The self interest of St. Paul

This is a well-known exhortation, although very hard to do:

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Paul wrote this to the Philippians when he himself was in prison. That alone makes his exhortation impressive. But I was struck by what Paul says a few verses later, after addressing another matter:

They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

In other words, the encouragement to look after others' interests was written by a man who himself had no one to look after his interests. And he was in prison. Not an easy thing to say.

The only exception was Timothy. Apparently Timothy was the only one around at that time to be mindful of Paul's interests. I have no one like him, says Paul.

But in what way did Paul not have anyone else like Timothy? In this way:

I have no one like him ... who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare...

In other words, Paul had no one like Timothy not because Timothy was the only one interested in Paul's needs, but because Timothy was the only one interested in the needs of Paul's readers.

This is even more impressive. Even at the level of his own needs, Paul was focused on the needs of others. Put another way, others' interests had become Paul's own self interest. To have Timothy around to be concerned about others' interests was enough for Paul to regard his own interests as being met.

Impressive indeed.

And what was that other matter Paul addressed in between his first exhortation to be interested in the needs of others and his latter acknowledgment that he only had Timothy around to encourage him ... by being interested in the needs of others?

That other matter is the famous kenosis passage -- that is, the passage about how Christ ... emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant ... and humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

Logos2Go

Philippians 2.3-21: 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.