Every Knee Will Bow and Tongue Confess in Philippians
The phrase "every knee will bow and tongue confess" is a biblical expression rooted in Isaiah 45:23, which states, "For every knee shall be bowed to me, and every tongue shall swear" [1]. The apostle Paul quotes this passage in Romans 14:11, saying, "For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God" [2]. In Philippians 2:10-11, Paul applies this language to Jesus Christ, writing that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father".
This application is significant because it attributes divine lordship to Jesus Christ. According to John Gill, the bowing of the knee and confession of the tongue signify a universal acknowledgment of Jesus' authority, encompassing both believers and unbelievers [3, 6]. Adam Clarke notes that this confession is an acknowledgment of Jesus as "absolute governor" and serves to glorify God the Father [4].
The context of Philippians 2:10-11 is Christ's exaltation after his humiliation and death on the cross. As Calvin comments on Isaiah 45:23, outward confession is a necessary part of true worship, implying that the confession of Jesus as Lord is a fundamental aspect of Christian devotion [5]. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary on Philippians 2:11 suggests that this confession will be made "to the glory of God the Father", indicating that the ultimate purpose of Christ's exaltation is the glorification of God [7].
The universal scope of this confession is emphasized across various traditions. John Gill notes that the confession will be made by "angels or men, or men of whatsoever nation" [6]. This universal acknowledgment is not limited to the living, as Jamieson-Fausset-Brown suggest that the spirits of the dead will also confess Jesus as Lord [7].
The biblical anchor for this concept is Isaiah 45:23, which is quoted in Romans 14:11 and applied to Jesus Christ in Philippians 2:10-11. This demonstrates a clear trajectory of thought from the Old Testament to the New Testament, with Jesus being identified as the Lord to whom universal confession is due. The historical development of this doctrine is tied to the early Christian understanding of Jesus' divinity and lordship, which is reflected in the writings of the apostle Paul and later interpreters [3, 4, 6].
Sources
- Isaiah “Isaiah 45:24 (DRC) — For every knee shall be bowed to me, and every tongue shall swear.”
- Romans “Romans 14:11 (DRC) — For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God.”
- Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 2:10: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,.... Which is to be understood, not of the outward act of bowing the knee upon hearing the name, and the syllables of the mere name Jesus pronounced; for in the bare name there can be nothing which can command such a peculiar respect; it was a name common with the Jews: Joshua is so called in Heb 4:8; and the name of Elymas the sorcerer was Barjesus: that is, the son of Jesus, Act 13:6; Now, how monstrously ridiculous and stupid would it be, for a man, upon hearing these passages, and upon the pronouncing of this wo”
- Philippians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Philippians 2:11: And that every tongue should confess - That all those before mentioned should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, or absolute governor, and thus glorify God the Father, who has exalted this human nature to this state of ineffable glory, in virtue of its passion, death, resurrection, and the atonement which it has made, by which so many attributes of the Divine nature have become illustrated, the Divine law magnified and made honorable, and an eternal glory provided for man. Others by things in heaven understand the holy angels; by things on earth, human bein”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 7.29: willingly adopt it; for since one part of the worship of God is swearing , by taking a part for the whole, as I have said, it fitly describes the whole of the worship of God. Again, to “swear by the Lord” often means to testify that he is the true God. ( Deuteronomy 6:13 .) In a word, it denotes a perfect agreement with the Church of God. Hence we ought to learn that outward confession is a necessary part of the true worship of God; for if any person wish to keep his faith shut up in his heart, he will have but a cold regard for it. ( Romans ”
- Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 2:11: And that every tongue should confess,.... Whether of angels or men, or of men of whatsoever nation. Confession is either true and hearty, as when the mouth and heart agree in confessing, and which is made only by true believers; or verbal only, or in mere outward form, and by force, as in hypocrites, wicked men, and devils themselves; who all either have confessed, or will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord: the holy angels confess him to be Lord, and their Lord truly, and are unfeignedly subject to him; and true believers heartily own him as their Lord, and ch”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 2:11: every tongue--Compare "every knee" (Phi 2:10). In every way He shall be acknowledged as Lord (no longer as "servant," Phi 2:7). As none can fully do so "but by the Holy Ghost" (Co1 12:3), the spirits of good men who are dead, must be the class directly meant, Phi 2:10, "under the earth." to the glory of God the Father--the grand end of Christ's mediatorial office and kingdom, which shall cease when this end shall have been fully realized (Joh 5:19-23, Joh 5:30; Joh 17:1, Joh 17:4-7; Co1 15:24-28).”