Reformation Writings on Philippians 2:5

Interpretations from the 16th-17th centuries

Introduction

The Reformation period brought a renewed focus on Scripture and a return to the text itself, emphasizing personal faith and the practical application of biblical truth. Reformation theologians approached Philippians 2:5 with characteristic attention to:

• Sola Scriptura - The authority of Scripture alone
• Christocentric Focus - Christ as the center of all theology
• Practical Application - How doctrine shapes Christian living
• Divine Sovereignty - God's initiative in salvation

John Owen (1616-1683)

John Owen, often called "the prince of Puritan theologians," was one of the greatest English theologians of the 17th century. His exposition of Philippians 2:5-8 demonstrates the mature development of Reformed theology applied to Christology.

Owen's Sermon: "The Humiliation and Condescension of Christ"

In his sermon preached on November 9, 1681, Owen provides a detailed exposition of Philippians 2:5-8:

"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."

Owen emphasizes several key points that reflect characteristic Puritan concerns: precision in doctrine, depth in meditation, and warmth in application.

Christ's Two-Stage Self-Humiliation

Owen describes Christ's self-humiliation as having two distinct parts, using the original Greek terms:

1. Ἐκκένωσις (Ekkenosis) - His emptying of himself
2. Ταπείνωσις (Tapeinosis) - The humbling of himself

"He emptied himself to take the form of a servant; and he humbled himself in that form, to engage in obedience, to undergo death."

Owen's Distinction:

• First Stage (Ekkenosis): Christ emptied himself in order to take the form of a servant

  • This refers to the Incarnation itself
  • The assumption of human nature
  • The veiling of divine glory

• Second Stage (Tapeinosis): Christ humbled himself within that form

  • This refers to His life and death
  • His obedience throughout His earthly ministry
  • His submission to death, even death on a cross

This two-stage understanding helps explain the progression of Philippians 2:6-8: first the Incarnation (verses 6-7), then the life of obedience culminating in death (verse 8).

The Principle Behind Christ's Actions: His Own Mind

Owen emphasizes that Christ's self-emptying proceeded solely from His own mind and will, not from external compulsion:

"It was his mind; it was from his own mind. Not to insist upon the designation of the Father, the apostle places it there: 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.' What was the mind that was in Christ Jesus? This was the mind, that when he was 'in the form of God,' and 'thought it not robbery to be equal with God,' he 'made himself of no reputation': which was the original of Christ's mediation."

Key Theological Points:

1. Voluntary Action: Christ's humiliation was not forced upon Him but freely chosen
2. The Mind of Christ: This mindset—voluntary self-humiliation for others—is what believers are called to imitate
3. Original of Mediation: Christ's voluntary self-emptying was the foundation of His mediatorial work
4. Divine Freedom: Even in submission to the Father's will, the Son acted freely and willingly

This emphasis on Christ's voluntary action is crucial for Owen because:

• It demonstrates Christ's love (He chose to save us)
• It makes Him a true example for believers (we too must choose humility)
• It shows the unity of will within the Trinity (Father and Son willed the same thing)

The Infinite Distance Between God and Creation

Owen explains that Christ's humiliation is even more profound when we consider the infinite distance between God and creation. He quotes Psalm 113:5-6:

"Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!"

And Isaiah 40:15, 17:

"The nations are before him as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: all nations are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity."

Owen's Argument:

1. God's Transcendence: God is so far above creation that even looking at it requires "humbling"
2. Creation's Insignificance: All nations are "less than nothing" compared to God
3. The Incarnation's Magnitude: For God to not merely look at creation but to become a creature is infinitely more profound
4. The Cross's Scandal: For God to become not just a creature but a crucified creature is the ultimate humiliation

Owen's point is that we cannot truly appreciate Christ's humiliation unless we first grasp His infinite majesty. The greater the height, the greater the descent.

Practical Application

As a Puritan, Owen never separated doctrine from practice. The doctrine of Christ's humiliation has immediate practical implications:

1. Imitation: "Let this mind be in you" - believers must cultivate the same mindset
2. Humility: If Christ humbled Himself, how much more should we?
3. Service: Christ took the form of a servant; so should we
4. Obedience: Christ was obedient unto death; we must obey unto whatever God calls us to

Owen's exposition is characteristic of Puritan theology: deeply doctrinal yet intensely practical, emphasizing both God's sovereignty and human responsibility.

John Calvin (1509-1564)

John Calvin, the great Reformer of Geneva, was one of the most influential theologians in Christian history. His systematic theology and biblical commentaries shaped Protestant thought for centuries.

Calvin's Interpretation

While we don't have extensive direct quotes from Calvin's commentary on Philippians 2:5 in our research, references to his interpretation indicate several key emphases:

1. The Deity of Christ

Calvin emphasized that this passage clearly reveals the deity of Christ. According to secondary sources:

"Anyone who reads this passage but fails to see the deity of Jesus and the majesty of God as seen in his saving works" misses the central point.

