Philippians 2:7 kjv
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Philippians 2:7 nkjv
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:7 niv
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Philippians 2:7 esv
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:7 nlt
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
Philippians 2 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Philippians 2:7 | He, though in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; | Philippians 2:6 |
| John 1:1, 14 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. | Jesus' divine nature |
| Matthew 20:28 | just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | Jesus' servant attitude |
| Isaiah 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. | Jesus' humble status |
| 2 Corinthians 8:9 | For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. | Jesus' poverty/humility |
| Romans 15:3 | For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The taunts of those who taunted you fell on me.” | Jesus' self-denial |
| Galatians 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ and, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. | Self-sacrifice |
| Hebrews 2:14 | Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy the one who holds the power of death. | Jesus sharing humanity |
| 1 Peter 2:21 | To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. | Example of suffering |
| Mark 10:45 | For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | Jesus as servant |
| John 17:5 | And now, Father, glorify me together with yourself, with the glory that I had with you before the world was. | Pre-incarnate glory |
| Luke 22:27 | For who is greater: the one who is at the table or the one who serves? But I am among you as one who serves. | Jesus serving |
| Acts 20:35 | In everything I showed you that by working like this you must support the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ | Principle of giving |
| Colossians 1:15 | The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. | Jesus' preeminence |
| John 5:23 | so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. | Honoring the Son |
| Philippians 3:7 | But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. | Counting loss for Christ |
| John 13:3-5 | Jesus, knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and went to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, fastened it around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was around his waist. | Washing feet |
| Matthew 11:29 | Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. | Jesus' humility |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 | So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. | Doing all for God's glory |
| Colossians 3:12 | Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. | Qualities to emulate |
Philippians 2 verses
Philippians 2 7 Meaning
Philippians 2:7 speaks of Jesus willingly humbling himself, setting aside his divine privileges, and taking on the form of a servant. This voluntary act of self-emptying, or kenosis, is central to his incarnation and demonstration of humility.
Philippians 2 7 Context
Philippians 2:7 is part of a larger exhortation by the Apostle Paul to the Philippian church. The chapter emphasizes unity, humility, and joy in Christ. Paul is calling believers to imitate the self-sacrificing attitude of Jesus. He had previously spoken about the mind of Christ (v. 5) and is now detailing Jesus’ humble descent from divine glory to human suffering. The context is that the Philippian believers were experiencing internal strife and external pressure, and Paul uses Christ's example as the ultimate motivation for them to overcome their differences and live in unity and selfless love.
Philippians 2 7 Word Analysis
- os (hos): A relative pronoun, meaning "who," "which," or "that." Here it introduces a subordinate clause describing Christ.
- huparchon (υπάρχων): A present participle of the verb huparchō, meaning "to exist," "to be," or "to be found." It signifies an ongoing state of being. In relation to "in the form of God," it emphasizes that Christ was intrinsically divine.
- morphe (μορφή): Greek for "form" or "shape." It doesn't just refer to an outward appearance, but the essential nature or being. "Form of God" signifies sharing the very essence of God's being.
- theou (θεοῦ): The genitive case of theos (God).
- en (ἐν): A preposition meaning "in," "on," or "with." Here, "in the form of God" denotes the state or condition of Christ's being.
- ou (οὐ): A particle of negation, meaning "not."
- halegesato (ἁρπαγμόν): This noun is crucial and has been a point of scholarly discussion. It is derived from the verb harpazō, meaning "to seize," "to snatch," or "to grasp." Halegesato is generally interpreted as "a prize to be clutched," "a thing to be grasped," or "something to be held onto." The phrasing "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped" means Jesus did not see his divine equality as a possession to cling to or an advantage to exploit for his own personal gain.
- einai (εἶναι): The present infinitive of the verb eimi (to be). "To be equality with God."
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "though in the form of God": This phrase immediately establishes Christ's pre-existence and deity before his incarnation. It means he possessed the essential nature, attributes, and dignity of God.
- "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped": This is the core of the kenosis. It implies that Jesus, possessing full divinity, deliberately chose not to use that divine status selfishly. He did not treat his divine equality as a spoil to cling to or an advantage to leverage for himself. Instead, he set it aside, not by ceasing to be God, but by relinquishing the outward display and personal benefits of his divine status. This is a profound act of voluntary submission and humility.
Philippians 2 7 Bonus Section
The concept of kenosis is complex and has been debated theologically. The verse asserts that Christ’s humility was not a diminishment of his divine being but a willing set of bounds upon its external expression. This set the stage for his full identification with humanity in the following verses, leading to his ultimate suffering and death for the salvation of mankind. This humility is the very mind or attitude the Philippian believers were exhorted to adopt (v. 5). The phrasing halegesato implies an active relinquishing, rather than a passive yielding. It underscores Christ’s agency in his mission of salvation.
Philippians 2 7 Commentary
Philippians 2:7 articulates a central truth of Christian theology: the voluntary self-emptying (kenosis) of Jesus Christ. Despite possessing the very essence and glory of God, Christ did not cling to his divine privileges or assert them for his own benefit. He deliberately chose to lay aside the outward manifestation and enjoyment of these divine prerogatives as he entered human history. This humility is not a result of his human nature but a deliberate choice from his divine person. His act was not a loss of divinity but a divinely chosen limitation of its expression for the purpose of redemption. This profound act serves as the ultimate model for believers, urging them to embrace a similar selfless attitude in their relationships and service.
- Practical application: Consider any personal rights or privileges you have that could be used to gain an advantage. Are there opportunities to set them aside for the benefit of another or for the greater good of God's kingdom?