Philippians 2:9– Highly exalted

Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name…

Verses 6 through 8 describe the mind of Christ who empties and humbles himself . It is not emphasized that this took place in the past , because Paul always uses a verb form without a time horizon (aorist) in this connection. The emphasis is on the fact of Christ Jesus’ disposition—no matter when. To Him it never was about Himself.

Then verses 9 through 11 describe God’s response to Christ Jesus’ disposition. Because Christ humbled himself to the utmost measure (“unto death, even the death of the cross”), therefore God also exalts Him highly. Behind this is a universal principle: “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). The utmost humiliation ever, God answers with the utmost exaltation ever.

After the death of the cross and the stay in the grave, Christ Jesus’ resurrection follows. For God raised Him from the dead and set Him at His right hand, “above all principality and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this eon, but also in the one to come” (Eph. 1:21). This position has not been robbed (2:6) or even aspired to by Christ Jesus. It has been given to Him in grace !

Delen: