What does the Greek Say?
Although there are some notable English translations that are better than others, they all are translated with a bias to imply incarnation. Below is the Greek text for Phil 2:5-11 followed by literal and interpretative translations from the detailed interlinear table here: Interlinear
Philippians 2:5-11 (NA28)
5 Τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ,
6 ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ,
7 ἀλλʼ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος· καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος
8 ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ.
9 διὸ καὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ oτὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα,
10 ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων
11 καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτικύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός.
Greek | Translation | Parsing | Glossary |
5 Τοῦτο | 5 This | Pronoun, Accusative, Neuter, Singular | houtos – this, this one, these; (as object) him, her, it, them; with διά or εἰς it means for this reason |
φρονεῖτε | thinking | Verb, Present, Active, Imperative, 2nd Person, Plural | phroneō – to think, regard, hold an opinion; to set one’s mind on; to have a (certain) attitude |
ἐν | in | Preposition Governing the Dative | en – Spatially: in, inside, at, among, with; logically: by means of, with, because of; of time: during, while |
ὑμῖν | you | Pronoun, Dative, (No Gender), Plural, 2nd Person | hymin – you, your |
ὃ | that | Pronoun, Nominative, Neuter, Singular | hos – who, which, what, that; anyone, someone, a certain one |
καί | also | Adverb | kai – and; and then, then; but, yet, however; also, even, likewise |
ἐν | in | Preposition Governing the Dative | en -Spatially: in, inside, at, among, with; logically: by means of, with, because of |
Χριστῷ | in anointed | Noun, Dative, Masculine, Singular | Christos – Christ, Anointed One, Messiah, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah |
Ἰησοῦ | in Jesus | Noun, Dative, Masculine, Singula | Iēsous – Jesus |
6 ὅς | 6 who | Pronoun, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | hos – who, which, what, that; anyone, someone, a certain one |
ἐν | in | Preposition Governing the Dative | en – Spatially: in, inside, at, among, with; logically: by means of, with, because of; of time: during, while |
μορφῇ | in form | Noun, Dative, Feminine, Singular | morphē – form, outward appearance, shape |
θεοῦ | of God | Noun, Genitive, Masculine, Singular | theos – God, usually refers to the one true God; in a very few contexts it refers to a god or goddess |
ὑπάρχων | he subsists | Verb, Present, Active, Participle, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | hyparchō – To really be there, exist, be present, be at one’s disposal, to be in a state or circumstance, to be in possession |
οὐχ | not | Particle | ou – no, not, not at all, in no way, absolutely not |
ἁρπαγμὸν | seizure | Noun, Accusative, Masculine, Singular | harpagmos – A violent seizure of property, robbery; something to which one can claim or assert title by gripping or grasping, something claimed |
ἡγήσατο | he ruled himself | Verb, Aorist, Middle, Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular | hēgeomai – To be in a supervisory capacity, lead, guide; to engage in a intellectual process, think, consider, regard |
τὸ | this | Determiner, Accusative, Neuter, Singular | ho – the, this, that, who |
εἶναι | being | Verb, Present, Active, Infinitive | einai – to be, exist, be present |
ἴσα | equal | Adverb | isos – equal, the same; in agreement |
θεῷ | to God | Noun, Dative, Masculine, Singular | theos – God, usually refers to the one true God; in a very few contexts it refers to a god or goddess |
7 ἀλλʼ | 7 rather he | Pronoun, Accusative, Masculine, Singular, 3rd Person | alla – but, instead, yet, except |
ἑαυτὸν | himself | Pronoun, Accusative, Masculine, Singular, 3rd Person | heautou – himself, herself, itself, themselves |
ἐκένωσεν | he emptied | Verb, Aorist, Active, Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular | kenoō – to empty, deprive; (pass.) to be hollow, emptied, of no value |
μορφὴν | form | Noun, Accusative, Feminine, Singular | morphē -form, outward appearance, shape |
δούλου | of servile | Noun, Genitive, Masculine, Singular | doulos – slavish, servile, completely controlled, as a fig. extension of a slavery system |
λαβών | he received | Verb, Aorist, Active, Participle, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | lambanō -to take, receive; (pass.) to be received, selected |
ἐν | in | Preposition Governing the Dative | en – Spatially: in, inside, at, among, with; logically: by means of, with, because of; of time: during, while |
ὁμοιώματι | likeness | Noun, Dative, Neuter, Singular | homoiōma – a form; resemblance, similitude; likeness |
ἀνθρώπων | of men | Noun, Genitive, Masculine, Plural | anthrōpos – human being, person; humankind, people; man, husband |
γενόμενος | he was caused-to-be | Verb, Aorist, Middle, Participle, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | ginomai -to cause to be (“gen”-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.): — arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass) |
καὶ | and | Conjunction | kai – and; (connecting and continuing) and then, then; (as a disjunctive) |
σχήματι | in fashion | Noun, Dative, Neuter, Singular | schēma – the generally recognized state or form of something; the functional aspect of something |
εὑρεθεὶς | he was found | Verb, Aorist, Passive, Participle, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | heuriskō – (act.) to find, discover, meet; (mid.) to obtain; (pass.) to be found |
ὡς | as | Particle | hōs – as, that, how, about, when; like, as |
ἄνθρωπος | a man | Noun, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | anthrōpos – human being, person; humankind, people; man, husband; used of human beings in contrast to animals or deity |
8 ἐταπείνωσεν | 8 he humbled | Verb, Aorist, Active, Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular | tapeinoō – (act.) to humble (oneself), lower (oneself); (pass.) to be humbled, brought low, in need |
ἑαυτὸν | himself | Pronoun, Accusative, Masculine, Singular, 3rd Person | heautou – himself, herself, itself, themselves |
γενόμενος | having become | Verb, Aorist, Middle, Participle, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | ginomai -to be, become, happen; to come into existence, be born |
ὑπήκοος | obedient | Adjective, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | hypēkoos – obedient |
μέχρι | until | Preposition Governing the Genitive | mechri -until, to the point of |
θανάτου | death | Noun, Genitive, Masculine, Singular | thanatos – death |
δέ | even | Conjunction | de – even |
σταυρός | of a cross | Noun, Genitive, Masculine, Singular | stauros – a stake or post (as set upright), i.e. (specially), a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment) |
9 διό | 9 therefore | Conjunction | dio – therefore, that is why, for this reason |
καί | also | Adverb | kai – and; and then, then; but, yet, however; also, even, likewise |
ὁ θεός | the God | Noun, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | theos – God, usually refers to the one true God; in a very few contexts it refers to a god or goddess |
αὐτὸν | himself | Pronoun, Accusative, Masculine, Singular, 3rd Person | Autos – he, she, it; also used as inten.p., himself, herself, itself, themselves; the same one |
ὑπερύψωσεν | he exalted | Verb, Aorist, Active, Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular | hyperypsoō – to exalt to the highest place |
καί | and | Adverb | kai – and; and then, then; but, yet, however; also, even, likewise |
ἐχαρίσατο | bestowed | Verb, Aorist, Middle, Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular | charizomai – to grant as a favor, i.e. gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue |
αὐτῷ | to him | Pronoun, Dative, Masculine, Singular, 3rd Person | autos – he, she, it; also used as inten.p., himself, herself, itself, themselves; the same one |
ὁ ὄνομα | the name | Noun, Accusative, Neuter, Singular | onoma -name; title; reputation |
τὸ ὑπέρ | the beyond | Preposition Governing the Accusative | hyper -(acc.) above, beyond, more than; (gen.) for, in behalf of, for the sake of; in place of |
πᾶν | every | Adjective, Accusative, Neuter, Singular | pas – all, any, every, the whole |
ὄνομα | name | Noun, Accusative, Neuter, Singular | onoma – name; title; reputation |
10 ἵνα | 10 that | Conjunction | hina – a marker that shows purpose or result: in order that, in order to, so that, then |
ἐν | at | Preposition Governing the Dative | en -Spatially: in, inside, at, among, with; logically: by means of, with, because of |
τῷ ὀνόματι | to the name | Noun, Dative, Neuter, Singular | ho onoma -name; title; reputation |
Ἰησοῦ | of Jesus | Noun, Genitive, Masculine, Singular | Iēsous -Jesus |
πᾶν | every | Adjective, Accusative, Neuter, Singular | pas – all, every (thing, one), whole; always |
γονύ | knee | Noun, Nominative, Neuter, Singular | gony – knee |
κάμψῃ | would bow | Verb, Aorist, Active, Subjunctive, 3rd Person, Singular | kamptō – to bend, bow (on a knee) |
ἐπουρανίων | of heaven | Adjective, Genitive, Masculine, Plural | epouranios – heavenly, celestial; heavenly realms |
καί | and | Adverb | kai – and |
ἐπιγείων | of earth | Adjective, Genitive, Masculine, Plural | epigeios – being on the earth, earthly |
καί | and | Adverb | kai – and; and then, then; but, yet, however; also, even, likewise |
