Philippian 2:14-15

English Standard Version Chapter 2

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 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,

v.14 Paul now moves into the “how” of creating a unified community. The Philippians must stop grumbling and disputing. “Grumbling refers to whispering complaints, talking in secret against someone, and making negative comments about others behind their backs. Arguing in this context means quarreling and debating in ways that are divisive and raise doubts. These words clearly echo descriptions of Israel wandering in the wilderness: “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron.… The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: ‘How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites’ ” (Num 14:2, 26; also Exod 16:7–12; Num 17:5–25).

v.15 Becoming blameless meaning that if the group is constantly backbiting, we are not what our core mission is about.

Three adjectives set a high standard for the character of the children of God: blameless (amemptoi), pure (akeraioi), and without fault (amōma). The first letter in each word, alpha (α), the first letter in the Greek alphabet, is a prefix that negates the root word: no blame, no flaw, and no fault. To understand Paul’s application of these words here we must keep in mind that he is addressing the entire Christian family and talking about the quality of their life together. These words describe the way the children of God relate to one another; an individualistic application of these words misses the point. To go into isolation and abstain from all kinds of immoral behavior is not the way to reach the high standard set by these words. In this context, these adjectives focus on the way Christians talk with and about one another. To be a blameless Christian community means that no one can find the faults of gripping and bickering in the words or tone of conversation in the community. To be a pure Christian community means that Christians do not mix their good words with negative complaints or specious arguments. Their speech is like good undiluted wine. When children of God are without fault, their conversations will not be marked by the blemishes of bitter criticisms or angry quarrels.

Warped and crooked Generation are from Dueteronmy 32:5 and uses the LXX and shows this was the God’s goal for Israel and is now the same goal for the church to stand out in stark contrast to the world.

G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 181.