Philippians 2:3

Let nothingbe done] The briefer original, in which no verb appears, is very forcible, but would be exaggerated in a literal rendering. Observe the totality of the prohibition. It is a rule for all Christian lives at all times.

through Lit. "according to," on the principles of.

strife The same word as above, Philippians 1:16; see note. And see p. 16 for Ignatius" use of the word. R.V. "faction." Only, the word may denote not merely the combined self-seekingof partizanship, but also a solitary ambition, working by intrigue.

in lowliness of mind The Greek (dative) may be more precisely represented by in respect of lowliness, &c. Their lowliness was to be embodied in, and proved by, what he now describes.

" Lowliness of mind:" essentially a Christiangrace. The word itself (one Greek word is represented by the three English words) is not found in Greek before the N.T. And kindred words in the classics are always used in a tone of blame, as of a defect of proper courage and self-assertion. This fact is deeply suggestive. In its essential principles the mighty positivemorality of the Gospel is based on the profound negativeof the surrender and dethronement of self before a Redeeming Lord who has had compassion on perfectly unworthy objects. The world's "poor spirited," and the Lord's "poor in spirit," are phrases used in very different tones.

let each esteem other Lit., "mutually counting others superior to (your-) selves." The precept is to be read in the light of the Holy Spirit's illumination of the individual conscience. Even where one Christian might see another to be manifestly less gifted than himself, spiritually or otherwise, yet "if the endowments, and the obligations connected with them, were properly estimated, they would rather conduce to humble than to exalt" (Scott). And in any case, where the man habitually viewed himself in the contrasted light of the Divine holiness, with that insight which belongs to self-knowledge alone, he would respond instinctively to this precept.