Philippians 2:5 calls believers to adopt the same attitude that Jesus Christ showed in his life, especially his willingness to set aside status and serve others, even to the point of death. The verse is a short instruction that opens the great passage about Christ’s humility. Paul, the apostle, wrote it to the church at Philippi, a congregation in northern Greece that he had founded and loved deeply.
Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus…
Philippians 2:5 (WEB)
What Philippians 2:5 Means
The phrase “have this in your mind” points to more than a passing thought. In the Greek, it describes a settled way of thinking, a mindset that shapes choices, priorities and reactions. Paul is not asking his readers to hold an opinion about Jesus. He is asking them to take on the habits of thought and feeling that were visible in Jesus himself.
The words “which was also in Christ Jesus” tie this mindset to the Lord’s own character. Paul is saying that what he is describing is not an invented ideal. It is what Jesus displayed when he came among people. The verse does not promise that believers will instantly feel humble or that humility will bring them rewards. It sets a direction for the believer to walk in, trusting that Christ’s example is worth following even when it costs something.
The Context of Philippians 2:5
Philippians is a warm, personal letter. Paul writes from prison, most likely in Rome, and he thanks the Philippians for their generosity and care. The church was facing division and rivalry, and Paul urges them to stand together. In the verses just before this one, he asks them to be of one mind, to avoid selfish ambition and empty pride, and to look out for the interests of others. Verse 5 is the hinge of the argument: he gives them a concrete model to follow.
The verses that come after, which describe Christ emptying himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient even to death on a cross, show what the mindset looks like in full. Because Paul places this hymn-like description right after the call to humility, the verse reads as an invitation to share in that same self-giving pattern. The command is not abstract; it is grounded in the story of what Jesus actually did.
Key Phrases in Philippians 2:5
Romans 12:10
In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another…
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Paul’s call in Romans to honor one another above yourselves echoes the same heart behind Philippians 2:5. Both passages show that Christian love is practical, expressed in preferring others and putting their good first in everyday relationships.
Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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Jesus himself states that he came to serve rather than to be served and to give his life for many. This saying provides the clearest words from Jesus that match the self-giving pattern Paul holds up in Philippians 2:5.
A Short Prayer From Philippians 2:5
Lord, you know how easily my heart turns inward. I want my thoughts to be shaped by the same humility I see in Jesus, who gave up everything out of love for people who did not deserve it. When I am tempted to protect my pride or my place, remind me of him. Help me to look at others with gentle eyes and to choose their good before my own comfort. Form my mind more fully into the mind of Christ, day by day, in the small moments no one else sees. Amen.