Philippians 2:5-8

"5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 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"

Intro

This passage gives groundwork for why believers are to remain in unity and servanthood. Verses 5-8 are the culmination of the preceding chapter one. Christ's example is the example the Philippian believers are to have with each other and the surrounding hostile environment. Instead of fighting and discord due to pride and anger toward one another, Christ's example is the cornerstone for unity during an onslaught of persecution and theological battles.

V.5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

The word for mind φρονέω means to have an opinion with regard to something, think, form/hold an opinion, judge or to develop an attitude based on careful thought, be minded/disposed.

Paul is about to dive into how the believer can attain unity, through following the example of Christ Jesus.

v.6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped

Grasped- ἁρπαγμὸν- The root word meaning is robbery. This word is a noun in the accusative singular case; it sheds light on modern translations for the word “grasped.” We can translate the word as "snatched" or "taken." Christ did not consider his equality with God as something to be taken or snatched. Instead, he let it go for the sake of suffering for his people

Christ did not use his equility with God and keep it for himself. Rather, he laid down his life for his people.

v.7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men

emptied himself- ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν-There is a lot of debate about "emptied himself," but this is the crux of Paul's argument to the Philippian believers. The clause is a metaphor or a figure of speech. "This verb regularly means to become powerless, or to be emptied of significance"17 As a figure of speech, this verse means that Christ "poured himself out" for the sake of his people.

Being born in the likeness of men- σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος- essentially "being born in the likeness of men" is in contrast to being in the "form of God." As Walter Hansen notes, "The meaning of the word form here is the outward appearance that reveals the inward nature; the same meaning of the word is expressed in the phrase the form of God"18 Christ became a servant and incarnated himself into humanity to serve humanity. The word σχήματι is a noun in the dative singular and combined with ἐν; it can translate "incarnate" by taking on the likeness of men, he became a man. He embodied the whole aspect of humankind in every way.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross

ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος "while being in human form" he humbled himself, "ἐταπείνωσεν." These words together make a point of humility all the more potent. In the prior verse, "ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν" he emptied himself of all the power of equality with God to take on human form. Now, ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος having taken on the condition of humanity, Christ "ἐταπείνωσεν" humbled himself even further. Going from equality with God to humbling himself to the point of death, even death on the cross. Paul is making the point that not only did Christ become a man, but He also went a step further and died on the cross.

θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ- This is the phrase "even death on a cross." Christ was obedient to dying a shameful death on a cross. Paul is emphasizing the level of humility that Christ engaged. "In a context like this, used with the repeated word θανάτου' death', it makes its phrase emphatic…and calls attention to the kind of death"19 Paul is emphasizing the level of "ἐταπείνωσεν" that Christ entered into to bring salvation for his people.

Illustration

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Greater Love Has No One …

Various persons have observed that no one has any more religion than he or she can demonstrate in an emergency. This was certainly true of Arland D. Williams, Jr., a bank examiner with the Federal Reserve System in Atlanta, who was aboard the ill-fated Boeing 737 that crashed in the frigid Potomac River shortly after taking off from Washington’s National Airport, January 13, 1982.

Identification of the hero was announced in June of 1983. Representatives from the Coast Guard said when a helicopter lowered a line to survivors, Williams indicated he was trapped (it was later discovered his seat belt was jammed) and passed “the line on to other injured persons.” By his not grabbing the rescue line, thus saving valuable time, other passengers were saved.

In presenting the medal to Williams’s mother, Virginia L. Williams, Mattoon, Illinois, his teenage son, Arland D. Williams, III, and daughter, Leslie Ann Williams, President Reagan said: “You can live with tremendous pride in your father.” (Read John 15:13).

Application

When we feel that we are stretching ourselves, we need to look at the way of Christ. He humbled himself 3 levels, became a man, then died, then also died on the cross the most humilitating death.

This level of humility and sacrifice is the key component to unity within the church.