Philippians 2:7-11 Exegesis and Christology
As we ponder the majestic passage of Philippians 2:7-11, we are met with the breathtaking humility of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, as Paul writes, "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (v. 7). This radical self-abnegation is a scandal to human pride, for it reveals that the One who is "in the form of God" (v. 6) willingly laid aside His divine prerogatives to become one of us, taking on the lowly status of a slave. And yet, as we gaze upon this incredible act of condescension, we are also confronted with the stunning reality of His subsequent exaltation, where "God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name" (v. 9).
As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the prophet Isaiah's declaration that "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess" that Jesus Christ is Lord (Isaiah 45:23), a truth that is echoed in Philippians 2:10-11, where Paul writes that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This universal acknowledgment of Jesus' lordship is not merely a future hope, but a present reality, for even now, as the church, we confess His name and bow our knees in worship, acknowledging that He is the One who has been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18).
In this beautiful passage, we see the harmony of God's sovereignty and human responsibility, as the voluntary humiliation of Christ is met with the Father's glorious exaltation of Him, and our own response of worship and confession. As we contemplate the wonders of Philippians 2:7-11, may our hearts be filled with awe and gratitude for the incomparable Christ, who has taken on our humanity that we might share in His divinity, and may our lives be marked by the same humility and reverence that characterized His earthly sojourn, as we seek to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), knowing that it is God who works in us "to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).