on the eighth day and named Jesus, “the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the … Continue reading “Philippians 2:5-11 Commentary by Elisabeth Johnson”

The Imitation of Christ, likely written by Thomas à Kempis in the early fifteenth century, is widely held to be the most popular and influential book of all time outside the Bible. The author provides a devotional reflection on how to pursue true understanding and holiness by modeling oneself after the character and life of … Continue reading “Philippians 2:5-11 Commentary by Elizabeth Shively”

Over the past half century, this has been one of the most studied passages in the New Testament, and probably the most examined passage within the Pauline corpus. While there is a scholarly consensus that aspects of this text reflect an early Christian hymn (a so-called “Christ hymn”), it is important to understand how it … Continue reading “Philippians 2:5-11 Commentary by Richard Carlson”