Philippians 2 — Clausal Layout (English)

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended

Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)

The appeal — complete my joy 2:1–4

If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ,conditional — protasis 1 of 4 — all four lean on πληρώσατε below; rhetorical: 'since there is…'

if any comfort of love,conditional — protasis 2 — the solace love gives

if any fellowship of the Spirit,conditional — protasis 3 — the Spirit-created sharing

if any affection and compassion,conditional — protasis 4 — σπλάγχνα, visceral affection (τις ad sensum with the plurals)

complete my joy:independent — the apodosis — the one imperative the fourfold protasis carries

that you be of the same mind,content — epexegetic ἵνα — the joy's content, not its purpose; φρονέω, the letter's leitmotif

having the same love,participial — manner — the same love, mutual and equal

united in soul,phrase modifier — verbless apposition — one-souled, a coinage of concord

set on the one thing,participial — manner — the φρον- bracket closes on the single aim

nothing from selfish ambition or vainglory,phrase modifier — elliptical — supply 'doing'; the two motives that split a church excluded

but in humility counting one another as surpassing yourselves,participial — the master-virtue — ταπεινοφροσύνη; ἡγέομαι, the verb of reckoning Christ will enact (v. 6)

each looking not to your own interests, but each also to the interests of others.participial — the gaze redirected — ἕκαστος to ἕκαστοι, each and all; the seam into the hymn

The Christ-hymn — descent and exaltation 2:5–11

Have this mind among yourselves,independent — the hinge command — φρονεῖτε resumes v. 2; τοῦτο points into the hymn

which was also in Christ Jesus —relative — on τοῦτο — elliptical: supply 'was minded'; the exemplar named

vv. 6–8 — the descent: he emptied himself, he humbled himself

who, though existing in the form of God,relative — the hymn opens with ὅς (cf. Col 1:15; 1 Tim 3:16); ὑπάρχων concessive — though in God's form

did not count being equal with God a thing to be exploited,relative — the ὅς-clause's finite verb — ἁρπαγμός as res retinenda: a status held, not clutched for advantage

but emptied himself,relative — the kenosis — coordinate finite in the ὅς-clause; emptying by taking, not subtracting

taking the form of a slave,participial — means — μορφὴ δούλου answering μορφῇ θεοῦ

coming to be in the likeness of men;participial — means — γενόμενος against ὑπάρχων: the one who was, became

and being found in appearance as a man,participial — circumstantial — read forward with ἐταπείνωσεν (v. 8): found a man, he went lower still

he humbled himself,relative — the second act of descent — ταπεινόω, the root of the ταπεινοφροσύνη commanded (v. 3)

becoming obedient to the point of death —participial — the mode — obedience (ὑπήκοος), reversing Adam; μέχρι marks the extent

and that, death on a cross.phrase modifier — climactic apposition — the nadir: the slave's death, the curse (Deut 21:23)

vv. 9–11 — the exaltation: the name above every name

Therefore God also highly exalted himindependent — διὸ καί — the reversal: the subject shifts to God; the hapax ὑπερύψωσεν answers the descent

and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,independent — coordinate finite — the name (κύριος, v. 11) conferred as grace

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow —purpose — the goal of the exaltation — Isa 45:23, YHWH's oath, applied to Jesus

of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth —phrase modifier — on πᾶν γόνυ — the threefold cosmos, no realm exempt

and every tongue confesspurpose — the oracle's second limb — coordinate under the ἵνα, matching πᾶν γόνυ

that Jesus Christ is Lord,content — the confession — κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, the earliest creed; κύριος, the LXX name of YHWH

to the glory of God the Father.purpose — the doxological goal — the Son's lordship redounds to the Father

The application — salvation worked out, lights in the world 2:12–18

vv. 12–13 — the outworking: you work, for God is working

So then, my beloved,independent — ὥστε — the hymn applied; the address suspended over the command

just as you have always obeyed,comparative — the pattern — their obedience mirrors the obedient one (ὑπήκοος, v. 8)

not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,phrase modifier — presence and absence — the obedience does not depend on Paul

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;independent — the command — κατεργάζεσθε, answered at once by God's ἐνεργῶν

for it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.cause — γάρ — the ground of the imperative: the double ἐνεργ- inside the κατεργάζεσθε

vv. 14–16 — blameless children, luminaries in a crooked generation

Do all things without grumbling or disputing,independent — the wilderness vices — γογγυσμός, Israel's murmuring (Exod 16; Num 14)

that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,purpose — Deut 32:5 inverted — the blemish now on the generation, not the children

among whom you shine as lights in the world,relative — on γενεᾶς (plural ad sensum) — φωστῆρες, luminaries (Gen 1:14–16; Dan 12:3)

holding fast the word of life,participial — manner — ἐπέχοντες read as 'holding fast' (or 'holding forth') the word

for my boast on the day of Christ:purpose — the apostle's stake — their perseverance his καύχημα at the day

that I did not run in vaincontent — the boast's content — the race not for nothing

nor labor in vain.content — εἰς κενόν doubled — the servant's fear answered (Isa 49:4; 65:23)

vv. 17–18 — the libation: joy poured out and returned

But even if I am being poured out as a libation upon the sacrifice and service of your faith,conditional — εἰ καί concessive protasis — leaning on χαίρω below; σπένδομαι, the drink-offering over their sacrifice

