📖 Passage

Philippians 2:1–11 🔗 Read in NKJV

🧠 Context & Background

Paul, writing from prison, continues to urge the Philippians toward unity in the gospel. In this section, he calls the church to imitate Christ’s humility and selflessness. The famous “Christ hymn” (vv. 6–11) emphasizes the incarnation, Christ’s willing self-emptying, and His exaltation to the highest place. This passage is central for understanding Christian humility, service, and Christ’s divine nature.

🌿 Key Themes

• Unity in Christ — True fellowship is rooted in shared love, Spirit, and purpose (vv. 1–2).
• Humility — Believers are called to look not only to their own interests but to others (vv. 3–4).
• The Mind of Christ — Christ’s humility in His incarnation is the model for believers (vv. 5–8).
• Exaltation of Christ — God highly exalts Jesus as Lord of all (vv. 9–11).
• Glory to God — Every tongue confessing Christ magnifies the Father.

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

2:1–2 — Call to Unity in Christ

“If there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

• Paul appeals with a series of “if” statements that are not doubts but reminders — since the Philippians do have consolation in Christ and fellowship in the Spirit, they should live accordingly.
• The unity Paul describes is not uniformity, but harmony — diverse believers united in love and mission.
• This unity flows from the love of Christ and the indwelling Spirit, not from human effort.
• Paul’s pastoral joy is tied directly to the Philippians’ spiritual health: his joy will be complete when they live in Christ-centered unity.

2:3–4 — Humility and Service

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

• Paul identifies the enemy of unity: selfish ambition (seeking personal advantage) and conceit (empty pride).
• In contrast, he calls for lowliness of mind — humility that counts others as more significant than self.
• This doesn’t mean neglecting personal responsibility, but prioritizing the good of others.
• This is a radical call in a Roman honor/shame culture where status and recognition were prized; Paul flips it by saying true greatness is found in serving others.
• These verses lay the foundation for the mind of Christ that follows.

2:5–8 — The Example of Christ’s Humility

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

• Paul shifts from exhortation to Christ’s example, grounding humility in the incarnation.
• Christ was in the form of God (true deity) yet did not cling to His rights and privileges.
• The “kenosis” (self-emptying) is not Christ giving up His deity, but willingly veiling His glory and taking on the limitations of humanity.
• He became a servant — not merely appearing human, but truly entering into human weakness and suffering.
• His humility reached its lowest point: death on a cross, the most shameful and cursed form of execution in the Roman world (cf. Deut. 21:23, Gal. 3:13).
• This passage is one of the clearest portraits of Christ’s condescension, showing the lengths of His love.

🧠 Theological Note: Understanding the Kenosis

“But made Himself of no reputation…” (Greek: ἐκένωσεν, ekenōsen — “He emptied Himself.”)

The term kenosis comes from the Greek word kenóō, meaning “to empty” or “pour out.” Paul does not mean that Christ ceased to be God or divested Himself of divine attributes, but that He voluntarily chose to limit their independent use and embrace the full reality of humanity.

✝️ What Christ Did

1. Remained Fully God and Fully Man

   • The incarnation was not the exchange of deity for humanity but the union of both natures in one Person (the hypostatic union).
   • John 1:14 and Colossians 2:9 affirm that “the fullness of deity” dwelt in Christ bodily — He never stopped being God.

2. Emptied Himself by Addition, Not Subtraction

   • Christ’s “emptying” involved taking on the form of a servant (Phil 2:7), adding human nature to His divine person.
   • He set aside His visible glory and divine privilege — not His attributes — to live in perfect obedience and humility.

3. Lived in Dependence on the Father and the Spirit

   • In His humanity, Jesus chose to operate under the Father’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, 18; John 5:19).
   • His miracles were real acts of divine power, yet performed in harmony with the Father’s will and through the Spirit’s enabling — demonstrating true humanity in dependence, not a loss of divinity.

