Philippians 2:7 - but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Philippians 2:7" mean?
Philippians 2:7 is a pivotal verse in what's often called the "Christ Hymn" (Philippians 2:5-11). To understand its meaning, let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"but emptied himself..." This is the crux of the verse and generates much discussion. The Greek word for "emptied" is "ekenosen," from "kenoo." The key question is what did Jesus empty himself of? Possible interpretations include:
Renouncing Divine Prerogatives: This view suggests Jesus voluntarily relinquished the independent exercise of his divine powers and privileges, not his divine nature. He set aside the "glory" and "status" that were rightfully his as God, choosing not to exploit his divinity for his own benefit while on Earth. He operated in dependence on the Father. This is the most common interpretation.
Veiling His Glory: Some see it as a veiling or obscuring of his divine glory, so humans could relate to him. He still possessed divine attributes, but they were not always outwardly manifested.
Adding Humanity: A less common, and often debated, interpretation suggests that emptying himself involved "adding" humanity to his deity, becoming fully God and fully man.
"...taking the form of a servant..." This clarifies how Jesus emptied himself. The word "form" (Greek: "morphe") is significant. It doesn't just mean outward appearance, but the essential nature or reality of something. So, Jesus took on the reality of being a servant. He didn't just act like one; he truly became one. This emphasizes his humility and willingness to serve others, even to the point of death.
"...being made in the likeness of men." This emphasizes Jesus's complete humanity. He wasn't just a spirit appearing in human form; he became fully human. "Likeness" (Greek: "homoioma") suggests a genuine resemblance. He experienced human emotions, limitations, and vulnerabilities. This highlights the incarnation – God becoming flesh.
In summary, Philippians 2:7 describes the voluntary act of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in setting aside the independent exercise of his divine privileges and glory, fully embracing humanity and taking on the role of a servant. He didn't cease being God, but he chose to live as a human, subject to the limitations and needs of human existence, and completely obedient to the Father's will.
Key implications of this verse:
Humility of Christ: The verse underscores the radical humility of Jesus, who willingly left his exalted position to serve humanity.
Incarnation: It affirms the reality of the incarnation – that God truly became human in the person of Jesus Christ.
Model for Believers: The passage calls believers to emulate Christ's humility and selflessness in their relationships with others. We are to put others' needs ahead of our own.
Atonement: This act of emptying himself is essential for his work of salvation. His obedience and sacrifice as a man are what made atonement for sin possible.
Different Theological Perspectives:
It's worth noting that there are different theological perspectives on the precise nature of the "emptying." Some denominations emphasize the renunciation of divine prerogatives, while others focus on the veiling of glory. Ultimately, the verse speaks to the profound mystery of the incarnation and the unparalleled humility of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:7 - but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
What does "Philippians 2:7" mean?
Philippians 2:7 is a pivotal verse in what's often called the "Christ Hymn" (Philippians 2:5-11). To understand its meaning, let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"but emptied himself..." This is the crux of the verse and generates much discussion. The Greek word for "emptied" is "ekenosen," from "kenoo." The key question is what did Jesus empty himself of? Possible interpretations include:
Renouncing Divine Prerogatives: This view suggests Jesus voluntarily relinquished the independent exercise of his divine powers and privileges, not his divine nature. He set aside the "glory" and "status" that were rightfully his as God, choosing not to exploit his divinity for his own benefit while on Earth. He operated in dependence on the Father. This is the most common interpretation.
Veiling His Glory: Some see it as a veiling or obscuring of his divine glory, so humans could relate to him. He still possessed divine attributes, but they were not always outwardly manifested.
Adding Humanity: A less common, and often debated, interpretation suggests that emptying himself involved "adding" humanity to his deity, becoming fully God and fully man.
"...taking the form of a servant..." This clarifies how Jesus emptied himself. The word "form" (Greek: "morphe") is significant. It doesn't just mean outward appearance, but the essential nature or reality of something. So, Jesus took on the reality of being a servant. He didn't just act like one; he truly became one. This emphasizes his humility and willingness to serve others, even to the point of death.
"...being made in the likeness of men." This emphasizes Jesus's complete humanity. He wasn't just a spirit appearing in human form; he became fully human. "Likeness" (Greek: "homoioma") suggests a genuine resemblance. He experienced human emotions, limitations, and vulnerabilities. This highlights the incarnation – God becoming flesh.
In summary, Philippians 2:7 describes the voluntary act of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in setting aside the independent exercise of his divine privileges and glory, fully embracing humanity and taking on the role of a servant. He didn't cease being God, but he chose to live as a human, subject to the limitations and needs of human existence, and completely obedient to the Father's will.
Key implications of this verse:
Humility of Christ: The verse underscores the radical humility of Jesus, who willingly left his exalted position to serve humanity.
Incarnation: It affirms the reality of the incarnation – that God truly became human in the person of Jesus Christ.
Model for Believers: The passage calls believers to emulate Christ's humility and selflessness in their relationships with others. We are to put others' needs ahead of our own.
Atonement: This act of emptying himself is essential for his work of salvation. His obedience and sacrifice as a man are what made atonement for sin possible.
Different Theological Perspectives:
It's worth noting that there are different theological perspectives on the precise nature of the "emptying." Some denominations emphasize the renunciation of divine prerogatives, while others focus on the veiling of glory. Ultimately, the verse speaks to the profound mystery of the incarnation and the unparalleled humility of Jesus Christ.