The Mind of Christ: Humility and Obedience

In Philippians 2:5-8, believers are exhorted to adopt the “mind of Christ,” a mindset characterized by humility, obedience, and selflessness. This passage reveals the heart of Jesus' earthly mission and provides a model for how we are to live as followers of Christ.

The Mind of Christ in Action

The passage begins by saying, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." The mind of Christ is one that esteems God above all else and aligns fully with His will. It is a mind that serves others, seeks reconciliation, and works for the edification of the body of Christ (2Co 5:18-21, Gal 5:13). The ultimate example of this is seen in Christ Himself, who, though divine, took on human flesh and humbled Himself to the lowest point for the sake of others.

Jesus' Divine Nature and Humility (and Controversy)

Verse 6 continues with, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." This statement affirms Christ’s eternal deity—He was fully God before coming to earth, possessing divine equality with the Father, and that did not and has not changed (John 5:18, 10:30). Jesus thought it not robbery to be equal with God, because he was and is God!

Instead of coming in power and glory, in verse 7 we see Christ "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." His incarnation was not a loss of divinity but an addition of humanity. He subjected Himself to the limitations of human flesh, experiencing hunger, fatigue, sorrow, and suffering—all without ceasing to be fully God.

Beware of non-KJV bibles which actually completely flip what these verses say. For example in verse 6, the NIV states Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage” and the ESV and others change the verse to “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” This wrongly indicates Jesus didn’t use His deity attributes (He needed to in order to fulfil the law and perform miracles) or that He didn’t think He was God in the flesh (Mat 5:17).

Again, non-KJV bibles change verse 7 too and give rise to the Kenosis heresy. Kenosis is the heresy that claims Christ emptied himself of His deity attributes in His humanity, diminishing His deity. Rather than saying Christ “made himself of no reputation” (KJV), the verse is changed to “made himself nothing”(NIV), or “emptied himself” (ESV). The differences in both of these verses introduce heresies and diminish His deity. Regardless of what the “scholars” say about version differences not impacting major doctrines, it’s not true when you actually compare the differences. Bible versions matter and major doctrines are impacted.

Obedience Unto Death

Christ’s humility extended to complete obedience, even to the most humiliating and painful death on the cross. Paul emphasizes in verse 8, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." This obedience was not passive; it was an active submission to the Father’s will (Rom 5:8, Mat 26:39-42). His death was not only an act of infinite, selfless love but the necessary payment for our sins, providing salvation to all who believe.

A Call to Follow Christ’s Example

Christ’s pattern is our pattern. Just as He humbled Himself, we are called to humble ourselves. Just as He obeyed the Father, we must obey God's Word. Just as He died for others, we must die to self, reckoning our old man crucified and walking in the newness of life that Jesus purchased for us with His own blood (Rom 6:10-18, Col 3:1-3). The mind of Christ is not about seeking self-glory and self-will, but about serving, sacrificing, and living for God’s glory and God’s will.

Conclusion

The mind of Christ is one of humility, obedience, and sacrifice. His example calls us to put aside selfish ambition, to live in submission to God’s will, and to serve others with the same selflessness that He demonstrated. By following His example, we reflect His love and power in our lives, standing as witnesses to His glory and grace.