Phil 2:5-11

2. Phil 2:5-11 Key: Fee calls this section “the manual”. “The ultimate paradigm of a genuinely Christian mind set is Christ himself, who is the premier manifestation of the character of God, which God is trying to reproduce in his people so that they might also thereby be truly human.” Gordon Fee Philippians p. 90

3. Made himself nothing • Jesus’ making himself nothing presupposes his deity • Jesus emptied himself by assuming the nature of a servant • “The mystery of the incarnation begins to unfold • Jesus, the second member of the Trinity, does not lay aside his deity. God cannot divorce himself from his very nature. Rather, Jesus’ emptying himself must be seen in the fact the he as God poured himself into the mould of servant.” (P.1103 - David Demchuk, Life in the Spirit Commentary “Phillipians)

4. Nature of a slave/servant • Not the appearance of a slave but he was very much a slave Made in human likeness • a further definition for emptying himself • Greek “being made” (ginomai) contrasts with another word that is u sed earlier in v. 6 hyparcho (means “to exist”) • Suggests Christ existed from eternity and implies a coming into being or a becoming

5. “Likeness”homoioma - an ambiguous term - perhaps deliberately in that Christ was similar to human beings but not identical in every respect - like a human being but like God he was without sin - reinforcing that He who was God has now become man • humbled himself • V. 8 a microcosm of the life and ministry of Jesus appearing he humbles himself further to the point of death on a cross • Human to God humbling enough but then was born in relative insignificance and died a cruel death on a cross

6. Look to Sacrifice • obedient to death even death on a cross • out of this sacrifice comes his exaltation • Steps of Jesus abasement were with one act of God exalting him to the highest place • Paul has the resurrection and ascension in mind/- “”God’s act of vindication for the Savior.” (DemchukLife in the Spirit P. 1104)

7. Word “Exalt” = “above” (hyper) combined with exalt (hypsoo) • Jesus used the same word in John 12:32 “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” • Paul’s intent is to show that insofar as Christ stooped so low, he has been exalted so high that he has the glorious rank of equality with God. • Exaltation related to God’s gift of a name • biblical names do not just identify people but reveal something of their character

8. Name above every name an allusion to the Jewish tradition of using other names for God • They weren’t to speak his name. • Word used for giving is charizomai “an act of giving that centres on God’s Grace (charis). • The grace of God - the sum of all the blessings that come as a result of his death and exaltation - come to us only because God first ‘graced’ Jesus with his exalted name and position ” (Demchuk Life in the Spirit p. 1104)

9. Every knee to bow and tongue confess • “At the name of Jesus” is the name that is given to Jesus - that is Lord - the very name of God. • Normal posture of prayer in NT is standing so the bowing indicates deep submission and respect. • Picture is also future oriented, because not every knee has yet bowed to the Lordship of Christ - this is part of the “already/not yet” tension in Paul. • Paul realizes that some were bowing to another Lord - Caesar - but one day all will bow to the true Lord Jesus

10. “The entire picture Paul paints here of Christ - from his pre-existence, through to his incarnation, to his exaltation - brings glory to God. • God’s ultimate purpose was to reconcile humankind to himself; and in what Paul calls (lit.) “the fullness of time” (cf. Gal. 4:4), Christ came to fulfill God’s purpose in history.” (Demchuk Life in the Spirit p.1105) • He is the one who heals/saves you • How does this tie in? • People have argued that in the bible the word saved also means heal and why not see if this is accurate here is what I found.

11. Words translated Save - Hebrew • 2421 - to live, keep alive, certainly give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken,, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, save (alive, life, lives), surely, be whole • 7495 - rapha or raphah (pronounced (rawfaw)) to mend (by stitching) to cure - cure (cause to) heal, physician, repair, thoroughly make whole.

12. Words translated Save - Greek • 2323 - therapeuo (pronounced ther-ap-yoo-o) - to wait upon menially, to adore [God]; or specifically to relieve (of disease) -cure, heal, worship • 2390 iaomai (pronounced ee-ah-on-ahee) to cure, (lit. of fig) - heal, make whole • 2392 - iasis (pronounced ee'-as-is) curing (the act) - cure - healing

13. Words translated Save - Greek • 1295 - diasozo - heal/save - to save thoroughly, to cure, preserve, rescue,etc: - bring safe, escape (safe), heal, make perfecly whole, save • 4982 - sozo (pronounced sodezo) to save, i.e. deliver or protect (lit. or fig.) - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole majority of "save/saved" references in the NT • 4991 - soteria (pronounced sotayreeah - rescue or safety - deliver, health, salvation, save, saving