Philippians 2 presents Jesus as fully divine and equal with God, yet willing to humble Himself as a servant and die on the cross.
The passage says Jesus, being in the form of God, did not treat equality with God as something to be seized. Instead, He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men, and humbled Himself to death on the cross. Les Feldick emphasizes that Jesus did this voluntarily.
Philippians 2:5-8 — This passage directly shows Jesus' divine nature, His human likeness, and His servant mission of obedient death.
Philippians 2:5–8 says: 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.' The text presents two sides of Jesus. He existed in the form of God and was equal with God. Then it says He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Les Feldick highlights that when Paul writes 'Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,' the point is that Jesus already was God. He did not have to grasp at equality. The phrase 'made himself of no reputation' is central to Les: Jesus Himself, as the Sovereign Creator God, did this to Himself. He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Les also connects Christ's humiliation to the Hebrew servant who gave up freedom out of love, saying that what Christ did was far more. Jesus, the omnipotent, omniscient Creator, willingly agreed to be a servant for our sake. Paul's command to 'let this mind be in you' shows that the mind in view is the mind of God the Son. Finally, Les relates Philippians 2 to the Gospel portrayals. Mark's Gospel constantly shows Jesus as the Servant, Luke shows Him as Son of Man, and John shows Him as Son of God. Jesus' foot-washing and His lowly entry into Jerusalem show His servant mission. Yet Les also teaches that Jesus was the God-Man—total God and total man—and the two never crossed over.
Paul says Jesus, 'being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.' Les Feldick explains that He did not have to think it robbery, because He was equal with God. Les also asks who made Jesus of no reputation and answers: He did. The Sovereign Creator God lowered Himself, and the passage moves from divine equality to servanthood.
Philippians 2:7–8 states that Christ 'made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men,' and then 'humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.' Les emphasizes the personal, voluntary nature of this act. He also compares it to the Hebrew servant in Exodus who gave up his freedom out of love; Christ's servanthood went all the way to the cross.
Les Feldick says Mark's Gospel constantly depicts Christ as the Servant. Foot-washing was an expression of that servitude. Luke depicts Him as Son of Man and John as Son of God. Philippians 2 explains how the One equal with God could take that servant role: He was made in the likeness of men and found in fashion as a man. His first coming was not as the conquering king on a white steed, but as the lowly servant riding on a donkey's colt.
Why Jesus Performed Signs, Not Just Miracles — John's Gospel Explained
The bud. First the bud, and then all of a sudden it opens up into full bloom in all of its glory. Now let me make my analogy. Genesis is the bulb. Genesis is where everything began. Out of that bulb then came the stem. And here we come now through the Old Testament. Everything is growing, it's leafing out, it's growing and leafing out.
Christ as Sovereign Servant
Les explains that though Jesus was God and the omnipotent Creator, He made Himself of no reputation and took the form of a servant for our sake.
The Self-Emptying of Christ
Les stresses that Jesus Himself, as Sovereign Creator God, made Himself of no reputation and became a servant in the likeness of men.
Equal with God
Les points to the mind of Christ in Philippians 2 and explains that being in the form of God, He thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
Equality Not Grasped but Humbled
Les says Jesus did not have to grasp at equality because He was equal with God; He lowered Himself from Creator God to a man walking dusty Palestine.
Servant in Mark's Gospel
Les shows that Mark constantly portrays Christ as the servant, and foot-washing was an expression of that servitude.
The God-Man
Les emphasizes that Jesus was total God and total man, and these two sides never crossed over; His agony showed His humanity.
Lowly Servant, Not Conquering King
Les says Jesus came in His earthly ministry as a lowly servant, even washing feet, which is why the Jews were surprised.
Philippians 2:5: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Paul calls believers to have the same mind as Christ before describing His nature and mission.
Philippians 2:6: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
It affirms that Christ was in the form of God and equal with God.
Philippians 2:7: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
It describes Christ taking a servant form and being made in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:8: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
It describes His humbling and obedience even to crucifixion.
No. Philippians 2:6 says He was in the form of God and equal with God, and verse 7 says He made Himself of no reputation and was made in the likeness of men. Les Feldick points out that He Himself, as Sovereign Creator, did this; He never ceased being God.
This phrase means equality with God was not something Christ had to seize. As Les Feldick explains, He did not have to think it robbery because He was equal with God. The passage then goes on to show that He nevertheless humbled Himself as a servant.
The passage teaches that Jesus' mission was servanthood and humility. Though He was in the form of God, He took the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death—even the death of the cross.
Watch the Teaching: Why Jesus Performed Signs, Not Just Miracles — John's Gospel Explained