I rejoice, and I rejoice together with you all;independent — apodosis — joy even in the pouring out

and in the same way you also rejoice, and rejoice together with me.independent — the joy commanded back — four χαιρ- verbs close the unit

The commendation of Timothy 2:19–24

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon,independent — the ἐλπίζω frame — the travel plan held ἐν κυρίῳ

that I too may be heartenedpurpose — the aim — his own good courage (εὐψυχέω)

when I learn how things are with you.participial — temporal — upon learning your state

for I have no one else like-souled,cause — why Timothy — ἰσόψυχος, echoing σύμψυχοι (v. 2)

one who will genuinely care for your concerns;relative — qualitative ὅστις on οὐδένα — the kind of man who truly cares

for they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.cause — the sad ground of 'no one' — all seek τὰ ἑαυτῶν (the failure of v. 4)

But his proven worth you know —independent — Timothy's δοκιμή — tested and already known at Philippi

that as a son with a father he served with me for the gospel.content — epexegetic ὅτι — ἐδούλευσεν, slaving in the shadow of μορφὴν δούλου (v. 7)

Him, then, I hope to sendindependent — the plan resumed — μὲν οὖν, with δέ answering in v. 24

as soon as I see how things will go with me;comparative — ὡς ἄν + subjunctive — temporal: the moment his own case is clear

and I trust in the Lordindependent — hope raised to confidence — πέποιθα, again ἐν κυρίῳ

that I myself will also come soon.content — the content — Paul himself to follow Timothy

The commendation of Epaphroditus 2:25–30

But I considered it necessaryindependent — the ἡγησάμην frame — the verb of reckoning a third time (vv. 3, 6)

to send to you Epaphroditus — my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need —content — complement infinitive — the fivefold commendation: three titles from Paul's side, two from theirs

since he was longing for you allcause — ἐπειδή — the homesick longing (periphrastic imperfect)

and was in deep distresscause — the periphrasis continued — ἀδημονέω, the Gethsemane word (Mk 14:33)

because you had heardcause — διότι — distressed not at his illness but at their knowing of it

that he was ill.content — the content of the report

For indeed he was ill, near to death;independent — καὶ γάρ — the report confirmed: παραπλήσιον θανάτῳ, at death's door

but God had mercy on him —independent — the turn — ἠλέησεν, mercy in the story's hinge

and not on him only, but also on me,phrase modifier — elliptical expansion — the mercy doubled: Paul spared too

lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.purpose — negative purpose — grief stacked on grief averted

Therefore I sent him all the more eagerly,independent — epistolary aorist — ἔπεμψα, 'I am sending (with this letter)'

that seeing him again you may rejoicepurpose — their joy — the reunion folded into the rejoicing

and I may be the less sorrowful.purpose — coordinate purpose — ἀλυπότερος, his own λύπη (v. 27) lightened

Welcome him, then, in the Lord with all joy,independent — the charge — a welcome ἐν κυρίῳ, with the letter's keynote joy

and hold such men in honor,independent — coordinate imperative — the class of such men honored

because for the work of Christ he came near even to death,cause — the ground — μέχρι θανάτου, Epaphroditus walking the hymn's path (v. 8)

having gambled with his life,participial — the wager — παραβολευσάμενος, staking his ψυχή on the throw

to fill up what was lacking in your service to me.purpose — the aim — completing their λειτουργία (cf. v. 17): not their neglect, but their distance

Analysis. Philippians 2 pivots on a hymn, and the layout sets it apart. First the four olive protases of v. 1 stack above their one apodosis — πληρώσατέ μου τὴν χαρὰν, the single imperative all four 'if's lean on — and the ἵνα-content of the joy unfolds through teal participles of unity; then the hinge command τοῦτο φρονεῖτε (v. 5) hands the page to Christ. The hymn's two arcs are two shapes. In vv. 6–8 everything hangs from the coral relative ὃς: each act of the descent (οὐχ ἡγήσατο, ἐκένωσεν, ἐταπείνωσεν) sits at the same depth under Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, expounded by its participles, stepping down to the double θανάτου and the dashed apposition θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ — the floor of the column. Then vv. 9–11 snap back flush-left: διὸ καὶ ὁ θεός, God now the subject, whose two finite verbs launch the amber ἵνα of universal homage (Isa 45:23) down to the verbless creed κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός and the closing εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός. Cruxes the layout takes a side on: ἁρπαγμός is read as res retinenda — equality with God already possessed but not clutched for advantage, not a prize to be seized; ὑπάρχων is concessive ('though being in God's form'), not causal; σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος is read forward with ἐταπείνωσεν (as the data's raised dot suggests), though on the page it must hang beneath ἐκένωσεν, the nearest finite verb behind it; the ἵνα of v. 2 is epexegetic content, not purpose; ἐν οἷς (v. 15) is construed ad sensum with γενεᾶς; ἐπέχοντες is 'holding fast'; ἔπεμψα (v. 28) is an epistolary aorist. The applications keep the hymn's vocabulary in view — ὑπηκούσατε after ὑπήκοος, κατεργάζεσθε grounded in God's ἐνεργῶν, Epaphroditus who μέχρι θανάτου ἤγγισεν — so the commendations of vv. 19–30 read as the hymn lived.