⚠️ Refuting Kenotic Theology

Some versions of kenotic theology (arising in the 19th century) wrongly claimed that Christ “emptied” Himself by giving up His divine attributes like omniscience or omnipotence. This view undermines the biblical doctrine of the incarnation and has been rejected by historic Christianity.

• It divides Christ’s nature, suggesting He was less than fully God during His earthly life.
• It denies His immutability, implying the Son could cease to be what He eternally is.
• It destroys the Gospel, since only one who is truly God and truly man can redeem humanity (Heb 2:14–17).

🪞 The True Meaning of the Kenosis

Christ’s “emptying” was a self-humbling, not a surrender of deity. He emptied Himself of: - His heavenly glory (John 17:5) — choosing obscurity over majesty. - His divine privileges — choosing servanthood over sovereignty. - His independent exercise of divine authority — choosing obedience to the Father’s will.

He did not empty Himself of His divine nature or attributes. Rather, the Son of God revealed the essence of divine love through humility, obedience, and servanthood.

🔍 Summary

“The Son of God became what He was not, without ceasing to be what He was.” — Gregory of Nazianzus (4th century)

Christ’s kenosis is not the loss of deity but the display of divine humility. The infinite God stooped down to serve finite humanity — the Creator entering creation to redeem His creatures.

2:9–11 — Christ’s Exaltation and Universal Lordship

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name…”

2:9–11 — Christ’s Exaltation and Universal Lordship

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

• The “Therefore” connects humility to exaltation: Christ’s self-emptying leads to God’s supreme exaltation.
• God bestows upon Him the highest name — not merely “Jesus,” but “Lord” (Kyrios), the divine title used in the Greek Old Testament for Yahweh.
• The scope of His Lordship is cosmic and universal — all creation (heavenly beings, humanity, and even demonic powers) will bow before Him.
• The confession “Jesus Christ is Lord” is both the earliest Christian creed and the ultimate destiny of all creation.
• Christ’s exaltation does not diminish the Father; rather, it glorifies Him, demonstrating the unity of the Trinity in redemption.
• This climactic hymn calls believers to imitate Christ’s humility, knowing that God exalts the humble (cf. James 4:10).

🔍 Trusted Insight

“The humiliation of Christ is the pattern for Christian humility. The exaltation of Christ is the promise for those who share His mind.” — R.C. Sproul

This passage demonstrates how humility leads to glory — Christ’s self-emptying did not diminish His deity but revealed His divine love.

Summary: Believers are called to adopt Christ’s mindset of humility, knowing God exalts the humble.

🌍 Worldview & Common Objections

• “Humility means weakness.”
  • Modern View: In today’s culture, humility is often confused with insecurity or a lack of ambition. Strength and success are defined by self-promotion and dominance. To humble oneself, especially in service to others, is seen as weakness or low self-worth.
  • Biblical Response: Scripture presents humility not as weakness but as divine strength under control. Christ, “being in the form of God,” willingly lowered Himself — not because He was powerless, but because He was perfectly loving (Phil 2:6–8). True humility reflects the heart of God, who stoops to serve His creation (John 13:3–5). The incarnation reveals that the most powerful being in the universe chose to serve, not to be served (Mark 10:45).

• “Jesus gave up being God when He became human.”
  • Modern View: Some assume that the incarnation meant Jesus stopped being divine — that He emptied Himself of deity to become merely a man who relied on the Spirit. This idea, known as kenotic theology, is popular in some modern teachings that overemphasize Jesus’ humanity while diminishing His eternal Godhood.
  • Biblical Response: Philippians 2:7 never says Christ surrendered His divinity, only that He “made Himself of no reputation” by taking on the form of a servant. The Son of God added humanity without subtracting deity. He veiled His glory, not His nature (Col 2:9; John 1:14). His miracles and obedience were not because He lacked divinity, but because He lived as the perfect man in dependence on the Father and the Spirit (John 5:19; Luke 4:18).

