κοινωνός
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PHP 2:5-11

The Mind of Christ

5Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus,

6who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.

9Therefore God also highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow — of those in the heavens and on earth and under the earth —

11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, status and honor were paramount, and the idea of voluntarily relinquishing one's position was countercultural. The term (morphē) would have been understood as the essential, unchanging nature of something, not merely its outward appearance. For Christ to exist in the of God and then take the of a (doulos), a bond-slave with no rights, would have been shocking. The verb (kenoō), meaning 'to empty,' suggests a deliberate act of self-renunciation, not a loss of divine essence. The phrase (harpagmon) could imply either 'something to be grasped' or 'a prize to be held onto,' highlighting Christ's choice not to exploit His divine status. In a society where crucifixion was the ultimate dishonor, Christ's obedience to death on a cross would have been seen as the ultimate act of humility. The subsequent exaltation by God and universal acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord would have resonated with the Roman imperial cult, where the emperor was often hailed as 'Lord.'

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How other translations render this

PHP 2:5

KJV
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
BSB
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
Koinōnos
Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus,

PHP 2:6

KJV
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
BSB
Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
Koinōnos
who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

PHP 2:7

KJV
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
BSB
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Koinōnos
but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

PHP 2:8

KJV
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
BSB
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross.
Koinōnos
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.

PHP 2:9

KJV
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
BSB
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
Koinōnos
Therefore God also highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

PHP 2:10

KJV
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
BSB
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Koinōnos
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow — of those in the heavens and on earth and under the earth —

PHP 2:11

KJV
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
BSB
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Koinōnos
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

PHP 2:6

  • [the] form:The word translated 'form' refers to the essential nature or character of something, not just its outward appearance. It describes what something is in its very being.
  • something to be grasped:The phrase 'something to be grasped' comes from a word that can mean either the act of seizing or the thing seized. Here, it suggests something valuable that one might selfishly cling to or exploit for personal gain.

PHP 2:7

  • emptied:The word translated 'emptied' means to make something empty or to divest oneself of something. It implies a deliberate act of self-renunciation or setting aside privileges.
  • of a servant:The term used here for 'servant' is 'slave,' indicating a person who is legally owned by another and has no rights of their own. It emphasizes complete submission and lack of personal autonomy.