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

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

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Footnotes

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

19 For God was pleased(A) to have all his fullness(B) dwell in him,

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For in Christ all the fullness(A) of the Deity lives in bodily form,

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For there is one God(A) and one mediator(B) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,(C)

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God’s Final Word: His Son

In the past God spoke(A) to our ancestors through the prophets(B) at many times and in various ways,(C) but in these last days(D) he has spoken to us by his Son,(E) whom he appointed heir(F) of all things, and through whom(G) also he made the universe.(H) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory(I) and the exact representation of his being,(J) sustaining all things(K) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,(L) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.(M) So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.(N)

The Son Superior to Angels

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father”[a]?(O)

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”[b]?(P)

And again, when God brings his firstborn(Q) into the world,(R) he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c](S)

In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire.”[d](T)

But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;(U)
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions(V)
    by anointing you with the oil(W) of joy.”[e](X)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7
  2. Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13
  3. Hebrews 1:6 Deut. 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)
  4. Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4
  5. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7

20 We know also that the Son of God has come(A) and has given us understanding,(B) so that we may know him who is true.(C) And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.(D)

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