Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 2:5

"Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" — Philippians 2:5 (ASV)

The great example of humility is Christ Jesus. Although vv.5–11 contain one of the outstanding Christologies in the NT, they were written to illustrate the point of humility and selflessness. Another place where Paul incidentally makes a sublime statement about Christ in illustrating a practical point is Eph 5:25–27.

The literary form of this beautiful passage has led many to regard it as an early Christian hymn that Paul incorporated into his letter. But Paul himself was quite capable of a highly poetic style (cf. 1 Corinthians 13), and he may well have composed these exalted lines. Regardless of their precise origin, the passage provides a masterly statement of Christology and serves well the author’s purpose of illustrating supreme condescension.

The exhortation comes first: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Here the Greek text could literally be rendered, “Keep thinking this [attitude] among you, which [attitude] was also in Christ Jesus.” Believers cannot duplicate the precise ministry of Jesus but they can display the same attitude.