Philippians 2:5-11 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Cultivating the mindset of Christ (2:5)
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5). With this verse, Paul transitions from exhortation to example. Having just called the Philippians to unity and humility in their relationships (Philippians 2:1-4), he now points them to the ultimate model:Jesus Christ Himself. This verse is both a bridge and a command. It bridges the call to humility in verses 1-4 with the glorious Christ hymn in verses 6-11. And it issues a command that touches the very core of Christian discipleship: “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” This is not a call to imitate Jesus from a distance. It is a summons to let the very thoughts, values, and attitudes of Jesus shape every part of our lives. The word “mindset” (phroneō) refers not merely to thoughts but to a whole orientation of the heart – the way we perceive ourselves, others, and God. So what does it mean to have the mind of Christ? Let’s explore three key truths from this short but weighty verse.
The mind of Christ is relational
Notice Paul’s emphasis: “In your relationships with one another…” This mindset is not developed in isolation. It is forged in the fire of community – through real, sometimes difficult, relationships within the body of Christ. Christian maturity is not merely shown by private devotion but by public humility – especially in how we treat others. It’s easy to imagine ourselves as Christlike when we’re alone with our Bibles. But the test comes when we’re wronged, overlooked, misunderstood, or asked to serve in inconvenient ways.
To “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” is to see every relationship as an opportunity to reflect Christ – not to win arguments or assert superiority, but to embody His grace, humility, and love. Ask yourself: What is my mindset when I’m interrupted? When someone disagrees with me? When I feel entitled to be served but am instead asked to serve? The mind of Christ is not selfish. It is not reactive. It is deliberately oriented toward others in love – and especially so when that love costs something.
The mind of Christ is self-emptying
While verse 5 doesn’t yet describe what Jesus did, it sets the tone for what follows. The verses immediately after (vv. 6-8) describe Christ’s astonishing humility – His willingness to lay aside divine privilege, take on human form, and obey even unto death. Paul is preparing us: This is the mindset you are called to emulate. A mindset that says, “I will not cling to my rights. I will not insist on my position. I will lower myself to lift others up.” This was revolutionary in Paul’s day – and it still is now. The world tells us to protect ourselves, to promote ourselves, to prioritize our comfort. But Christ’s example calls us to the opposite: to surrender status and serve in love. This mindset is not about thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. It is a posture of the heart that says: “How can I serve? Whom can I bless? What might it cost me to love like Jesus?”
And let’s be honest: this is not easy. Humility grates against our flesh. We want to be noticed, appreciated, and admired. But the more we gaze at Christ and are filled with His Spirit, the more we are transformed into His image – and the more natural it becomes to serve without being seen, to forgive without being asked, to sacrifice without recognition.
The mind of Christ is already yours in Christ
This verse is a command, but it’s also a reminder of your identity. Paul is not saying, “Try really hard to think like Jesus.” He is saying, “Live out what is already yours because you are in Christ.” As believers, we are united with Christ. His Spirit dwells in us. We don’t merely admire Jesus from afar – we are empowered by His presence within us. The mind of Christ is not a lofty ideal for the spiritual elite. It is the daily calling of every Christian – and by God’s grace, it is possible.
1 Corinthians 2:16 says, “But we have the mind of Christ.” Not we might have, or we will one day have, but we have. That’s the miracle of the gospel. Christ not only saves us – He transforms us from the inside out. So the call to have His mindset is not a burden but a gift. It’s a call to live in line with your new nature – to become, in practice, who you already are in position.
How can we grow in this mindset? Consider these three spiritual disciplines:
- Meditate on Christ’s humility: Regularly read and reflect on Philippians 2:6-8. Let the image of the self-emptying Savior shape how you think about leadership, sacrifice, and love.
- Practice humility in hidden ways: Look for small, unseen opportunities to serve others. Let go of the need for recognition. Ask God to purify your motives.
- Invite the Spirit to renew your mind: Spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to transform your thoughts, priorities, and responses. Let Him root out pride and cultivate Christlike attitudes.
Verse 5 is a pivot point in Philippians. It invites us to look beyond ourselves and up to Christ. It challenges us to reimagine greatness, to embrace humility, and to love sacrificially. This is not an abstract principle. It is the very heartbeat of Christian discipleship: to be conformed to the image of the Son. And that begins with the way we think – with the mindset we carry into every conversation, every decision, and every relationship. So let us ask today: Do I have the mind of Christ? And if not, am I willing to ask God to cultivate it in me – for the sake of His glory and the good of His church?
