Philippians 2:11 kjv
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:11 nkjv
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:11 niv
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:11 esv
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:11 nlt
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 45:23 | By Myself I have sworn... To Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear. | OT prophecy of universal worship. |
| Rom 14:11 | "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." | Quoting Isa 45:23, applying to Christ's judgment. |
| John 5:23 | so that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. | Honor given to the Son reflects on the Father. |
| John 17:1 | Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. | Jesus' prayer for glorification to glorify the Father. |
| 1 Cor 8:6 | Yet for us there is but one God, the Father... and one Lord, Jesus Christ... | Distinguishes roles while affirming unified deity. |
| 1 Cor 12:3 | no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. | Divine enablement for this confession. |
| Matt 10:32 | "Everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father." | Present-day confession with eternal implications. |
| Rev 5:13 | Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth... saying: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise..." | Eschatological universal worship of God and the Lamb. |
| Col 1:16-17 | all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things... | Jesus' preeminence and role in creation. |
| Eph 1:20-22 | God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms... far above all rule and authority... | Christ's supreme exaltation above all powers. |
| Heb 1:3-4 | The Son is the radiance of God’s glory... having become as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs. | Jesus' inherent divine glory and superior status. |
| 2 Cor 4:6 | For God... made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Christ. | Christ as the manifestation of God's glory. |
| Phil 1:11 | filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. | Believer's righteous fruit bringing glory to God. |
| 1 Tim 6:15 | God, the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. | Affirmation of God's supreme sovereignty. |
| Psa 96:7 | Ascribe to the LORD, you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. | Universal call to ascribe glory to God. |
| Psa 145:21 | My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all people will praise His holy name forever. | Prophetic anticipation of universal praise. |
| Luke 19:40 | "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." | Inescapability of creation proclaiming Christ. |
| John 1:18 | No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son... has made Him known. | Christ revealing the unseen Father. |
| Isa 11:9 | the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. | Eschatological universal knowledge of God. |
| Zeph 3:9 | For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, so that all of them may call on the name of the LORD. | Prophetic promise of universal devotion. |
| Rom 10:9 | If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. | Present-day salvific confession. |
| Matt 28:18 | "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." | Jesus' total, granted authority. |
| 1 Cor 15:28 | when everything has been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. | Christ's ultimate subjugation to the Father, restoring perfect order. |
| Rev 21:23 | The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. | Ultimate manifestation of God's and the Lamb's glory. |
Philippians 2 verses
Philippians 2 11 Meaning
This verse declares the universal and ultimate acknowledgment of Jesus Christ's sovereign authority as Lord by every living being, fulfilling the divine plan that through His exaltation, God the Father receives supreme glory and honor. It encapsulates the core Christian confession and the culmination of cosmic redemption.
Philippians 2 11 Context
Philippians 2:11 stands as the climactic statement in the Christ hymn (Phil 2:6-11), which describes Christ's humility, obedience, and subsequent divine exaltation. Paul presents this theological truth not merely for doctrinal affirmation but as an example for the Philippian believers. Chapter 2 begins with an appeal for unity, humility, and selfless love among Christians, mirroring Christ's own example of emptying Himself and taking the form of a servant. This verse, therefore, highlights that Christ's obedient humiliation culminated in His supreme exaltation and universal recognition, all directed towards God the Father's ultimate glory. Historically, the early church understood "Jesus is Lord" (Kyrios) as a direct counter-declaration to the pervasive Roman imperial cult, which proclaimed Caesar as "Lord," implying ultimate authority and divine status.
Philippians 2 11 Word analysis
and: (Greek: kai) A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding one, indicating the direct consequence of the divine exaltation mentioned in Phil 2:9-10. It shows a logical progression: because Jesus was exalted and given the supreme name, this universal confession naturally follows.
every: (Greek: pasa) Signifies absolute totality and universality, encompassing all entities in all realms (heaven, earth, under the earth, as stated in Phil 2:10). This emphasizes the exhaustive nature of Christ's supreme authority.
tongue: (Greek: glōssa) Refers to the organ of speech. In biblical context, it metaphorically represents all sentient beings capable of expression and, by extension, every race, nation, and people (Rev 5:9; 7:9). The confession is therefore comprehensive across all creation.
confess: (Greek: exomologēsētai) This verb means "to openly declare, to acknowledge, to profess fully and thoroughly," often with an accompanying sense of praise, assent, or public acknowledgment. It implies a willing and decisive act of recognition, going beyond mere silent understanding to public affirmation. It connects with the act of swearing allegiance, as found in Isa 45:23.
that: (Greek: hoti) A conjunction introducing the content of the confession, the specific truth being acknowledged.
