Exalting Jesus in Philippians

Christ-Centered Exposition

by Tony Merida, Francis Chan, David Platt (Editor)

Edited by David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, this new commentary series, projected to be 48 volumes, takes a Christ- centered approach to expositing each book of the Bible.

Rather than a verse-by-verse approach, the authors have crafted chapters that explain and apply key passages in their assigned Bible books. Readers will learn to see Christ in all aspects of Scripture, and they will be encouraged by the devotional nature of each exposition.
Projected contributors to the series include notable authors such as Russell D. Moore, Al Mohler, Matt Chandler, Mark Dever, and others.
 

Genres: Reference, Christian, New Testament, Nonfiction

209 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, NC. Tony is the author of Faithful Preaching, co-author of Orphanology, and serves as a general editor and as contributor to the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series (B&H Publishing Group) along with David Platt and Danny Akin. He is married to Kimberly, with whom he has five adopted children.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent series for Bible Study, I love the format. Highly recommend you try it. I love the book of Philippians & the apostle Paul. Awesome study!

[Travis Agnew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merida and Chan's commentary on Philippians is probably the best option to study the epistle for the eager Bible student. It covers enough of the background information that is needed, but it is written for the purpose of practical application.

[Lensey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way this commentary is laid out--so great for study! I can't wait to read the other books in this series!

[Lydia Gunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt a little bit like I was reading a textbook and it did take me 7 months BUT it was well worth the effort. I learned a lot!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Most people think you get joy when you get what your deserve. But real joy comes when you realize what you deserve. The realization of what you deserve (judgement) and what you've received instead (salvation) should lead you to great joy. Its not about getting what you want; it's about being grateful for all that you have in Jesus Christ."


Phillipians 4 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

This paragraph and verses I have held on to while studying phillipians. At a time in life when I have been brought low, it is encouraging to be encouraged by Paul.

[ALISSON CHAVES · Rating 5 out of 5]

FOR EVERYONE

I use this amazing tool to help me with sermon schedule and prep. I always use the classics reformed commentaries, however I always start with this series. Platt and the team did a great job summarizing the classics commentators in a everyday language.
English is not my native language and this material is clear enough for me. God bless the team so they can finish the whole Bible . . . Then translate to Brazilian Portuguese ;-)

[Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent and accessible commentary for both a pastor or layperson. It was a partnership between Tony Merida & Francis Chan and they both bring insight to the study of Philippians. I recommend it to any follower of Christ.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theologically sound, with many helpful insights. Knocked the rating down a star due to my stylistic preference of not reading sermons. Most of this effort seems transcribed and only lightly edited. Probably a better reference than cover-to-cover read.

[Rod Innis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It is a very practical commentary on Paul's letter to the Philippians.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was helpful in understanding the text and it had some wonderful practical applications!

[Levi Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple commentary that is helpful if you are in a rush to lead a Bible study or sermon. But, it only goes so deep so if you have more time it would be good to read this alongside another larger and more exhaustive commentary.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great small-group, Bible study, or personal devotion format. Makes me think of Lifeway Sunday School curriculum, but more thoroughly covering the selected book it studies.

[Nick Roark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too shabby

[Rebekah Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful commentary to use for anything from quiet (how I used it) to preaching a sermon.

[Benjamin Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for Sunday School prep

[Hunter Paine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish the commentary could’ve gotten a little deeper in to the weeds. Didn’t go as in depth at points as other ones that I’ve read.

[Derek Griffon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome exegetical commentary! It’s a great series.

[HMW0513 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great Bible study. I really liked the way the author organized the book. It was easy to use and helped me understand the Bible better.

[Teesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written! Thought-provoking, deep dive of the Philippians from an Evangelical perspective. Beautifully written. My favorite part was learning about the Christ hymn in the Philippians.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read over the course of 3 months and used as a teaching tool at my church.

[Ashley Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

took an insane amount of notes on such a small book it was crazy but i enjoyed it so much.

[Mackenzie Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redeemer Community Group - Spring ‘25

Great commentary, applications and discussion questions

[Amber Thiessen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this as a resource through our ladies bible study on the book of Philippians. Appreciated the insights and reflection questions.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite quote: "Apart from knowledge of God and His Word, we will not love in a way that glorifies God and blesses others." (p. 41)

Exalting Jesus in Philippians is one of the commentaries in the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series published by B&H. I have reviewed several of the commentaries in this series now, and I must say that I really am pleased with this series.

