In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(A)

Who, being in very nature[a] God,(B)
    did not consider equality with God(C) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(D)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(E)
    being made in human likeness.(F)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(G)
        even death on a cross!(H)

Therefore God exalted him(I) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(J)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(K)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(L)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(M)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

(A)Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, (B)being in the form of God, did not consider it [a]robbery to be equal with God, (C)but [b]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form (D)of a bondservant, and (E)coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and (F)became (G)obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (H)Therefore God also (I)has highly exalted Him and (J)given Him the name which is above every name, 10 (K)that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and (L)that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or something to be held onto to be equal
  2. Philippians 2:7 emptied Himself of His privileges

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,[a]
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
    he took the humble position of a slave[c]
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2:6 Or Being in the form of God.
  2. 2:7a Greek he emptied himself.
  3. 2:7b Or the form of a slave.
  4. 2:7c Some English translations put this phrase in verse 8.

Be Unselfish Like Christ

In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

Christ himself was like God in everything.
    But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit.
But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.
    He was born as a man
    and became like a servant.
And when he was living as a man,
    he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God,
    even when that caused his death—death on a cross.
So God raised him to the highest place.
    God made his name greater than every other name
10 so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus—
    everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
11 And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
    and bring glory to God the Father.

Read full chapter

5-8 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

9-11 Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

Read full chapter