2:5-8 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
2:5-8 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
Paul is exhorting Christians here to think of themselves as Christ thought of Himself (cp Php 2:1-4; Ro 12:3; 15:1-3; Ga 5:13; 1Pe 5:5).
Christians are to live in humility toward others, esteeming them as being more important than ourselves. Christ had equal status with God from all eternity (cp Jn 1:1-3; 10:30; 17:5; Ro 9:5; Col 2:8-9; 1Ti 3:16; Tit 2:13; 2Pe 1:1-2; 1Jn 1:1-3).
But when He entered the human race at His incarnation, Jesus surrendered all the privileges of deity - "He made Himself of no reputation" - and took upon Himself the form of a servant.
Php 2:5-8 does not teach as so many in the church believe, that at His incarnation Jesus renounced His Deity , or that His humanity displaced Deity in His personality. Rather, it teaches that He took upon Himself, in addition to His divinity, self abnegation and humility.
During His earthly life Jesus did not claim any special privileges. Instead He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death - the worst kind of death: crucifixion (cp Php 2:7-8; with Psa 22:6; 40:6-8; Isa 42:1-4; 53:1-12; Mt 26:36-39, 42, 44; Jn 10:17-18; Ro 5:19; He 5:5-8).
Because of His obedience unto death, God has exalted Jesus above every other created being, both living and dead (cp Php 2:9-11). See also comments on Mt 1:18-21, 3:16-17; Lk 1:35 (B); Jn 1:1, 5:16-23, 12:41; Ac 13:33, 20:28, Col 2:9; 1Ti 3:16; He 1:5, 5:5; 1Jn 5:6-9; Rev 1:8.