Genesis 13:9

13:9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself now from me. If you go ¹  to the left, then I’ll go to the right, but if you go to the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

Matthew 20:26

20:26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,

Luke 14:10

14:10 But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host ²  approaches he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up here to a better place.’ ³  Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you.

Philippians 2:3

2:3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition ⁴  or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.

Philippians 2:1

Christian Unity and Christ’s Humility

2:1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, ⁵  any affection or mercy, ⁶ 

Philippians 1:5

1:5 because of your participation ⁷  in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁸ 

¹ tn The words “you go” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons both times in this verse.

² tn Grk “the one who invited you.”

³ tn Grk “Go up higher.” This means to move to a more important place.

⁴ tn Grk “not according to selfish ambition.” There is no main verb in this verse; the subjunctive φρονῆτε (fronhte, “be of the same mind”) is implied here as well. Thus, although most translations supply the verb “do” at the beginning of v. 3 (e.g., “do nothing from selfish ambition”), the idea is even stronger than that: “Don’t even think any thoughts motivated by selfish ambition.”

⁵ tn Or “spiritual fellowship” if πνεύματος (pneumato") is an attributive genitive; or “fellowship brought about by the Spirit” if πνεύματος is a genitive of source or production.

⁶ tn Grk “and any affection and mercy.” The Greek idea, however, is best expressed by “or” in English.

⁷ sn Your participation (Grk “fellowship”) could refer to Paul rejoicing because of the Philippian converts’ “fellowship” in the gospel along with him, but it is more likely that this refers to their active “participation” with him in the gospel by means of the financial support they sent to Paul on more than one occasion, discussed later in this letter (4:10-19, esp. 4:15-16).

⁸ tn Several alternatives for translating vv. 3-5 are possible: (1) “I thank my God every time I remember you, yes, always in my every prayer for all of you. I pray with joy because of your participation…” (see NAB; also M. Silva, Philippians [BECNT], 43-44; G. D. Fee, Philippians [NICNT], 76-80); (2) “I thank my God because of your every remembrance of me. Always in my every prayer for all of you I pray with joy. [I am grateful] for your participation…” (see Moffatt; also P. T. O’Brien, Philippians [NIGTC], 58-61). Option (1) is quite similar to the translation above, but sees v. 4a as more or less parenthetical. Option (2) is significantly different in that Paul thanks God because the Philippians remember him rather than when he remembers them.