Thirteen chapters cover every verse in the book of Philippians. There are six chapters focusing on Philippians 1. (One of those chapters also deals with the first four verses of Philippians 2). There are three chapters focusing on Philippians 2. (Not counting the one that also covers some of Philippians 1.) There are two chapters focusing on Philippians 3. There are two chapters focusing on Philippians 4.

Each chapter contains a main idea, and an outline. I loved both features. The main idea because it summarizes and condenses. It will also be great for future reference. The outline because it provides a logical, organized way of approaching both the Scripture text and the chapter itself.

The main idea for Philippians 2:5-11:

In this amazing passage, Paul magnifies the humility and exaltation of Jesus, which should lead us to emulate Jesus' example and adore Him as Lord of all. (89)

The outline for Philippians 2:5-11
I. The Mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5)
II. The Humility of Christ (Philippians 2:6-8)
A. His humble renunciation (Philippians 2:6)
B. His humble incarnation (Philippians 2:7)
C. His humble crucifixion (Philippians 2:8)
III. The Exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:9-11)
A. His exalted position (Philippians 2:9)
B. Everyone's adoration and confession (Philippians 2:10-11)

Each chapter concludes with reflection or discussion questions. Here are three example discussion questions from the chapter on Philippians 2:5-11. (These questions are found on page 104).

*How is Jesus' model of leadership different from a worldly view of leadership? How can you put this type of life in practice today?
*What would happen in our relationships if we lived out Philippians 2:5-11? How can you go from being a "grasper" to a "giver"?
*Why should we be overwhelmed by the fact that we (Christians) know Christ and that He knows us?

Occasionally charts and other visual aids were used as well.

I also loved how the authors pulled in quotes and ideas from others--both past and present. Here is a D.A. Carson quote I really found incredibly useful.

D.A. Carson points out that the cross can be viewed from five perspectives. From God's perspective, Jesus died as a propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). He absorbed God's wrath and turned away God's anger from us. From Christ's perspective, Jesus obeyed His Father perfectly, saying "Not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). He carried out His assignment to "give His life--a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). This text in Philippians highlights Christ's perfect obedience (also a major theme in John's Gospel). He became "obedient to the point of death--even to death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). From Satan's perspective, the cross means the accuser's defeat (see Rev. 12:11). From sin's perspective, the cross is the means by which our debt is paid. Finally, from our perspective, while acknowledging all of these truths, treasuring the love and justice of God as well as the substitutionary life and death of Jesus--His victory over Satan and sin--we must also note that the cross serves "as the supreme standard of behavior." It's the primary point that Paul makes here in Philippians 2:5. (90)

I would definitely recommend this one! It is clearly written, well-organized, practical, rich in insights.

[Aaron]

Exalting Jesus in Philippians is a new commentary on Philippians written by Tony Merida and Francis Chan. It is one of the latest editions to the Christ-Centered Exposition series of commentaries edited by Merida, David Platt, and Daniel Akin. Like the other commentaries in this series, Exalting Jesus in Philippians is easy to read and full of practical applications. One of the strengths of this commentary is that it is written in such a way that a pastor can use it to glean pastoral applications from Philippians while the average Christian can also use it in their personal study. This is great for “boots on the ground” Christian living and application of scripture. In fact, I would argue that this is the most important style of commentary that a pastor or lay person could read. The downside to this of course is that Exalting Jesus in Philippians lacks the academic rigor that many pastors and academic-minded students will want. That is not to say that this commentary lacks an intellectual foundation. It doesn’t. In fact, one of the things the authors did very well was to not allow their profound understanding of the textual nuances become the focus of the commentary. Their interpretation was clearly under-girded by a rich foundation in Biblical studies, but rather than touting their academic knowledge of language and context, they simply communicated their knowledge in a way that any believer will be able to grasp the fundamental message of Philippians.

If I have any complaints at all about Exalting Jesus in Philippians, it is the distracting way that the authors intermingled their personal narratives into the applications. To be sure, the illustrations from their personal lives were valuable, but they had a distracting habit of parenthetically inserting the name of which author was telling the story. For example, in the opening sentences to the commentary on Philippians 2:5-11 the author writes,

” Last week, I (Tony) went into a store to grab a bottle of water . . .”