• “If God exists, He would never stoop so low.”
  • Modern View: Many skeptics reject the incarnation as undignified or absurd — the idea of an infinite God becoming finite seems beneath Him. In a world that worships power and success, a suffering Savior appears foolish (1 Cor 1:23).
  • Biblical Response: The Gospel turns human logic upside down. God’s greatest display of power came through self-giving love. The cross, not the throne, reveals His character. The humility of Christ doesn’t diminish His glory — it defines it. As Paul says, “Therefore God has highly exalted Him” (Phil 2:9). The path of humiliation led to exaltation, proving that divine greatness is found in sacrificial love.

• “Faith should make life easier, not harder.”
  • Modern View: Many believe that following God should eliminate suffering or discomfort. The idea of voluntarily embracing humility, servanthood, and even death for others contradicts the world’s pursuit of comfort.
  • Biblical Response: Philippians 2 teaches that the way up is down. Christ’s obedience unto death is the pattern for every believer (Phil 2:8). True discipleship means following the crucified Lord — embracing servanthood, not status (Luke 9:23). Suffering for righteousness does not disprove God’s favor; it displays His transforming grace.

• “All paths to God are equally valid.”
  • Modern View: Modern pluralism denies the uniqueness of Christ’s lordship. Many argue that Jesus was simply one enlightened teacher among many.
  • Biblical Response: Philippians 2:9–11 refutes this directly: God exalted Christ above every name, and every knee will bow to Him. The incarnation and cross were not one option among many — they are the only means of salvation. Jesus is not one path to God; He is God who came to us (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Summary: The world prizes pride, autonomy, and comfort — yet Christ reveals that true glory is found in humility, dependence, and obedience. The incarnation exposes humanity’s false views of power and invites us to embrace the paradox of divine humility: that God’s majesty is most fully seen in His mercy.

🧩 Review Questions

💡 Click a question to open the chatbot and explore the answer. Tap the chat bubble again to close it.

1. What motivations for unity does Paul highlight in (Philippians 2:1–2)?
2. How does Paul contrast selfish ambition with humility (Philippians 2:3–4)?
3. What does Paul mean by saying Christ “emptied Himself” (Philippians 2:7)?
4. Why is the cross described as the ultimate humiliation (Philippians 2:8)?
5. How do (Philippians 2:9–11) show the connection between humility and exaltation in Christ?

🔍 Definitions

• Kenosis — “Emptying”; Christ’s voluntary laying aside of His rights in becoming human.
• Condescension — God stooping down in grace to save His people.
• Exaltation — God’s raising of Christ to the highest place of authority.

🙋 Application Questions

1. Where is God calling you to set aside pride and pursue unity in your relationships?
2. How can you imitate Christ’s humility in practical ways this week?
3. In what situations do you need to remember that God exalts the humble in due time?
4. How does confessing Christ as Lord shape the way you live daily life?

🔤 Greek Keywords

• φρόνησις (phronēsis) — mindset, attitude (v. 5). Calls believers to adopt Christ’s outlook.
• μορφή (morphē) — form, nature (v. 6–7). Shows Christ truly took on human nature.
• κενόω (kenoō) — to empty (v. 7). Explains Christ’s self-emptying in incarnation.
• ὑπερυψόω (hyperypsoō) — to highly exalt (v. 9). God’s action in lifting Christ above all.

📚 Cross References

• Isaiah 45:23 — Every knee will bow before the LORD.
• John 13:14–15 — Jesus models humility by washing His disciples’ feet.
• 2 Corinthians 8:9 — Christ became poor for our sake.
• Hebrews 2:9–10 — Jesus humbled Himself for suffering and was crowned with glory.
• Revelation 5:12–13 — Every creature exalts the Lamb who was slain.

📦 Next Study

Next Study → Philippians 2:12–18 – Shining as Lights in the World