For Calvin, Philippians 2:6 ("being in the form of God") is an unambiguous affirmation of Christ's full divinity. The phrase "form of God" (μορφῇ Θεοῦ, morphē Theou) means possessing the divine nature itself, not merely resembling God.

2. Christ's Self-Emptying as Veiling, Not Abandoning

Calvin saw Christ's self-emptying not as giving up His divine nature but as veiling it. This interpretation became standard in Reformed theology:

• Christ did not cease to be God
• He did not lay aside divine attributes
• Rather, He veiled His glory in human flesh
• He voluntarily refrained from exercising divine prerogatives

This understanding preserves both:

• Divine immutability (God cannot change in His essential nature)
• True incarnation (Christ truly became human and experienced human limitations)

3. A Model for Christian Humility

Calvin understood the passage as a model for Christian humility. The imperative "Let this mind be in you" (verse 5) shows that Paul intends Christ's example to shape Christian behavior.

Calvin's ethical emphasis was characteristic of Reformed theology:

• Doctrine must lead to practice
• Christ is not only Savior but also Example
• True faith produces works of love and humility
• The Christian life is one of self-denial and service

Calvin's Theological Framework

Calvin's interpretation fits within his broader theological system:

1. God's Sovereignty: The incarnation was God's sovereign plan for salvation
2. Christ's Mediation: Only one who was both God and man could mediate between God and humanity
3. Union with Christ: Believers share in Christ's humiliation and exaltation through union with Him
4. Sanctification: Imitating Christ's humility is part of the sanctification process

Contemporary Reformed Interpretation

Dr. Ligon Duncan

Dr. Ligon Duncan, in his sermon "The Ungrasped Equality of Christ," builds on the Reformation tradition by emphasizing themes relevant to contemporary culture:

1. The Contrast with the World's Pursuit of Equality

"There is a sense in which the whole story of the modern western world the last two centuries can be summed up as a quest for equality... But our salvation was accomplished by a Man who refused to hang on to the equality that He had with God."

Duncan's Cultural Analysis:

• Modern culture is obsessed with achieving and maintaining equality
• People grasp at status, rights, and recognition
• The world's message is "assert yourself," "demand your rights," "pursue your equality"
• Christ's example is the exact opposite: voluntary relinquishment of equality

This creates a stark contrast between:

• The world's way: Grasping upward toward equality
• Christ's way: Releasing downward in humility

2. Seeing Christ's Humility Against His Deity

Duncan emphasizes the importance of seeing Christ's humility against the backdrop of His deity. This echoes Owen's point about the infinite distance:

• Christ's humility is only remarkable if He was truly God
• If He was merely a creature, His actions were not particularly humble
• The glory of the gospel is that God Himself descended to save us

3. Practical Implications for Christian Living

Duncan emphasizes that this truth is "controlling for the Christian life" and is radically different from the world's message of self-fulfillment.

"Controlling for the Christian Life":

This phrase means that Philippians 2:5-11 should shape every aspect of how Christians live:

• In relationships: Putting others first, not insisting on our rights
• In the church: Serving rather than seeking position
• In society: Humility rather than self-promotion
• In suffering: Accepting hardship as Christ did

The Radical Difference from Self-Fulfillment

Modern culture preaches:

• Find yourself
• Express yourself
• Fulfill yourself
• Assert yourself

The gospel preaches:

• Deny yourself (Mark 8:34)
• Empty yourself (Philippians 2:7)
• Humble yourself (Philippians 2:8)
• Lose yourself to find yourself (Matthew 10:39)

The Reformation Contribution

The Reformation period contributed to our understanding of Philippians 2:5 by:

1. Return to the Text

• Emphasis on the original languages (Greek and Hebrew)
• Careful exegesis of Paul's actual words
• Less reliance on tradition, more on Scripture itself

2. Christocentric Focus

• Christ as the center of all theology
• The incarnation as the heart of the gospel
• Personal relationship with Christ emphasized

3. Practical Application

• Doctrine must lead to life transformation
• Christ as both Savior and Example
• The Christian life as imitation of Christ

4. Covenantal Framework

• Christ as the Second Adam
• His obedience reversing Adam's disobedience
• Believers united to Christ in His humiliation and exaltation

5. Emphasis on Divine Sovereignty

• Christ's voluntary self-humiliation
• The Father's eternal plan of salvation
• The Spirit's work in applying Christ's work to believers

Continuity and Development

The Reformation theologians stood in continuity with the Early Church Fathers and Medieval theologians while adding their own emphases:

• With the Fathers: Affirming Christ's full divinity and humanity
• With the Medievals: Systematic precision in Christology
• New Emphasis: Personal faith, practical application, and return to Scripture

The Reformation interpretation of Philippians 2:5 brought renewed focus on the text itself and emphasized the practical implications of Christ's self-emptying for Christian living.