Here we have the fourfold concern expressed by the apostle regarding the Philippians' `affairs'. (1) That they stand

fast. (2) That this standing fast shall be in one spirit and with one mind. (3) That they should `strive' together. (4)

That this united effort should be `for the faith of the gospel'.

These items are further expanded as the epistle proceeds. The negative aspect is introduced in Philippians 2:3,

`let nothing be done through strife or vain glory'. The `likemindedness' which the apostle looked for is illustrated by

Timothy, `I have no man like minded who will naturally care for your state' (Phil. 2:20), and what the apostle means

by `striving together' is illustrated by Philippians 4:3, where he speaks of those who `laboured with' him, using the

same words that are translated `striving together'.

`Stand fast'. Paul uses this word seven times in his epistles, once (Rom. 14:4), it is employed of a servant who to

his own master, stands or falls, but in other passages it is used in the sense of `standing fast' to something.

Taking the passages in the order in which they were written (which assumes that Galatians was written first), we

have the following sequence :

`Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free' (Gal. 5:1).

`For now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord' (1 Thess. 3:8).

`Stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle' (2 Thess. 2:15).

`Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong' (1 Cor. 16:13).

`That ye stand fast in one spirit' (Phil. 1:27).

`Stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved' (Phil. 4:1).

It will be observed that while the exhortation to stand fast to something (liberty) comes once, and to stand fast in

association with holding the teaching of the apostle comes once, in four passages the apostle urges the believer to

stand fast IN, either in the Lord, in the faith, or in one spirit, suggesting that the manner and motive of the fight is as

important in the sight of God, as the object for which we strive.

Any striving even though it be for liberty or for faith that is not at the same time `in the Lord' is foredoomed. So

also any striving for the faith if it be not also in the faith must fail. In the epistle to the Philippians the apostle

stresses two spheres, (1) `in the Lord', which must effectually rule out the incipient divisions suggested by the

apostle in Philippians 4:1, and (2) `in one spirit', which must be examined now more carefully.

`One spirit' is used by the apostle to emphasize `unity' (1 Cor. 6:17; 12:13; Eph. 4:4), `access' (Eph. 2:18), and a

common purpose (Phil. 1:27). This expression is followed in Philippians 1:27 by the extension `with one mind' mia

psuche. Here it will be observed that the word usually translated `soul' is rendered `mind'. We may see some reason

for the choice of this word psuche, if we read on in chapter 2. There we find `one accord' translating sumpsuchos

(Phil. 2:2), `to be of good comfort' eupsucheo (Phil. 2:19), and `likeminded' isopsuchon (Phil. 2:20). It will be

observed that in this defence and confirmation of the gospel, the apostle brings together `body', `soul' and `spirit'

(Phil. 1:20,27,) and that both life and death, departing or abiding, are all subsidiary to the one great thing, the

magnifying of Christ and the furtherance of the faith.

The strife is both whole-hearted and single eyed. Christ is first, fellow believers second, and self last. If these

things are true of us, the victory is assured. The armour provided is the panoply of God and the sword of the Spirit

cannot but prevail. The cause in which we fight is just, and it is of the very essence of truth that it must at length

triumph. These features are in the background of the apostle's argument here. His one concern is the spirit in which

the conflict is waged.

`Striving together'. Sunathleo means sharing the conflict together as in Philippians 4:3, where it is translated

`laboured with' the apostle in the gospel, even as sunergos means `companion in labour' (Phil. 2:25); sustratiotes

means `fellow-soldier' (Phil. 2:25,) and suzugos means `yokefellow' (Phil. 4:3). We in this day of declension, have

to stand very much alone, and strive alone, even as the apostle has indicated in 2 Timothy 4. But the ideal, and that

which should ever be the burden of our prayers and efforts, is that we `strive together'. But this fellowship in the

strife presupposes `one spirit' and `one soul', consequently all `divisions' and `strifes' and self seekings must be

shunned as treachery and betrayal.