And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
Parallel translations
- WEB And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.
- KJV And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
- NKJV And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
- NASB And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.
- NLT he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Being found human, Christ humbled Himself further, obedient even to death on a cross. His humility descended to the lowest point, a criminal's execution.
Overview
The incarnation was not the end of His descent; He obeyed all the way to death, and not just any death but crucifixion, the most shameful and cursed. This obedience accomplished our salvation, as the sinless one died in our place. Christ's self-humbling reaches its depth at the cross.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 25
- John 10:18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
- Heb 12:2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Rom 5:19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
- 1 Pet 2:24He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
- 1 Pet 3:18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
- 2 Cor 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
- Matt 26:39Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
- Acts 8:33In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”
- Titus 2:14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- Gal 3:13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
- Isa 50:5–6The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back.
- Heb 5:5–9So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”
- John 14:31But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.
- Prov 15:33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
- Ps 40:6–8Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.
- John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- John 12:28–32Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
- Matt 26:42A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
- Heb 10:7–9Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’”
- Ps 22:16For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
- Deut 21:23you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
- Mark 9:2–3After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.
- John 4:34Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
- Matt 17:2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
- Luke 9:29And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white.
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Christ at the center
The one who, being in the form of God, emptied himself to the point of death on a cross and was exalted to the name above every name — the joy and prize of the believer.
How Philippians 2:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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