Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5–11 contains one of the most theologically rich and hotly debated hymns in all of Pauline literature—a majestic descent-and-ascent narrative tracing Christ’s voluntary humiliation and subsequent exaltation. Here, Paul unveils the mystery of the Incarnation: the Tri-Omni God—omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent—set aside His divine prerogatives, not His divinity, and took on the form of a doulos (slave), choosing obedience even unto death on a Roman cross. From the highest glory to the deepest shame, Jesus redefined what true honor looks like: not self-exaltation, but self-emptying. He, the God-man, washed feet and bore sin, not to secure status, but to elevate the lowly in grace. In response, God highly exalted Him, bestowing upon Him the Name above every name—not despite His humility, but because of it.