Christ’s descent into humility (2:6–8)
Having issued the command in verse 5 to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, Paul now unveils the stunning model of that mindset in verses 6-8. These verses are among the most sacred in all Scripture – often referred to as the Christ Hymn – and they contain some of the richest Christology in the New Testament. They outline a descent so deep, so gracious, so sacrificial, that it humbles every heart that beholds it. In the previous section we learned that the Christian life requires cultivating the mindset of Christ. Now Paul shows us what that mindset looks like in action – and it begins with the unimaginable: the eternal Son of God making Himself nothing for us.
Christ’s pre-existence and divine nature (v. 6)
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage…” Paul begins by affirming that Jesus, before His incarnation, already existed in the “very nature” of God. The Greek word used here is morphē, which speaks of essence or essential being. This is not a suggestion that Jesus was merely godlike – it is an emphatic statement that Jesus is fully and eternally God. He shared all the attributes of divinity: power, glory, omniscience, and holiness. He existed from eternity past, co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. And yet – and this is the wonder – He did not consider this equality something to cling to or exploit for His own gain.
The phrase “something to be used to his own advantage” could also be rendered “something to be grasped.” It carries the sense of seizing or holding onto a privilege. Jesus did not exploit His divine status. He did not clutch His heavenly rights with tight fists. Instead, He opened His hands – and emptied Himself. This is the beginning of His humility: not a loss of divinity, but a refusal to use His divinity as a tool for self-preservation. How different this is from how we act when we have power. We so often protect it, guard it, assert it. But Jesus relinquished it – not His divine nature, but His divine privilege.
Christ’s self-emptying and servanthood (v. 7)
“…rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Here is one of the most astounding phrases in all of Scripture: “He made himself nothing.” Some translations say, “He emptied himself.” Again, this doesn’t mean that Christ stopped being God – rather, He voluntarily laid aside His rights, privileges, and heavenly glory. He took on the limitations and vulnerabilities of a human life.
How did He empty Himself? Paul tells us – by taking something, not by losing something: “by taking the very nature of a servant.” There is a beautiful irony here. Christ, who is in the form of God, takes the form (morphē) of a servant – the same word used for “very nature.” He doesn’t just look like a servant; He becomes one in essence and action. This is not a divine being disguising Himself temporarily. This is the eternal God embracing servanthood in its fullness. Jesus didn’t just do servant-like things – He became a servant.
Paul continues: He was “made in human likeness.” The eternal Son of God took on a real human body, real human limitations, real human emotions, and real human experiences. He slept, wept, walked, grew tired, and felt hunger. He entered the full reality of humanity – all without sin. This is the miracle of the incarnation: God became man, not to be served, but to serve. In a world obsessed with climbing higher, Jesus descended lower.
Christ’s humble obedience to death (v. 8)
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” Here, Paul completes the descent. Not only did Christ take on flesh, not only did He live as a servant – He humbled Himself to the point of death. Notice the choice: “He humbled himself.” No one humbled Him. No one forced Him into suffering. He chose it. This was a voluntary act of obedience and love. Obedience is central here: “obedient to death.” This recalls the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.” He obeyed the Father’s will even when it led Him to agony, shame, and crucifixion. And Paul adds one more shocking detail: “even death on a cross.”
This is not just death – it is the most humiliating, excruciating, and shameful form of execution known in the ancient world. Crucifixion was reserved for criminals and slaves. It was designed to maximize pain and disgrace. For a Jew, it was especially offensive – for Scripture says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). And yet this is the very path Jesus chose. Think about that: the eternal Son of God submitted not only to death, but to the most degrading death imaginable. Why? Because our salvation depended on it. Because only by bearing our curse, our shame, our punishment, could He redeem us. This is the climax of humility. Christ didn’t just stoop low – He went all the way to the bottom, so that He might lift us up.
Paul shows us the descent of Christ not simply to amaze us – though it surely should – but to inspire and empower us to imitate it.
- When we are tempted to cling to our rights, we remember that Jesus relinquished His.
- When we are reluctant to serve, we remember that Jesus became a servant.
- When we resist humility, we remember that Jesus humbled Himself all the way to the cross.
This is the mindset we are called to embrace – not because it’s easy or natural, but because it is Christlike. It’s only when we embrace the downward path of humility that we are prepared to experience the upward call of exaltation – which is where Paul will take us next in verses 9-11.
The exaltation of Christ – glory through humility (2:9–11)
Having traced Christ’s breathtaking descent in verses 6-8, from heavenly glory to human servanthood, all the way to death on a cross – Paul now declares the glorious result: Christ’s exaltation. This is the Father’s response to the Son’s humble obedience. It is the great reversal of the gospel: the way down is the way up. In these verses, Paul declares that Jesus has been lifted to the highest possible place and given the name that commands worship throughout the entire cosmos. But notice how it begins: with the word “therefore.”
God’s response to humility is exaltation
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place…” Christ’s exaltation is the direct result of His self-emptying obedience. He humbled Himself – therefore God lifted Him up. This pattern is woven throughout Scripture. Proverbs 18:12 says, “Humility comes before honour.” James 4:10 urges us, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Jesus Himself said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
And no one humbled Himself more than Jesus – so no one has been exalted more than Jesus. This exaltation is not simply a return to where Christ began. It is a glorified affirmation of who He is – the crucified and risen Lord. The One who bore the cross is now crowned with glory. The phrase “exalted to the highest place” is one word in Greek: hyperupsōsen – meaning “super-exalted” or “highly exalted beyond measure.” Christ has been lifted to the supreme place of honour, authority, and majesty. This reminds us that in God’s kingdom, true greatness comes through humble obedience. The world prizes power and pride; God honours humility and sacrifice.
The name above every name
“…and gave him the name that is above every name…” What is this name that God has given to Jesus?
It may seem at first that the name is “Jesus” – but Paul has already used that name in earlier verses. The key comes in verse 11: “Jesus Christ is Lord.” The name that is above every name is “Lord.” In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), “Lord” (Kyrios) was the translation of the divine name Yahweh.
To say “Jesus is Lord” is to declare that Jesus shares the divine identity. He is not merely a great teacher or prophet – He is God, worthy of worship, obedience, and allegiance. This was a radical confession in Paul’s day. In the Roman Empire, Caesar was hailed as “Lord.” To say “Jesus is Lord” was not only a theological statement – but it was also a political act of courage and loyalty to a greater King. And it still is today. In a world full of competing authorities, ideologies, and allegiances, Christians declare: Jesus alone is Lord. Not success. Not comfort. Not fame. Not country. Not self. Jesus is Lord.
And this name – this Lordship – is above every other name. There is no rival to His throne. No competitor for His glory. No other name by which we are saved (Acts 4:12).
Universal worship and acknowledgment
“… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord…” Paul now envisions the universal recognition of Christ’s Lordship. This is not optional or partial – it is total and inevitable. Every creature, in every realm, will bow before Jesus.
- “In heaven” – the angels and redeemed saints.
- “On earth” – every human being living today.
- “Under the earth” – even the realm of the dead and the demonic.
This is a sweeping, cosmic vision of worship. One day, every knee will bow – either willingly in joyful adoration, or unwillingly in final submission. One day, every tongue will confess – either now, in saving faith, or later, in judgment. This should stir both hope and urgency in us. Hope – because Jesus will be vindicated, and justice will prevail. Urgency – because now is the time of grace. Now is the day to bow the knee willingly, to confess with joy that Jesus Christ is Lord.
This passage also shapes our present worship. When we gather as a church, we are joining a foretaste of this eternal reality. Every time we sing, serve, give, pray, and declare Jesus as Lord, we are aligning ourselves with the future – when heaven and earth will be united in His praise.
All to the glory of God the Father
“…to the glory of God the Father.” Finally, Paul concludes with the ultimate purpose of Christ’s exaltation: the glory of God the Father. Even in His exaltation, Jesus does not seek independent glory. As He always did on earth, He brings glory to His Father. There is no competition in the Trinity – only perfect harmony. The Son glorifies the Father. The Father exalts the Son. The Spirit magnifies them both. And we are invited into this divine joy – not to seek our own glory, but to live for the glory of God. This is the purpose of your salvation. This is the purpose of Christ’s coming. This is the reason you exist: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. So when we bow to Jesus, when we confess Him as Lord, when we adopt His mindset of humility -God is glorified.
What does this final movement of the Christ hymn mean for our daily lives?
- Worship with awe and reverence
Jesus is not just your friend – He is Lord of all. Approach Him with joyful reverence. Let your heart be full of wonder at who He is and what He has done. - Live in submission to Christ’s authority
If Jesus is Lord, then His Word is final. His commands are not suggestions. Obedience is not optional. Submit every area of your life – your time, relationships, finances, and desires – to His Lordship. - Proclaim Christ boldly
Every tongue will one day confess – but now is the time for the church to declare it loudly and clearly. Let your life and lips point others to the exalted Christ. - Hope in His ultimate victory
In a world of chaos, injustice, and rebellion, remember: the risen Christ is on the throne. He will return. He will reign. And every knee will bow.
Conclusion
Philippians 2:5-11 has taken us on a journey:
- From Christ’s divine glory…
- To His self-emptying humility…
- To His obedient death…
- To His triumphant exaltation.
This is the pattern of the gospel: glory to humility to greater glory. And it is the pattern for every believer. If we humble ourselves, if we take up our cross and follow Jesus, we too will share in His glory. So let us embrace the mind of Christ – in our homes, our churches, our communities. Let us go low, so that God may lift us up. Let us worship the One who stooped to save us – and who now reigns forever as Lord of all.
To Him be the glory, now and forever. Amen.