Philippians 2:5-11

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Scripture Philippians 2:5-11
5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.[1]

Devotion
            This scripture passage is one of the most beautiful passages Paul ever wrote. Some people believe this passage is a hymn that Paul used here in Philippians. That is a subject for scholarly debate. For us it is important only to note that it praises Jesus in the highest way possible.
 It begins by exhorting us to imitate Christ, Paul proceeds to give examples for the Philippians to emulate. The first is Christ. He is the supreme example of humility, love, and selflessness. Christ’s model brings to life Paul’s words.[2] In verse 6, Paul exclaims that although Jesus was preexistent as God, he did not count himself superior but rather humbly took on human form. As God, he did not selfishly grasp hold of or tightly hold to his position as equal with God. Instead, he was willing to leave his high position in heaven temporarily and to give himself over to serving our needs. Although he set aside the rights and privileges of being God, he remained God.[3]
            In verse 7 we read that Christ emptied himself and became human. Thus, the emptying is that God became human, Lord became servant, and obedience took him to death. [4] The next verse explains that how Christ found himself in human form as Jesus. How Jesus went forth to die even in the most humiliating way. Death on a cross.
            In verse 9 Paul begins to sum up what all this means. God lifts Jesus up above everything in heaven and on earth. Giving him the title Lord the name above all other names. God bestowed upon Jesus the name that is above every name. The exalted Christ, seated at God’s right hand, was now called “Lord.” He became the object of worship for the church. He became the Master instead of the servant. The church became his slaves and looked to him as their Lord. All this is a result of God’s exalting the humble, obedient Son.[5]
            This was done so that every creature in all creation, even those who oppose God would bow in worship of the Christ. Creatures in heaven, earth and hell will all bend the knee before Christ on the throne. In God’s heavenly precincts, in humanity’s earthly home, and in the devil’s domain below the earth, every tongue will worship Jesus for who he is: The Lord, the Sovereign of the universe.[6] Let all creation declare that Jesus is Lord. All glory, laud and honor to Jesus the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 2:4–11.
[2] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 225.
[3] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 225.
[4] Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 32, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 103.
[5] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 226.
[6] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 226–227.

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