Philippians 2:5-11

Text: Philippians 2:5-11“Have this mind (attitude) among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, 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.”

I. Christ’s Heavenly Humility

II. Christ’s Incarnate Humility

III. Christ’s Mortifying Humility

I. Christ’s Heavenly Humility (2:6) A. His Heavenly Existence

“who, though he was in the form of

God”

- More literal translation: “although He existed in the form of God”

- “existed” = ὑπάρχω (huparcho) = “previous”, “beginning”.

Main Idea: A continuation of a

previous state of existence.

William Barclay: “(the verb – hubarcho refers to) that part of a person which in any circumstance, remains the same.”

“form” =

μορφή (morphe) =

“ones being” or “nature”.

B. His Heavenly Attitude (vs. 6b) “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped”

“equality” =

ἴσος (isos) =

“exact equivalency”

“something to be grasped” =

ἁρπαγμός (harpagmon)=

“the act of seizing” or “robbery” or “something to

prized”

II. Christ’s Incarnate Humility (2:7) A. His Emptying (vs. 7a & c) “but emptied himself…being born in the likeness of men”- “emptied” = κενόω (kenow) = “to lay aside” or “hollow”. - Philippians 2:5-11 is often referred to as the “Kenosis” passage

Handley C.G. Moule: “Whatever is meant by the ‘made Himself void’ [‘emptied himself], which describes His incarnation here, one thing it could never possibly mean – a ‘kenosis’ which could hurt or distort His absolute fitness to guide and bless us whom He came to save. That [emptying] placed Him indeed on the creaturely level in regard of the reality of human experience of growth, and human capacity for suffering. But never for one moment did it, (or) could it, make Him other than the absolute and infallible Master and Guide of His redeemed.”

What The “Kenosis” Does NOT Mean:

1.) Jesus Did NOT “Empty Himself” of His Deity.

Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same

yesterday, today and forever.”

What The “Kenosis” Does NOT Mean:

2.) Jesus Did NOT “Empty Himself” of Any of His Divine Attributes.

Matthew 12:25: “And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

John 4:47-53: “When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death….The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.”

- Luke 2:40 and 52: “The Child (Jesus) continued to grow and become strong…Jesus grew in wisdom and stature”

- John 4:6: “so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well”

- John 11:35: “Jesus wept”

- Hebrews 4:15: “…in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

What The “Kenosis” Does NOT Mean:

3.) Jesus Was NOT Simply Acting As Though He Did Not Possess Divine Attributes.

- John 8:58: “ before Abraham was, I AM.”

- John 10:30: "I and My Father are one.”

- John 10:36: “…because I said, “I am the Son of God'?”

B. His Taking the Form of a Servant (vs. 7b) “by taking the form of a servant”

Philippians 1:1:“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ

Jesus”

- Matthew 20:24: “When the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.”

- Matthew 20:25-28: “But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 13:14-16: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a

messenger greater than the one who sent him.”

III. Christ’s Mortifying Humility (2:8) “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

A. His Obedience to Death

Hebrews 9:27: “It is appointed to a man

once to die”

- John 14:6: “I am the way the truth and the life”

- John 1:4 says: “In him was life”

- Isaiah 53:7: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

B. His Humiliating Punishment

“even death on a cross”