Interpretation of the Bible / Philippians 2:6-8
In Philippians 2, Paul encourages the Philippians to be humble and to consider others better than themselves. He uses the example of Christ, who, although He was God, humbled Himself and became obedient to the will of the Father even to the point of dying on the cross.
Being in very nature God
Philippians 2:6 speaks of the humility of Jesus Christ and His willingness to give up His divine status for the sake of humanity. The verse begins, “Being in very nature God…,” which means that Jesus existed before His incarnation as one of the persons of the Trinity, that is, as God Himself. However, despite His divine status, Jesus chose not to view equality with God as something to which He should adhere.
Rather, he made Himself
In Philippians 2:7, the phrase “Rather, he made Himself” may refer to the fact that Jesus had eternal glory as the Son of God, but gave it up out of love for humanity. He gave up His divine nature to take on the form of a human servant. This act not only demonstrates His love for all humanity, but also shows that we must be willing to sacrifice our own comfort and convenience for the sake of others.
Jesus took the form of a servant
When Jesus became like men, He took on human form and assumed the role of a servant. This meant that He not only gave of Himself to the needs of men as a servant would, but He also did His utmost to serve others in love by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and teaching the truth.
Humbled Himself
In Philippians 2:8, Paul emphasizes the humiliation of Christ when He became a man and His obedience to the point of death. It is important to note that humiliation was not something forced upon Christ, but rather a conscious choice He made.
Christ chose to give up His heavenly glory to come to earth as a man and experience pain, suffering, and human limitations. He knew that His obedience to the Father’s plan would mean His death on the cross, but He chose to submit to God’s will anyway.
Conformity in our lives
Christ’s example in Philippians 2:6-8 has important implications for our daily lives. It shows us that humility and obedience are fundamental in our relationships with God and with others.
Humility allows us to realize that we are not superior to anyone, that we need the help of others, and that we must consider the needs and desires of others. Obedience, on the other hand, means that we are willing to give up our ambitions and desires in order to follow God’s will.
We can apply these principles in our relationships with others, especially during times of conflict or disagreement. It is important that we treat others with respect and consideration, and that we are willing to compromise and make allowances for the sake of healthy relationships.
Moreover, Christ’s example also shows us the importance of perseverance in difficult times. Death on the cross was the most difficult and painful moment for Christ, but He went on because He knew that He was following God's will.