What does Philippians 2:5-9 mean for us regarding using him as an example?
Am I wrong to translate it as we are very powerful because of him, and in being equal to him we come in the likeness of men, but are of spirit, and in humbling ourselves we find obedience?
Philippians 2:5 - 9
ESV - 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. 6 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
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Tim Maas
Supporter
In referring to taking Christ as an example, Paul is telling believers not to be conceited about the benefits that faith in Christ gives them (since Christ would have been fully justified in coming as a king or ruler during His incarnation), but instead to adopt the same humility that He exhibited in taking the form of an obedient servant, to the point of sacrificing His own life to make salvation possible for humanity. (To me, Jesus made this point most clearly in washing the apostles' feet at the Last Supper (John 13:3-17).)
Dorothy Sanders
Supporter
In these last of the last days, if we are professing to be a child of The True and Living Lord GOD ALMIGHTY, who gave His Only begotten Son, Christ JESUS of Nazareth, to suffer and to die for our sins, then if Christ JESUS would not say it, would not do it, would not think it, then neither will we! If we have found that place that Christ JESUS found, YIELDING HIS ALL to GOD ALMIGHTY, then we are daily living our life in that place. We are rejecting and casting down every single thing that is opposition to THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE - Christ JESUS!
Shirley H
Supporter
For myself, I don't think any human can come close to being equal with Jesus. Actually I am sure! The contrast is with Adam. He, Adam, was created spiritually in the image of God. Yet, he seriously fell short almost, if not indeed, immediately. The first man attempted to become like God, or equal to God. You know how that turned out. By total contrast, Jesus, though He was, is and always will be God, took on humility and complete respect for God. Jesus served God first always, without complaint! Our thoughts are always to center on God's will, above our own. We are to love one another and serve others whenever we can. Hebrews 1:3: "He is the reflection of God's Glory and bears the impress of God's own being, sustaining all things by His powerful command and has purged sins away." There isn't a single soul that can do that. Only Jesus. However, we are to do whatever we can, whenever we can to honor Him. It is and always will be God. Titus 2:14: "He offered Himself for us in order to ransom us from all our faults and to purify a people to be His very own and eager to do good." Ephesians 2:9,10: "We are God's work of art, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which God has already designated to make up our way of life." May we keep our focus on Him.
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
What does Philippians 2:5-9 mean for us regarding using him as an example? "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name." Philippians 2:5–9 presents Christ's mindset as the pattern for how believers should think, choose, and act. Paul is not simply offering a moral lesson; he is showing how Christ's deliberate self‑lowering becomes the model for a community shaped by humility, unity, and service. Christ's mindset: the starting point Paul begins with a command: "Have this mind among yourselves." This refers to adopting Christ's inner orientation—His willingness to release privilege, embrace servanthood, and obey fully. It calls us to shape our attitudes before shaping our actions. Christ's self‑emptying Christ existed in the "form of God," possessing true divine status. Yet He did not treat equality with God as something to exploit. Instead, He "emptied himself," taking the form of a servant and entering human life. This descent was voluntary, purposeful, and rooted in love. This emptying does not mean Christ ceased to be divine; it means He laid aside the use of His divine privileges for others' sake. He expressed His humility by becoming human, choosing servanthood, and accepting suffering. Obedience to the point of death Christ's humility reached its fullest expression in His obedience—accepting death on a cross, a form of execution reserved for the lowest and most despised. His obedience was not passive resignation but active commitment to God's redemptive purpose. God's response: exaltation Because Christ embraced this downward path, God exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name. The pattern is clear: humility leads to exaltation, service leads to honour, obedience leads to glory. This upward movement reveals how God values self‑giving love. What this means for us Philippians 2:5–9 teaches that Christ's mindset is not optional—it is the foundation of Christian life and community. Using Him as an example means: Choosing humility over self‑promotion. Christ had every right to assert His status but chose service instead. Prioritising others' good. His self‑emptying benefited humanity, showing that genuine love acts sacrificially. Embracing obedience. Christ followed the Father's will even when it demanded suffering, demonstrating that obedience is rooted in trust. Pursuing unity. Paul places this hymn within a call for believers to be of one mind, showing that Christlike humility is essential for harmony. To use Christ as an example is to adopt His posture: release the drive for status, embrace servanthood, and seek the good of others. His pattern becomes the blueprint for relationships, leadership, and community life. Summarising the topic Philippians 2:5–9 calls believers to internalise Christ's mindset—His humility, His self‑emptying, His obedience—and to let that mindset shape every interaction. Christ's descent and exaltation reveal the path God honours: lowering oneself in love so that others may be lifted.
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