Philippians 2:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Church quarrels rarely respond to a rule. Paul addresses one in Philippi by pointing to a person and to what that person did, which raises the question this verse hangs on: what exactly was the mind of Christ Jesus, and how does a congregation come to share it? Verses 6 through 11 answer the first half, and the whole letter works on the second.
The Philippians are asked to share the disposition Christ displayed. A plea for unity and humility becomes an appeal to a pattern, and the hymn that follows describes exactly what that pattern looked like.
The Context of Philippians 2:5
Paul writes from imprisonment to a church he loves, one that has supported him and is now strained by disagreement. Chapter 1 has urged them to stand fast in one spirit, striving together for the faith of the gospel. Chapter 2 opens with an appeal grounded in the consolation, comfort, and fellowship they have in Christ, asking them to be likeminded and of one accord (vv. 1-2). Verse 3 calls for lowliness of mind and for esteeming others better than themselves. Verse 4 asks each to look on the things of others. Verse 5 links that appeal to Christ, and verses 6 through 11 supply the great passage about his humbling and exaltation.
What Does Philippians 2:5 Mean?
The sentence is short and does most of its work by pointing. "Let this mind be in you" uses a verb of disposition rather than of opinion, so Paul asks for a settled way of regarding oneself and others. The word "this" reaches in both directions, gathering up the lowliness of verses 3 and 4 and opening onto the description that follows. "In you" is plural, addressed to the congregation together. The final phrase, "which was also in Christ Jesus," supplies the standard and the source at once. Paul names a real person and a real course of action, and asks the church to think along the same lines.
Verses 6 through 11 fill out the pattern. Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, made himself of no reputation, took upon him the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men, and humbled himself to the point of death on a cross. God then highly exalted him and gave him the name above every name, so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. Verse 5 works as the hinge, so the hymn becomes the content of the appeal. The chapter then offers living illustrations in Timothy, who naturally cares for the Philippians, and Epaphroditus, who risked his life for the work.
The passage joins Christ's humility and his glory in one movement and refuses to let either be read without the other. The One described as being in the form of God is the same One who washed feet and died as a condemned man, and the exaltation of verses 9 through 11 is God's answer to that descent. Isaiah had declared that every knee would bow and every tongue swear to the LORD, and Paul applies those words to Jesus. For the Philippians the practical force is direct. The path Christ walked runs downward into service, and God's own vindication waits at the end of it.
Philippians 2:5 in the Original Language
phroneo (φρονέω), 'mind' -- to think in a certain way, to set one's attitude and interests in a particular direction. Paul uses the same verb in verse 2 when he asks the Philippians to be likeminded, so verse 5 asks them to direct their whole outlook the way Christ directed his.
Bible Verses Related to Philippians 2:5
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
- Philippians 2:3
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
- Philippians 2:8
“I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”
- Isaiah 45:23
“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
- John 13:14
Where Philippians 2:5 Echoes in Scripture
Isaiah 45:23 stands behind the close of this hymn. There the LORD swears by himself that every knee will bow to him and every tongue will swear allegiance. Paul takes that oath and applies it to Jesus in verses 10 and 11, ending with the glory of God the Father. The move is remarkable and deliberate, and it tells us how highly Paul regarded the One whose mind he asks the Philippians to share.
How to Apply Philippians 2:5 Today
Humility of this kind shows up in small negotiations. Who speaks first after a disagreement, who absorbs the inconvenience, who lets a preference go without announcing the sacrifice. Paul ties the disposition to attention, since looking on the things of others means actually knowing what they are carrying, and that takes questions and time. It helps to notice where we are keeping score and to let one item drop from the ledger this week. Serving in a way nobody will trace back to us is good practice, and so is doing the necessary task that carries no credit.
Reflection & Prayer
Where are we quietly insisting on being recognized, and what would it look like to take the lower place there on purpose? A prayer: Lord Jesus, you took the form of a servant and went all the way down for us. Work that same mind in me, free me from the need to be seen, and teach me to look at the people around me with real attention. Amen.