Numerological structure

The numerological structure of Philippians 2:1-2 is intriguingly complex. Verse 1 is explicitly structured by four conditional clauses, each introduced by “if” ( ei ). But this fourfold structure is crossed by a list of five nouns: paraklesis , persuasive address ( paramuthion ), koinonia , bowels, innards. And the first three conditional clauses hint at a Trinitarian structure: Christ is explicitly mentioned in the first, the Spirit in the third, and in between we have “persuasive address of love.” Naming the Father “love” would be unusual (as would the order Christ-Father-Spirit), but not impossible.

Verse 1 is perhaps structured by three-, four-, and fivefold patterns.

It’s intriguing that the last two nouns both describe viscera, the seat of compassion and emotion; it’s as if Paul is already anticipating the entry of the comfort of Christ, the calming address of the Father, and the communion of the Spirit into flesh.

Verse 2 likewise has an intriguing numerical structure. The main verb of these verses is “fulfill my joy” at the beginning of verse 2, and Paul goes on to list four means for making his joy complete: having the same mindset, having the same love, united in soul, setting minds on one thing.

The first and last of these use the verb phroneo , suggesting a chiastic structure to the list. If that’s intended, then the second and third phrase are parallel – maintaining the same love means being with-souled ( sumpsuchoi ) to one another. As in John 17, there is a hint of human perichoresis here.