7. The Emptying of Christ; Philippians 2:5–8

Let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, 7 but emptied Himself, having taken the form of a servant, having been made in the likeness of men, 8 and in fashion having been found as a man, He humbled Himself, having become obedient unto death—even death of a cross.
Philippians 2:5–8

This passage is commonly presented as one of the key testimonies of the (conscious) pre-existence of Jesus Christ. The presupposition being that “being in the form of God” refers to the time before Jesus’ birth. Let us examine the claim based on this passage more closely.

Mindset the subject

These verses must not be disconnected from their context. ‘Mindset’ was the subject in the preceding verses (2:2–4), and this continues in verse 5, where the mindset of Christ Jesus is presented as an example to the Philippians.

In the original, it is noteworthy that the mindset of Christ Jesus is expressed three times in the so-called aorist tense. This verb form emphasizes the fact of Christ Jesus’ mindset, regardless of time. (1) He considers it not robbery to be equal with God, (2) He empties Himself, and (3) He humbles Himself. These facts demonstrate the mindset of Christ Jesus.

Being in the form of God

The question arises: what does it mean that Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God? Does this refer to Christ Jesus’ current position in which He, as the Exalted One, is the Image of God? After all, He did not claim that honor for Himself (on the contrary!), let alone seize it. That honor was granted to Him by God!

However, in view of the order in Paul’s enumeration, it is more plausible to read the phrase “being in the form of God” (though in the present tense) as the condition that preceded His emptying. But does this automatically mean that “being in the form of God” refers to the time before His birth, as is commonly concluded? Certainly not! We must not overlook the fact that Christ Jesus, by virtue of His Divine begetting, was “the only begotten Son of God.” Is that not a Divine form? John notes concerning the Word of God that became flesh: we beheld His glory, a glory as of an only begotten of the Father (John 1:14).

Emptying and Humbling

What it means that Christ Jesus emptied Himself is not left to our guesswork. The meaning is stated immediately after: “having taken the form of a servant.” Christ exchanged the form of God for that of “the form of a servant.”

Hebrews 5:8 says that although He was the Son, He learned obedience through the things He suffered. Instead of presenting Himself as the rightful Son, He exchanged that “rank” for that of a servant. In doing so, He took on the outward appearance of any other man. Hence: “having been made in the likeness of men.” Of course, He was and is truly man (1 Tim. 2:5), but by laying aside His unique glory, a servant was seen. He “became poor, although being rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). This characterizes the mindset of Christ Jesus. He made Himself completely available and said: “Lo, I come, (in the roll of the book it hath been written concerning Me,) to do, O God, Thy will…” (Heb. 10:7).

What is called ‘emptying’ in verse 7, is called ‘humbling’ in verse 8. And what in verse 7 is described as “having taken the form of a servant,” is in verse 8 “having become obedient unto death—even death of a cross.” Verses 7 and 8 run parallel—they say the same, but in different words. Isaiah 53:12 speaks prophetically of the Messiah:

“Therefore I allot to Him a portion among many, And with the strong He doth apportion spoil, Because that He poured out to death His soul, And with transgressors He was numbered, And He the sin of many hath borne, And for transgressors He intercedeth.”

Here too we see: the emptying (“He poured out to death His soul”) is equivalent to Christ’s utter humiliation.

For the unique Son of God, it was a humiliation to become obedient as a servant and to drink the cup of suffering that God handed Him to the last drop. “Not My will, but Thine be done.” While moments earlier an entire detachment of Roman soldiers fell to the ground in awe in the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:6), He then made Himself available to be taken captive. And to be condemned in absolute innocence to the death penalty—even death of a cross. This was the path God showed Him, and which He, as an obedient servant, willingly followed.

Incarnation not an act of Christ but of God

In this passage, there is nothing that compels us to think of a description of the pre-existence of Christ Jesus. It speaks of the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:6), who, as the Son of God, willingly took the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto the death of the cross. The idea that the incarnation of Christ Jesus was an act initiated by Himself is not found in Scripture. God begat Him, and in that, Christ Himself was entirely passive—just as every human being is, by definition, passive in their own begetting.

Delen: