Who is Jesus? · Teleios
Step 4 of 11
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What does "being in the form of God" mean in Philippians 2?
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Read the verses around it (Philippians 2:5-11)
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Read the verses around it (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)
24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Think first
Philippians 2:5 starts with "Let this mind be in you." Why would Paul use this passage to teach believers how to think?
Show the explanation
Our explanation
Paul writes: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant."
Notice the purpose: Paul is teaching humility. Jesus reflected his Father's character perfectly, yet he did not grab at equality with God. Instead he "humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Then "God also hath highly exalted him."
If Jesus were already God, he could not be exalted by God. And Paul writes elsewhere that at the end "shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."
Our understanding: Philippians 2 describes a man who had God's character, chose the lowest place, and was raised by God to the highest. Read verses 1-11 together and ask what "this mind" asks of us.
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