READING TIME: 2-4 MINUTES
February 3, 2020
What did Paul mean in Philippians 2:7 when he wrote that Christ “emptied Himself”?
Philippians 2:7: “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (NASB).
Unfortunately, many systematic theologians unnecessarily overcomplicate the meaning of “emptied” in this verse. The theological term “kenosis” comes from the Greek verb used here.
Paul wasn’t even making a “theological point” here, but an extremely practical point. In Phil 1:12-18, Paul had demonstrated his refusal to let external circumstances control his attitudes. Because the Philippians were enduring external opposition (1:27-30), Paul encouraged them to have mutual consideration based on supernatural, objective realities that have already occurred in their own experience (2:1). For us to endure unity amid opposition, we have to remember Jesus comes first, others second, and ourselves last. To illustrate the humility and selflessness the Philippians should have, Paul gave Christ as the ultimate example (2:5-8) and two human leaders, Timothy and Epaphroditus as further examples of a selfless and humble attitude (2:19-30).
When Paul wrote that Jesus emptied Himself (Phil 2:7), he meant that He took upon Himself an additional nature (he added humanity to deity), so the emptying was not an exchange, but an addition of a human nature, along with its human limitations. Paul used the term “emptied” in a metaphorical sense, not in a metaphysical sense. The two phrases following “He emptied Himself” explain the nature of the emptying; they explain how this emptying took place and what it means. Therefore, ironically, being “made nothing” meant adding humanity to deity rather than subtracting deity from His person.
The following English translations make the correct link (by adding the vital word “by”) between the verb “emptied” and the two following adverbial phrases:
“Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man” (CSB)
“but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (ESV).
“but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature” (NET Bible).
“rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (NIV).
The “emptying” involved a change of status and role, not the giving up or laying aside of essential nature or attributes. This fits in with Paul’s purpose in the context. Paul tried to convince the Philippian believers that they should be humble and put others’ interests before their own by using Jesus as a prime example. Paul was not asking the Philippian believers to lay aside any essential attributes but he was asking them to imitate Jesus by placing others’ interests first.
Several parallels have been found between the servant in Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Christ in this passage. These include the language of a servant (Phil 2:7; Is 53:12), the exaltation of the servant (Phil 2:9; Is 52:13), the form of the servant (Phil 2:7; Is 52:14), the humiliation of the servant (Phil 2:8; Is 53:3–4), “therefore” God exalted the servant (Phil 2:9; Is 53:12), and “he emptied himself” while the servant “poured out his life unto death” (Phil 2:7; Is 53:12).
Sources Used
Ash, Anthony Lee. Philippians, Colossians & Philemon. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1994. The College Press NIV Commentary.
Fee, Gordon D. Philippians. Vol. 11. Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 1999. Print. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series.
Greenlee, J. Harold. An Exegetical Summary of Philippians. 2nd ed. Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2008.
Hansen, G. Walter. The Letter to the Philippians. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.
Horne, Charles M. “Let This Mind Be In You: Exposition of Philippians 2:5–11.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 3.2 (1960): 38-39.
Kennedy, H.A.A. “The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians.” The Expositor’s Greek Testament: Commentary. Vol. 3. New York: George H. Doran Company, 437.
Keown, Mark J. Philippians. Ed. H. Wayne House, W. Hall Harris III, and Andrew W. Pitts. Vol. 1. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017. Evangelical Exegetical Commentary.
Loh, I-Jin, and Eugene Albert Nida. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. New York: United Bible Societies, 1995. UBS Handbook Series.
MacLeod, David J. “Imitating the Incarnation of Christ: An Exposition of Philippians 2:5–8.” Bibliotheca Sacra 158 (2001): 320.
Melick, Richard R. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Vol. 32. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991. The New American Commentary.
O’Brien, Peter Thomas. The Epistle to the Philippians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1991. New International Greek Testament Commentary.