Philippians 2:7-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philippians 2:1-11

The apostle proceeds in this chapter where he left off in the last, with further exhortations to Christian duties. He presses them largely to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, in conformity to the example of the Lord Jesus, the great pattern of humility and love. Here we may observe, I. The great gospel precept passed upon us; that is, to love one another. This is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family. This he represents (Phil. 2:2) by being... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 2:5-11

2:5-11 Have within yourselves the same disposition of mind as was in Christ Jesus, for he was by nature in the very form of God, yet he did not regard existence in equality with God as something to be snatched at, but he emptied himself, and took the very form of a slave, and became like men. And when he came in appearance as a man for all to recognise, he became obedient even to the extent of accepting death, even the death of a cross. And for that reason God exalted him, and granted to him... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 2:5-11

It is always to be remembered that when Paul thought and spoke about Jesus, his interest and his intention were never primarily intellectual and speculative; they were always practical. To him theology and action were always bound together. Any system of thought must necessarily become a way of life. In many ways this passage is one of the greatest reaches of theological thought in the New Testament, but its aim was to persuade the Philippians to live a life in which disunity, discord, and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:11 is one of the most important verses in the New Testament. In it we read that the aim of God, is a day when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. These four words were the first creed that the Christian Church ever had. To be a Christian was to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (compare Romans 10:9 ). This was a simple creed, yet all-embracing. Perhaps we would do well to go back to it. Later men tried to define more closely what it meant and argued and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:7

But made himself of no reputation ,.... Or "nevertheless emptied himself"; not of that fulness of grace which was laid up in him from everlasting, for with this he appeared when he was made flesh, and dwelt among men; nor of the perfections of his divine nature, which were not in the least diminished by his assumption of human nature, for all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily; though he took that which he had not before, he lost nothing of what he had; the glory of his divine... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man ,.... Not that he had only the show and appearance of a man, but he was really a man; for "as" here, denotes not merely the likeness of a thing, but the thing itself, as in Matthew 14:5 , ως here, answers to the Hebrew כ , which is sometimes by the Jews F11 Vid. Kimchi in Josh. iii. 4. said to be כף הדמיון , and signifies likeness, and sometimes כף האמתות , and designs truth and reality; which is the sense in which the particle is to be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 2:7

But made himself of no reputation - Ἑαυτον εκενωσε· He emptied himself - did not appear in his glory, for he assumed the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of man. And his being made in the likeness of man, and assuming the form of a servant, was a proof that he had emptied himself - laid aside the effulgence of his glory. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man - Και σχηματι εὑρεθεις ὡς ανθρωπος . This clause should be joined to the preceding, and thus translated: Being made in the likeness of man, and was found in fashion as a man. He humbled himself - Laid himself as low as possible: In emptying himself - laying aside the effulgence of his glory. In being incarnate - taking upon him the human form. In becoming a servant - assuming the lowest innocent character, that of being the servant of all. ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 2:7

Verse 7 7Emptied himself. This emptying is the same as the abasement, as to which we shall see afterwards. The expression, however, is used, ευμφατικωτέρως, (more emphatically,) to mean, — being brought to nothing. Christ, indeed, could not divest himself of Godhead; but he kept it concealed for a time, that it might not be seen, under the weakness of the flesh. Hence he laid aside his glory in the view of men, not by lessening it, but by concealing it. It is asked, whether he did this as man?... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 2:8

Verse 8 8He became obedient. Even this was great humility — that from being Lord he became a servant; but he says that he went farther than this, because, while he was not only immortal, but the Lord of life and death, he nevertheless became obedient to his Father, even so far as to endure death. This was extreme abasement, especially when we take into view the kind of death, which he immediately adds, with the view of enhancing it. (110) For by dying in this manner he was not only covered with... read more

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