The Strand Study Bible

Written From Rome During Paul’s First Roman Imprisonment

1984

PHILIPPIANS

first accepts the fact that Jesus is God (Jn 8:24, Gen 1:1c , Rom 10:9 and I Jn 5:1). 2:6c This word ( robbery ) is the Greek word cDUSDJPοQ ( harpagmon ) and means “ to snatch or to clutch .” Meaning: Jesus did not regard His equality with Deity as something to be held unto, but as something to be relinquished for the redemption of man ( I Cor 15:28 ). He did not clutch at His equality with God as if to hug it jealously to Himself. There was nothing to be jealous about –He was already God! 2:6d Before entering the womb of Mary CHRIST had been in total “equality” with the other two Persons of the Triune Godhead in every aspect (Jn 5:18). However, since the price tag for Hell was eternal, Jesus was willing to surrender certain aspects of His eternal authority with the other two persons of Deity ( Mt 27:46 and Mk 15:34a ) in order to save humanity for all eternity. Thus, due to the eternal cost of sin Jesus will not only be “subjected” (confined) to a resurrected body for all eternity future, but He will also “subject” Himself to the other two Persons within the Triune Godhead ( I Cor 15:28 ). NOTE – Jesus never sacrificed His deity (His equality of essence) at Calvary, only certain aspects of His eternal authority with the other two Persons of the Triune Godhead ( Phil 2:6c and Jn 20:17c ). 2:7 a This whole slew of words ( made himself of no reputation ) comes from the Greek word ’ HNHQZσHQ ( ekenosen ), which is related to the Greek word kenosis, and means “ emptying .” Jesus emptied Himself by veiling His deity in human form and submitting Himself to the will of another, namely the Father. That is, Jesus voluntarily emptied himself of his privileges as God by laying aside the emblem of deity and subjecting himself to human limitations by putting on the housecoat of humanity. He took on the powerlessness of a human being in order to share humanity’s suffering, to feel humanity’s temptation, and to deliver humanity from Satan (Mk 13:32) by becoming our sacrificial Lamb ( Gen 22:8 a and Jn 1:14,29a ). 2:7 b CHRIST had to become human ( and was made in the likeness of men ) in order to qualify as the One who by His death could lift fallen humanity to the dignity in which God originally created it. NOTE – According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus lowered His standard of “likeness” in order to save humanity, that is, He was spirit (Jn 4:24) and He became flesh (Heb 2:16-17). What He didn’t lower when He came to us, however, was His standard of “living” (Jn 8:1-11) and His standard of “love” (Lk 9:49-56 and Jn 13:34-35). Jesus expects people to ascend to His level of “living” and His level of “love” once they get saved. If we’re going to run with Christ, we’re going to have to ascend to His standard of “living” and His standard of “love,” and not expect Him to descend to ours. We are called to become Jesus-like (Phil 2:5) in orderliness (Lk 4:16), which includes cleanliness (both physically and spiritually - Jn 13:1-8), holiness (Mk 8:31-33), and faithfulness (Lk 9:37-41 & 24:25-27). We need to think again if we think Jesus will lower His standard of “living” and His standard of “love” in order to fellowship with us. He will not. If He didn’t do it for His apostles, He won’t do it for us. 2:8 To think that God would humble Himself ( Psa 113:6 ) and become a part of his own creation in order to save it from the penalty of sin is simply beyond human comprehension ( Jn 4:24 a ). 2:9 Because of His submission, humility and obedience (vs 8), CHRIST has been highly exalted by both the FATHER and the SPIRIT , and has earned the right to become sovereign over everything (i.e., He’s been given a name that is above every name - Eph 1:20-21 and Heb 1:4). No wonder the other two Persons of the Triune Godhead are so taken with Christ. Submission is always the “key” to power ( Mt 28:18 , Gen 16:1-9-12 and Heb 13:17 ). 2:10 The day will come when Christ shall bend by force the knees that would not bow from desire, and shut the mouths that would not give the tongue to sing His praise (Rom 3:19). We would be wise to “kneel” now, while His wrath is held in check by His patience (Psa 2:10-12). 2:11 Someday every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD (Rom 14:9-12). However, not every tongue will confess Him as Savior. Which means, you can make CHRIST your Lord without ever making Him your Savior (Mt 7:21-23), but you cannot make Him your Savior without first making Him your Lord (Rom 10:9,13 and Isa 45:21-23). Jesus said in John 8:24, “ …for if ye believe not that I AM (Jehovah; Lord), ye shall die in your sins .” John said in I John 5:1, “ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the CHRIST ( Jehovah; Lord – Mic 5:2) is born of God .” NOTE –The Bible does not teach Lordship salvation (i.e., that we are to make Jesus the Lord of our life in order to be saved). The Bible simply teaches us that we are to acknowledge Jesus as Lord if we are to be saved (Lk 23:39-43). 2:12a There are some post-Jewish MESSIANIC movements that have tried to use the last half of this Scripture ( work out your own salvation with fear and trembling ) to prove that “works” are essential to keeping one’s salvation. They are not. This verse is speaking to believers ( my beloved ) who already have salvation, not believers who are in need of salvation ( Exo 14:13,30-31 , Jonah 2:9 , Jn 5:29 and Titus 3:5 a ). NOTE – Christians cannot lose their salvation ( Gal 3:1-3 ). That would contradict Paul’s teaching on eternal security ( Phil 1:6 , II Tim 1:12 and Eph 1:13-14 & 4:30 ) as well as Jesus’ ( Jn 10:28-29 ). 2:12b The Philippian Christians didn’t need Paul in order to live godly lives ( not as in my presence only ); they didn’t need an accountability partner to keep them right if they had learned how to “rule” themselves ( Isa 1:17 ). If you cannot rule yourself, then for God’s sake, put yourself under someone else’s rule, for you will ruin your life if you fail to rule your life. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: A lack of rule spells “ruin” 2:12c What Paul is saying here is, “Since born-again believers are already on their way to Heaven, they ought to act like it and work out their salvation (show the world on the outside, what took place on the inside) (I Cor 6:9a and Jms 2:14b,16,18,21,25). Good works are the result of salvation, not the cause of salvation. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck in The Bible Knowledge Commentary note: They were told to “work out,” to put into practice in their daily living, what God had worked in them by His Spirit. They were not told to work for their salvation but to work out the salvation God had already given them. 1

1 John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary , USA, Scripture Press Pub., 1983 Print.