Father's Heart Bible™ (FHB)

Philippians 2:3–4

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should attend not only to your own interests, but also to others'.

Philippians 2:3–4 · Father's Heart Bible™

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What Philippians 2:3–4 means

Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should attend not only to your own interests, but also to others'.” Paul writes it to a church he loves, and asks them for something specific: how they treat one another.

It comes in answer to verse 2, where he says, “complete my joy: think alike, love alike, unite in spirit, one in purpose.” Unity is what he wants, and verses 3-4 name what blocks it: selfish ambition and empty conceit. The cure he gives is humility, which here means considering others better than ourselves, and turning our attention to their interests as well as our own.

Verse 5 then points to the pattern: “Have this mindset among yourselves—one that is yours in Christ Jesus.” The humility Paul asks for is not invented; it is the mindset that is already ours in Christ Jesus.

Written by Spirit Media Publishing · Edited by Kevin White · Published November 10, 2026

Philippians 2:3–4 in context

1 So if any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any deep communion in the Holy Spirit, any tenderness and compassion exist,

2 complete my joy: think alike, love alike, unite in spirit, one in purpose.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

4 Each of you should attend not only to your own interests, but also to others'.

5 Have this mindset among yourselves—one that is yours in Christ Jesus,

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Questions about Philippians 2:3–4

What does Philippians 2:3–4 say?

In Father's Heart Bible™, Philippians 2:3–4 reads: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should attend not only to your own interests, but also to others'.”

What does Philippians 2:3 mean?

Philippians 2:3 means we are to do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility to consider others better than ourselves. Verse 4 completes the thought: attend not only to our own interests, but also to others'.

What is the context of Philippians 2:3?

In verse 2 Paul asks the church to complete his joy by thinking alike, loving alike, uniting in spirit and being one in purpose. Verses 3-4 say how, and verse 5 tells them to have the mindset that is theirs in Christ Jesus.

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