I’m sure this is simply a personal preference, but to be honest I’m not too concerned with which of the authors is telling the story. I found that it distracted from the “Christ-Centered” nature of the commentary by making it personality centered. Again, this wasn’t terrible but I did find it distracting and after a while it began to be mildly annoying. I understand that many will appreciate this approach. After all, it lends a sort of personal nature to the commentary. However, I believe that could have been accomplished while not becoming distracting. I would have preferred the authors to simply use the illustration and not worry about which one was being credited for the life event.

Overall Exalting Jesus in Philippians is a good well rounded commentary that upholds the doctrines of the Reformation while not overly focusing on the doctrine as the main point. The authors did a wonderful job making Philippians relevant and easy to understand. I appreciate the work being done in this series and in this edition in particular. Christians will certainly benefit from this commentary for a long time.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Holman Reference, BH Publishing Group in exchange for an online review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Lee Button · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have now read two commentaries in this series. The books do focus on the centrality of Christ in Scripture. Most notable of the chief aims is the pastoral emphasis of the expositions. As a pastor, I find this very helpful. Each volume I have read is filled with textually specific illustrations and applications. At times, I wish the exegesis was a little more comprehensive but the goal is accuracy not verse-by-verse explanation. In every case where legitimate questions of interpretation exist, the authors list the possibilities fairly.
The Philippians commentary begins with a good look at the start of the church there. That leads to a challenging discussion on the need for church planting. As “this church in Philippi was showing Rome what a better kingdom looked like; let’s show our city and our world what a better kingdom looks like. We do this by submitting our lives to the kingship of Jesus, following His Word.” (p.15)
Anyone who has studied or taught Philippians is aware that joy is the theme. I appreciated the authors’ emphasis on the joyfulness of Paul, the happiest man in Rome. Too little emphasis is placed on the importance of praying the prayers of Scripture, not in this book. The familiarity of 1:21 does not stand in the way of a superb explanation of Paul’s living and dying in Christ.
The kenosis, emptying of Christ, is illustrated in several ways. The question of working out, not working for salvation is answered succinctly. I was encouraged with the emphasis on the travelogue of Chapter 2. Nothing is mundane about life in Christ.
The marks of those who know Christ from the opening of chapter three are so timely. Five challenges for spiritual growth in the rest of the chapter show how “Paul moves from instructions and imperatives to living illustrations.” (p 117) Paul was a ‘one-thing guy.’
The writers spring from Paul’s discourse on prayer versus anxiety to 4 sobering reasons from other Scriptures why worry is antithetical to faith. (p. 178) Verse 13 may be the most often quoted verse in Philippians. This commentary explains the context of that promise without making those who quote it wrongly look foolish. The book closes with a challenge from the last verses of Philippians to pastors- be faithful to preach about the joy of giving.
Pastors should find this book and others in the series uplifting. Everyone will find instruction and meaningful application in the pages.

[Michael Harshman · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://thechristianreviewer.wordpres...

Simply put, I am highly impressed with this book. If the other books in this series (some are being written and others are in the planning stages) are even half as good, you will not be disappointed with this commentary series. The commentary in this book truly holds to the title where Christ is seen throughout the Scriptures. It provides excellent exposition that is not the same as typical commentaries where they provide commentary for every single verse. Rather, in this book, the authors approach a section of the Scriptures and provide in-depth commentary based on that particular topic that is very solid and insightful. This series is kind of geared toward pastors and small group leaders by design, however, I strongly feel that anyone can really get even more of an appreciation and understanding of the Word of God through this commentary series. At the end of each chapter in this book, the authors have a short section called "Reflect and Discuss" which contains ten very thought provoking questions and application points. These are excellent questions that really can be easily used in a small group-type study or even for individual reflection and application. Overall, I would say that this book and the series is highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from B&H Publishing in exchange or my unbiased review. In full disclosure, I was not required or requested by B&H/Lifeway/Holman to write a positive review.

The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Rider Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5--Man, I knew Philippians was a rich book of the Bible, but after reading this commentary, I'm blown away. Philippians is such an incredible letter written by Paul, filled with any and every important feature that scripture outlines in its entirety. What I loved about this book was that it took a pastoral approach to a lot of the main ideas. I'm starting a new job in ministry soon and I can't wait to take things from this book and add it to my preaching. I already have so many ideas that the authors brought me! Not only that, but I am currently memorizing the book of Philippians, so to have a true knowledge and depth of understanding makes the memorizing all that more exciting. This book was excellent and I highly recommend!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent exposition of Philippians packed with insight. Highly recommended for personal or group study.

[Steve Hazell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my least favorite of this series so far. It wasn't terrible, I just didn't find it tremendously helpful either.