Wednesday – Philippians 2:5–11
The Pattern of Descent and Exaltation
Yesterday we saw Paul calling the Philippans to humility, but he does not immediately give practical tips. Instead he gives them something that in many ways seems out of character for him - He gives them a poem.
Most scholars believe verses 6–11 were an early Christian hymn — something the church may have already been reciting in worship. If you remember Paul and Silas were singing in the Philippian jail before the earthquake.
Could this be what they were singing? Beats me!
But what matters is this is not abstract theology floating in the air. This poem becomes language that begins to shape the imagination, week after week, across the Roman world.
And in a place like Philippi, that language would have sounded astonishing - and would have been dangerous!
Remember, Philippi was a Roman colony where Caesar was called lord and honored as a kind of savior. Status flowed downward from the emperor. Power was displayed, enforced, and celebrated. Glory moved upward — toward Rome.
Before we ever get to the poetry, Paul writes (2:5) : “Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus…” It's like he is daring the reader to sing this song!
Line 1 – (2:6)
The language echoes Genesis. In the garden, humanity reached upward, Adam grasped for at equality with God (Satan told them - “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””).
But Jesus, by contrast, does not grasp. Instead:
Line 2 (2:7)
The Greek word for “nothing” carries the sense of emptying. Not emptying Himself of divinity, but emptying Himself of privilege. Jesus takes the form of a servant. The word “servant” can also mean slave — the lowest rung in the Roman social order.
When Paul describes Christ taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient to death, Isaiah 53 would almost certainly be in the background of their thoughts. Could this song be about the Suffering Servant - Jesus the Messiah?
Verse 3 (2:8)
I was thinking about this earlier today – When God became incarnate in human flesh – that was the most humble thing He could have done. He really does love us - that he humbled himself that low.
And then comes a line that carries an Old Testament resonance:
Verse 4,5,6 (2:9-11)
I have a T-Shirt that has “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” imprinted on it. I had forgotten that the line is drawn directly from Isaiah 45:23. In Isaiah, it is God speaking. But see what Paul does – he applies that language to Jesus.
In a Roman colony where every knee bowed symbolically to Caesar, this was more than devotional poetry. Paul is poking the bear. It was a quiet revolution of allegiance. Jesus is Lord!
And that confession is not framed as competition with the Father, but “to the glory of God the Father.” The exaltation of the Son reveals the character of the Father. The God of Israel exalts the One who humbled Himself.
Here we are in chapter two and we're starting to see the pattern that Paul wants to shape the Philippian church.
Humility is not loss - Self-giving is not erasure - Descent in obedience is not defeat.
In a culture structured around climbing the ladders for success (as we do in Western culture), Paul presents a Messiah who descends.
And in doing so, what does he do? He redefines greatness.
So what does that mean for us?
We live in a world that rewards self-promotion. Build your platform. Guard your brand. Make sure you are seen. But the pattern of Jesus moves in the opposite direction — not toward self-protection, but toward self-giving.
And here is the uncomfortable part: Paul is not presenting this as inspiration. He is presenting it as expectation. “Have this mind among yourselves…”
The takeaway is both simple and searching. If Jesus did not grasp, why do we?
If Jesus emptied himself, what are we holding onto so tightly?
Tomorrow, Paul will bring this hymn down from the heights and press it into daily life. If this is who Christ is, what does that mean for how a community lives?
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
In a world that bowed to Caesar, you chose the cross.
In a culture obsessed with status, you emptied yourself.
Teach us that kind of humility.
Free us from grasping for recognition.
Form in us the mind that was yours — obedient, steady, faithful.
May our lives confess that you are Lord.
Amen.
I knew someone had to of created a modern song to these words. I found several. This one was is not bad... Enjoy?
Yesterday we saw Paul calling the Philippans to humility, but he does not immediately give practical tips. Instead he gives them something that in many ways seems out of character for him - He gives them a poem.
Most scholars believe verses 6–11 were an early Christian hymn — something the church may have already been reciting in worship. If you remember Paul and Silas were singing in the Philippian jail before the earthquake.
Could this be what they were singing? Beats me!
But what matters is this is not abstract theology floating in the air. This poem becomes language that begins to shape the imagination, week after week, across the Roman world.
And in a place like Philippi, that language would have sounded astonishing - and would have been dangerous!
Remember, Philippi was a Roman colony where Caesar was called lord and honored as a kind of savior. Status flowed downward from the emperor. Power was displayed, enforced, and celebrated. Glory moved upward — toward Rome.
Before we ever get to the poetry, Paul writes (2:5) : “Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus…” It's like he is daring the reader to sing this song!
Line 1 – (2:6)
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
The language echoes Genesis. In the garden, humanity reached upward, Adam grasped for at equality with God (Satan told them - “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””).
But Jesus, by contrast, does not grasp. Instead:
Line 2 (2:7)
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
The Greek word for “nothing” carries the sense of emptying. Not emptying Himself of divinity, but emptying Himself of privilege. Jesus takes the form of a servant. The word “servant” can also mean slave — the lowest rung in the Roman social order.
When Paul describes Christ taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient to death, Isaiah 53 would almost certainly be in the background of their thoughts. Could this song be about the Suffering Servant - Jesus the Messiah?
Verse 3 (2:8)
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
I was thinking about this earlier today – When God became incarnate in human flesh – that was the most humble thing He could have done. He really does love us - that he humbled himself that low.
And then comes a line that carries an Old Testament resonance:
Verse 4,5,6 (2:9-11)
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
I have a T-Shirt that has “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” imprinted on it. I had forgotten that the line is drawn directly from Isaiah 45:23. In Isaiah, it is God speaking. But see what Paul does – he applies that language to Jesus.
In a Roman colony where every knee bowed symbolically to Caesar, this was more than devotional poetry. Paul is poking the bear. It was a quiet revolution of allegiance. Jesus is Lord!
And that confession is not framed as competition with the Father, but “to the glory of God the Father.” The exaltation of the Son reveals the character of the Father. The God of Israel exalts the One who humbled Himself.
Here we are in chapter two and we're starting to see the pattern that Paul wants to shape the Philippian church.
Humility is not loss - Self-giving is not erasure - Descent in obedience is not defeat.
In a culture structured around climbing the ladders for success (as we do in Western culture), Paul presents a Messiah who descends.
And in doing so, what does he do? He redefines greatness.
So what does that mean for us?
- It means the way up may not actually be up. (N.T. Wright calls us a world upside down).
- It means the quiet decision to serve when no one notices matters more than curating an image that everyone applauds.
- It means choosing integrity over advantage.
- It means releasing the need to win every argument, secure every credit, or protect every ounce of status.
We live in a world that rewards self-promotion. Build your platform. Guard your brand. Make sure you are seen. But the pattern of Jesus moves in the opposite direction — not toward self-protection, but toward self-giving.
And here is the uncomfortable part: Paul is not presenting this as inspiration. He is presenting it as expectation. “Have this mind among yourselves…”
The takeaway is both simple and searching. If Jesus did not grasp, why do we?
If Jesus emptied himself, what are we holding onto so tightly?
Tomorrow, Paul will bring this hymn down from the heights and press it into daily life. If this is who Christ is, what does that mean for how a community lives?
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
In a world that bowed to Caesar, you chose the cross.
In a culture obsessed with status, you emptied yourself.
Teach us that kind of humility.
Free us from grasping for recognition.
Form in us the mind that was yours — obedient, steady, faithful.
May our lives confess that you are Lord.
Amen.
I knew someone had to of created a modern song to these words. I found several. This one was is not bad... Enjoy?
Posted in Philippians
No Comments