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What does it mean to have "the mind of Christ"?
In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by scholar Karoline Lewis to explore one of the most beloved and theologically rich passages in all of Paul's letters: the Christ hymn of Philippians 2:1-13.
The conversation opens with Paul's appeal to a divided congregation: since there is encouragement in Christ, consolation from love, and sharing (koinonia) in the Spirit, the Philippians are called to unity and genuine humility. Ralph unpacks an important Greek grammatical point: the opening "if" is actually a second-class conditional, best translated as "since." The condition isn't in doubt; Paul is building on a foundation he and his readers already share.
From there, the hosts dig into the Christ hymn itself, examining how the incarnation functions as Paul's paradigm for Christian community. It isn't the resurrection or even primarily the crucifixion that Paul holds up here, but the incarnation: the moment God chose to enter human life not as a pharaoh or emperor, but as a servant. Caroline highlights how the call to "have the same mind" is an active, directional verb, pointing the community toward a specific vision of what it means to follow Jesus.
The episode closes with a reminder not to stop at the cross: the hymn ends in exaltation, with the bold counter-imperial declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord, not Caesar.
Whether you're preparing a sermon, leading a Bible study, or just wrestling with what Christian community looks like in an age of personal branding, this episode offers deep resources for reflection.
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Celebrate Working Preacher's 19th anniversary!
This fall, Working Preacher is celebrating 19 years as a lectionary resource. Thank you for giving generously to ensure the site's future as a source for Narrative Lectionary resources, including this podcast.