Jesus: (Greek: Iēsou) The human name of the incarnate Son of God, emphasizing His historical reality and personhood. It connects the glorified Lord back to His earthly ministry and sacrifice.
Christ: (Greek: Christou) The Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah (Anointed One), indicating His divine appointment and mission as the chosen deliverer, king, and priest. This term confirms His messianic identity and purpose.
is: (Greek: estin, implied) The copula, though often omitted in Greek, is understood, firmly establishing the identity and status: Jesus Christ is Lord. This is not a future possibility but an present, eternal truth being acknowledged.
Lord: (Greek: Kyrios) This is arguably the most significant theological term here. In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), Kyrios is primarily used to translate the divine name YHWH, referring to God Himself. By calling Jesus Kyrios, Paul directly attributes divine sovereignty, authority, and identity to Him. It's a statement of ultimate divine lordship, a title reserved for God.
to the glory: (Greek: eis doxan) Expresses the ultimate purpose or goal of this confession. Doxa means "glory," which denotes the manifest splendor, honor, and supreme praise due to one's intrinsic nature. Jesus' exaltation and universal confession are not ends in themselves, but directed towards a higher end.
of God: (Greek: Theou) Refers to the Supreme Being, the Creator of all.
the Father: (Greek: Patros) Specifies the particular person of the Godhead. This clarifies that the Son's glory and all honor received by Him ultimately redound back to God the Father, underscoring the unity within the Godhead and the Father's supreme position in the divine economy. It prevents any misinterpretation of two competing Lords.
"and every tongue confess": This phrase directly correlates with the "every knee will bow" in the previous verse (Phil 2:10). The bodily posture of kneeling (reverence, submission) is accompanied by the verbal declaration of the mouth (confession, praise). This twin action signifies complete and total submission and adoration.
"Jesus Christ is Lord": This specific three-word confession is the central affirmation of Christian faith. It encapsulates Christology: Jesus is the historical person, Christ is His messianic office, and Lord (Kyrios) denotes His divine authority. This declaration was radical and dangerous in the Roman world where Kyrios Kaisaros ("Caesar is Lord") was a required civic confession, placing believers in direct confrontation with the state's claim of ultimate allegiance. The church was declaring its ultimate allegiance to Jesus.
"to the glory of God the Father": This clause provides the overarching theological framework and ultimate telos (goal). Jesus' glory and supremacy do not diminish God the Father's unique position; rather, they serve to fully manifest and bring honor to the Father. This shows the unified will and purpose of the Godhead, where the exaltation of the Son directly magnifies the Father's majesty and sovereign plan.
Philippians 2 11 Bonus section
The concept of a universal confession of Jesus' Lordship has implications for both compelled submission and willing worship. While the language implies a future, perhaps even forced, acknowledgment by all beings (including hostile ones) at the eschatological judgment (as per Rom 14:10-11), it simultaneously highlights the willing, joyful confession of believers in the present. This present confession is salvific (Rom 10:9) and Spirit-empowered (1 Cor 12:3). Therefore, "every tongue confess" refers to an eventual universal acknowledgment of truth, even by those who resist, alongside the active, intentional worship by His redeemed. The depth of this confession resonates through history as a foundational creedal statement, distinguishing Christianity by its uncompromising declaration of Jesus' unique, divine status and rule.
Philippians 2 11 Commentary
Philippians 2:11 is the crescendo of Paul's Christological hymn, revealing the profound consequence of Christ's unparalleled humility and obedience: His ultimate, universal, and eternally valid exaltation. The kneeling of "every knee" in the preceding verse (v. 10) is consummated by the confession of "every tongue." This declaration, "Jesus Christ is Lord," is the bedrock of Christian faith, a succinct summary of both His divine identity and supreme authority. It reflects an ultimate act of worship, aligning Jesus directly with YHWH of the Old Testament as foretold in Isa 45:23, underscoring His full divinity.
Critically, this universal acknowledgment is not an end in itself for Christ, but intrinsically oriented "to the glory of God the Father." This establishes a profound Trinitarian truth: the Son's honor is in perfect harmony with the Father's supreme honor. The Father orchestrates, the Son accomplishes, and the Spirit empowers, all for the ultimate magnification of God. It's a testament to the seamless unity and shared purpose within the Godhead, preventing any perception of rivalry. For believers, this verse serves as both a confession of salvation (Rom 10:9) and an enduring reminder that every act of worship towards Christ ultimately glorifies the Father, providing a model of selflessness for Christian living, reflecting Christ's own example back in Phil 2:3-5.
- Practical Example: When a believer declares Jesus as Lord through baptism, they are participating in this cosmic confession. Every act of Christian service, love, or witness, done "in the name of Jesus," is ultimately a testimony that brings glory to God the Father, demonstrating His power and love through the Son.