There is a very obvious lack of doctrinal exhortation in this epistle because there was apparently no doctrinal deviation. They had not gone astray in terms of theology. They didn\'t need to be corrected. There is no immorality in the congregation which is confronted in the epistle. So generally, this is a quality group of people. This is really a devoted consistent doctrinally true church.

But, in spite of all of that there is lurking in that church a deadly snake with poisonous venom. And that deadly snake is the snake of disunity, discord and conflict which has poisoned so many many churches. In all of Paul\'s expressions of joy, in all of his positive affirming characterizations of this Philippian church, there is still lurking in the shadows an issue that is of grave concern to him and it is this issue of discord and disunity in the church. And he frames the letter, in a sense, with that issue. For example, in the first chapter he speaks of it, verse 27, when he says, \"I want you to stand firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.\" In chapter 4, the last chapter, he speaks of it in verses 1 and 2 when he says, \"Stand firm in the Lord, my beloved, and I urge you Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help those women.\"

So, in chapter 1 is an urging toward one mind and one heart. In chapter 4 another urging toward one mind and one heart, harmony in the church. And then in the middle is this second chapter. And the opening verses of chapter 2 also deal with the issue of unity in the church. This is a plea for unity. In fact, it is the pattern of unity given. It is the formula for spiritual unity, as we have entitled our sermon.

#5 - Phil 2:1-11 // Unity in the gospel