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Philippians 2:6-11
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Philippians 2:6-11
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
6 Who,[a] though he was in the form of God,(A)
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.[b]
7 Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;[c]
and found human in appearance,(B)
8 he humbled himself,(C)
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.[d]
9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name[e]
that is above every name,(D)
10 that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,[f]
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(E)
11 and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,[g]
to the glory of God the Father.(F)
Obedience and Service in the World.[h]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2:6–11 Perhaps an early Christian hymn quoted here by Paul. The short rhythmic lines fall into two parts, Phil 2:6–8 where the subject of every verb is Christ, and Phil 2:9–11 where the subject is God. The general pattern is thus of Christ’s humiliation and then exaltation. More precise analyses propose a division into six three-line stanzas (Phil 2:6; 7abc, 7d–8, 9, 10, 11) or into three stanzas (Phil 2:6–7ab, 7cd–8, 9–11). Phrases such as even death on a cross (Phil 2:8c) are considered by some to be additions (by Paul) to the hymn, as are Phil 2:10c, 11c.
- 2:6 Either a reference to Christ’s preexistence and those aspects of divinity that he was willing to give up in order to serve in human form, or to what the man Jesus refused to grasp at to attain divinity. Many see an allusion to the Genesis story: unlike Adam, Jesus, though…in the form of God (Gn 1:26–27), did not reach out for equality with God, in contrast with the first Adam in Gn 3:5–6.
- 2:7 Taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness: or “…taking the form of a slave. Coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance.” While it is common to take Phil 2:6, 7 as dealing with Christ’s preexistence and Phil 2:8 with his incarnate life, so that lines Phil 2:7b, 7c are parallel, it is also possible to interpret so as to exclude any reference to preexistence (see note on Phil 2:6) and to take Phil 2:6–8 as presenting two parallel stanzas about Jesus’ human state (Phil 2:6–7b; 7cd–8); in the latter alternative, coming in human likeness begins the second stanza and parallels 6a to some extent.
- 2:8 There may be reflected here language about the servant of the Lord, Is 52:13–53:12 especially Is 53:12.
- 2:9 The name: “Lord” (Phil 2:11), revealing the true nature of the one who is named.
- 2:10–11 Every knee should bend…every tongue confess: into this language of Is 45:23 there has been inserted a reference to the three levels in the universe, according to ancient thought, heaven, earth, under the earth.
- 2:11 Jesus Christ is Lord: a common early Christian acclamation; cf. 1 Cor 12:3; Rom 10:9. But doxology to God the Father is not overlooked here (Phil 2:11c) in the final version of the hymn.
- 2:12–18 Paul goes on to draw out further ethical implications for daily life (Phil 2:14–18) from the salvation God works in Christ.
Philippians 2:6-11
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Philippians 2:6-11
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:6-11
Good News Translation
Philippians 2:6-11
Good News Translation
6 He always had the nature of God,
but he did not think that by force he should try to remain[a] equal with God.
7 Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had,
and took the nature of a servant.
He became like a human being
and appeared in human likeness.
8 He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—
his death on the cross.
9 For this reason God raised him to the highest place above
and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.
10 (A)And so, in honor of the name of Jesus
all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below[b]
will fall on their knees,
11 and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Footnotes
- Philippians 2:6 remain; or become.
- Philippians 2:10 It was thought that the dead continued to exist in a dark world under the ground.
Philippians 2:6-11
New American Standard Bible
Philippians 2:6-11
New American Standard Bible
6 who, as He already (A)existed in the (B)form of God, (C)did not consider equality with God something to be [a]grasped, 7 but [b](D)emptied Himself by taking the form of a (E)bond-servant and [c](F)being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, (G)He humbled Himself by becoming (H)obedient to the point of death: (I)death [d]on a cross. 9 (J)For this reason also God (K)highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him (L)the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus (M)every knee will bow, of (N)those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is (O)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Philippians 2:6 Or seized
- Philippians 2:7 I.e., set aside His divine rights
- Philippians 2:7 Or having come to be
- Philippians 2:8 Lit of
Philippians 2:6-11
New International Version
Philippians 2:6-11
New International Version
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,(A)
did not consider equality with God(B) something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing(C)
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(D)
being made in human likeness.(E)
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death(F)—
even death on a cross!(G)
Footnotes
- Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
- Philippians 2:7 Or the form
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
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Good News Translation (GNT) 
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