“But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:7
Paul’s attention is on the Lord who he presents as the great example of the attitude that underlies true unity in the church. In verse 6 Paul told us that even though Christ was the very essence of God He did not hang onto the rights His character and position deserved. In
Philippians 2:7 Paul describes the attitude of the Lord. But made Himself Here we see the willing attitude of the Lord.
The word Himself shows this is not an action He was forced or coerced to do. It is a willing, voluntary action that He took out of concern for others. The word “made” means to empty or nullify. Strong’s Concordance says it describes the act of making something of no effect or rendering it powerless, divesting it of status or privilege. Thus we see that the first action the Lord willing under-took was to lay the power of His deity aside. This does not mean the Lord ceased to be God – He is fully deity. Instead He put aside the prerogative to use His divine attributes that are a part of His
nature. Instead of asserting His rights as God, the Lord waived those rights and humbled Himself to become a man – to live this life the way we live it. We immediately see the contrast between pride and humility. Pride exalts one’s self and lifts one’s self up
over others. Christ emptied Himself and gave up what He rightfully possessed out of compassion for others.
Of no reputation Interestingly this phrase is one word – the same word translated “made” earlier in the verse. He emptied Himself of His prerogatives of deity but made Himself into something that was void of power and authority. The amplified version translates this verse ‘But stripped Himself (of all privileges and rightful dignity), so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave)”. Thus He transformed Himself from full authority and power to no authority or power, from God to man, king to servant.
Taking the form Take means to “receive, accept or lay hold of”. This is an action on the Lord’s part. It adds rather than replaces. The Lord adds to His deity humanity. He does not replace it. Form is the “essential form or nature of something”. Thus we see the transformation of the Lord is from fully God to fully God and fully man.
Of a bondservant We see the form the Lord undertook. Bondservant is a person who is in a position of subjection. It can refer to a literal slave or to a person who is devoted to another to the disregard of their own interests. Thus we see that the Lord exchanges the authority and power of His deity for His total submission to God’s will in this life as a slave does for His master. A slave has no rights. Thus when Jesus took on the role of a bondservant, He voluntarily accepted the limitations of serving God’s will.
Coming in the likeness of men The word coming means “becoming or coming into existence”. It describes events that change in state or condition. Likeness of man indicates something that shares a similar form or appearance but may not be identical in essence. The Lord looked like a man, was fully man but was different in that he was also fully God. This is what John 1:14 tells us. “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
What can we learn? John states “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.” (1John 4:2) Denying either the Lord’s full deity or full humanity is heresy of the highest order.