Philippians 2:9-11 (Lee)

Philippians 1:9-11

Overview leading up to this passage:

Much of chapter 1 Paul talks about external conflicts:

His imprisonment,

Potentially dying in Prison for the gospel

The advancement of the gospel…even though he was in prison.

Paul is seeking for Christ to be honored in his body whether by life or by death

To live is Christ and to die is gain.

To stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel

They should not only believe in him, but also suffer for His sake.

At the end of Chapter 1:

Philippians 1:27–30 ESV

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

In chapter 2, Paul tells them how to act against internal conflicts in the body of Christ or how we should act within the body.

Specifically, Paul is press for unity, humility and love among believers

v.1 - “…Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

v.3 - “Do nothing from selfish ambition of conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

v.4 - Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Pride & Selfish ambition will destroy love among believers. Paul is asking the Philippians (and us today as the church) to not lift ourselves up, but to lift others up.

“Count others more significant”

“Consider the interests of others”

Where does this mind come from? Are we naturally going to have this mind?

v.5 - “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus (or “Which was also in Christ Jesus”).

It is the mind of Christ.

If we are in Christ, then are we going to automatically have this mind? This mind that counts other more significant and considers the interests of others.

Not necessarily. Paul wouldn’t need to direct them to this mind if it was automatic. It’s something we must strive toward. We must work toward unity.

Our image should be looking more and more like Christ. Although, we will inevitably fall short of this image.

Jesus set the perfect example for us to follow for humility:

v.6 - “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Thus far in chapter 2, the focus has been on the humility of Jesus and the humility we should have as followers of Jesus.

Philippians 2:9–11 “9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11

v.9 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

Jesus, the one who gave us the perfect example of humility and servanthood, was exalted.

Who did the Exalting?

God, the Father exalted him

John 17:5 “5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

Isaiah 52:13 “13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.”

Acts 2:33 “33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”

Hebrews 2:9 “9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”

Matthew 28:18–20 “18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

“… Christ did not crown himself, but his Father crowned him; he did not elevate himself to the throne of majesty, but his Father lifted him there, and placed him on his throne.” (Spurgeon)

Why did God exalt Jesus?

What is the Therefore there for?

Refer back to the previous verse, or set of verses about Jesus.

Philippians 2:6–8 “6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jesus was obedient to the point of death. He fulfilled the will of the Father by going to the cross.

Therefore, the Father chose to exalt him.

How much was Jesus exalted?

The words “highly exalted” are the translation of a Greek word which means “to exalt to the highest rank and power”

How was Jesus exalted?

“…and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name.”

What is the name that is above every name? Is it the earthly name, “Jesus”? or Lord?

Some say Lord is a title and not a name and that the name of Jesus (his earthly name) was highly exalted above all other names.

See v. 11 - Philippians 2:11 “11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus Christ is “Lord”.

Isaiah 45:23 “23 By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’”

Compared to

Philippians 2:10–11 “10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

In light of Isaiah, it seems like Paul is intending us to interpret as Yahweh, the God of Israel…through the substituting “at the name of Jesus” for the “to me” in the text, which refers to Yahweh.

Notice that in Isaiah, it is to Yahweh that all knees bow and tongues confess. In Philippians it is to Jesus, showing that Jesus is Yahweh.

We see humble obedience, then we exaltation.

Did Jesus provide us any examples where the humble will be exalted?

Matthew 23:11–12 “11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:9–11 “9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

Matthew 18:1–4 “1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 20:26–28 “26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

Proverbs 16:18 “18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 15:33 “33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”

The Beatitudes echo reminders that God exalts the humble:

Matthew 5:3–12 “3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

On the flip side, Jesus also had a lot of negative to say about the pride and self-exaltation of the religious leaders of the day.

James 4:6 “6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””

Consider David - A Sheppard, not even considered by his father when Samuel was looking for the King after Saul. He was anointed to be the King.

Regarding Jesus, “He might have used the miraculous powers inherent in His Divine nature in such a way as to compel men, without further ado, to worship Him as God. Instead of that He was willing to attain this high dignity by the path of humiliation, suffering and death.” (Kennedy)

v.10 - so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

v.11 - and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How many knees will bow to Jesus?

All - Obviously, this is not only believers or those who do it willfully on this earth.

In Heaven - Heavenly beings, angels and demons.

On Earth - Those who are living on earth

Under the earth - probably those who have dies before.

How do these verses supplement the call to humility in the previous verses?

We shouldn’t boast or hope in ourselves, but rather, we should boast or hope in the one who has the name above all names.

Jesus was not self-centered, but his focus was on doing the will of the Father and the Father exalted Jesus. Likewise, our focus should be on Jesus and doing his will and Jesus will raise us up to be with Him. As Paul said in chapter 1, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” Although, it all starts with humility and a heart willing to submit to the authority of Christ.

Paul is calling the Philippians to obedience, in chapter 1 and again after these verses.

Live in obedience to Jesus as Jesus set the example and lived in obedience to the Father.

Tara - sick, feel better

Children’s camp

Gray family - school situation

Wyatt - Anxiety