Philippians 2:6 teaches that Jesus, although he was fully God, did not treat his equality with God as something to hold onto for his own advantage. Paul uses this truth to show the believers in Philippi what humble, selfless living looks like, drawing on the example of Christ himself. The apostle Paul wrote these words to the church at Philippi, a congregation he had founded and loved.
Who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped…
Philippians 2:6 (WEB)
What Philippians 2:6 Means
The phrase “existing in the form of God” points to Christ’s real, eternal nature. The word “form” means the true character or essence of something, not a costume or a passing appearance. Paul is saying that before he came to earth, Jesus already shared the very nature of God.
The next phrase, “didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,” is the heart of the verse. Paul pictures someone who could cling tightly to a privilege and refuse to let it go. Jesus, although rightfully entitled to honor and glory, did not regard that position as something to seize or protect for himself.
The verse does not say that Christ gave up his divinity, and it does not promise that we will ever stand in such a position ourselves. It describes an attitude of heart, one that chooses humility over self-interest. Paul sets this before us as a pattern to imitate, not a claim to be used against anyone.
The Context of Philippians 2:6
Philippians is a letter Paul wrote while in prison, traditionally thought to be in Rome, and it is full of warmth, gratitude and encouragement. The Philippian believers were facing conflict and were tempted toward rivalry and self-promotion, so Paul urges them toward unity and humility. This setting explains why the verse appears in the middle of an appeal for the church to live together in love.
Just before verse 6, Paul tells his readers to do nothing out of selfish ambition and to count others as more important than themselves. Verses 7 and 8 then describe how Christ emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled himself even to death on a cross. Read in that flow, verse 6 is the starting point of an argument: the humility Christ showed is the humility the church is to practice.
Key Phrases in Philippians 2:6
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.”
(WEB)
Jesus explains in this verse that he came not to be served but to serve and give his life for others. It shows the same servant heart that Paul describes in Philippians 2:6, placed in the words of Christ himself.
Romans 12:10
In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another…
(WEB)
Paul calls believers to honor one another above themselves, which applies the humble attitude of Christ to everyday life in the church. It carries the same spirit of putting others first that the Philippians passage describes.
A Short Prayer From Philippians 2:6
Lord Jesus, thank you for not holding on to your rightful glory when you could have. You chose the path of humility and service so that I could be saved and made new. Teach me to loosen my grip on my own status, my own rights and my own way of doing things. Help me to count others as more important than myself and to serve the people you have placed around me. Shape my heart after yours, so that my life reflects the same love and humility you showed. Amen.