καταχθονίων | of under the earth | Adjective, Genitive, Masculine, Plural | katachthonio – under the earth, subterranean; this may refer to the dead as a class of people |
11 καί | 11 and | Adverb | kai – and; and then, then; but, yet, however; also, even, likewise |
πᾶσα | every | Adjective, Nominative, Feminine, Singular | pasa – all, every (thing, one), whole; always |
γλῶσσα | tongue | Noun, Nominative, Feminine, Singular | glōssa – tongue; language |
ἐξομολογήσηται | would confess | Verb, Aorist, Middle, Subjunctive, 3rd Person, Singular | exomologeō – (act.) to consent; (mid.) to openly confess, admit, praise |
ὅτι | that | Conjunction | hoti – that; because, since; for |
κύριος | lord | Noun, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | kyrios – lord, master. This can be a title of address to a person of higher status, lord, sir |
Ἰησοῦς | Jesus | Noun, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | Iēsous – Jesus |
Χριστός | anointed | Noun, Nominative, Masculine, Singular | Christos – Christ, Anointed One, Messiah, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah |
εἰς | for | Preposition Governing the Accusative | eis – to, toward, into; for. Spatially: movement toward or into an area (extending to a goal); logically: a marker of purpose or result |
δόξαν | glory | Noun, Accusative, Feminine, Singular | doxa – glory, splendor, brilliance, from the base meaning of the awesome light; honor, praise |
θεοῦ | of God | Noun, Genitive, Masculine, Singular | theos – God, usually refers to the one true God; in a very few contexts it refers to a god or goddess |
πατρός | of father | Noun, Genitive, Masculine, Singular | patron – father, a male parent or ancestor; by extension: an honorific title, leader, archetype |
Literal and Interpretative Translations
Below is the literal rendering of Philippians 2:5-11 based on the interlinear table (Interlinear). It closely matches the word order of the Greek. Also shown is less literal interpretative translation. These translations, constant with the Greek meaning, do not suggest incarnation. It should also be evident that each statement within the passage makes perfect sense considering the context of the passage as a whole.
Philippians 2:5-11 Literal Translation
5 This thinking in you
that also in anointed, in Jesus,
6 who in form of God he subsists,
not seizure,
he ruled himself
being equal to God,
7 rather himself he emptied,
form of servile he received,
in likeness of men he was caused-to-be,
and in fashion
he was found as a man.
8 He humbled himself
having become obedient until death
even on a cross.
9 Therefore also the God himself he exalted
and bestowed to him
the name the beyond every name
10 that at the name of Jesus,
every knee would bow,
of heaven and of earth and of under the earth,
11 and every tongue would confess
that Lord Jesus anointed
for glory of God, of Father.
Philippians 2:5-11 Interpretative Translation
5 This thinking have in you,
the thinking also in Messiah – in Jesus,
6 who is in possession of the expression of God,
not appropriation,
he asserted himself
being a proxy to God,
7 rather he esteemed himself not,
expression of a servant he accepted,
in likeness of men he was made,
and in composition,
he was recognized as a man.
8 He humbled himself
having become obedient until death,
even on a cross.
9 Therefore also God himself exalted
and bestowed to him,
the authority above every authority,
10 That at the authority of Jesus,
every knee would bow,
of heaven, and of earth and of those under the earth,
11 and every tongue would confess
that Jesus is Lord Messiah,
to the praise of Father God.
Conclusion
Most English translations of Philippians Chapter 2, specifically Philippians 2:6-7, exhibit a translational bias to imply preexistence and incarnation. However careful analysis shows that this passage does not teach incarnation but rater refutes the it as well as trinitarian theology. What is said in no uncertain terms is that Jesus was exalted and given the authority he has because of his obedience until death on a cross. Rather than describing incarnation, this passage confirms the Unitarian understanding of God.
Careful review demonstrates that Philippians 2 is not teaching incarnation at all. It is clear that he was not in possession of the form/expression of God to begin with. It is by virtue of the obedience of the man Jesus Christ that he has now been given power and authority and has been made Lord Messiah. This is consistent with the proclamation of Acts 2:36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ (Messiah), this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Considering the text can be interpreted in a way in which no incarnation is implied, it is ironic that this passage serves as a proof text to many Christians who hold to a view of incarnation.
