HE MADE HIMSELF NOTHING
Philippians 2:1-11
Key Verse: 2:7
1. How many times is “if” repeated in verse 1 and what does this imply? What have the Philippians received from Christ? In light of this, how did Paul appeal to them? (2)
2. What did Paul exhort them not to do? (3a) Why are “selfish ambition” and “vain conceit” so harmful to the Christian community? (Ro 2:8; Gal 5:15,20) How should we think of others in relation to ourselves and express this practically? (3b-4)
3. What should be the basis in their relationships with one another? (5) How was Jesus’ humility demonstrated progressively? (6-8)
4. Read verses 6-7. Who is Jesus in very nature? (Jn 1:1; Heb 1:3) How did Jesus consider himself in terms of exercising his privileges as God?1 (6b-7a) In what way did he make himself nothing? (7b; Jn 1:14; 13:3-5; Mk 10:45)
5. In what respect did Jesus’ death on the cross reveal his humility? (8; Lk 22:42-44) What is the relationship between humility and obedience? (Heb 5:7-8; 10:5-7)
6. What was God’s response to Christ’s obedience? (9-11a) To what degree was Christ exalted? (Ac 2:32-36; 4:12) What is the ultimate purpose of Christ’s exaltation? (11b) How can we practice Jesus’ humility personally, in our families and in our church?
The words “did not consider equality with God” do not mean that Jesus gave up his deity. Rather, as Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form….”↩