QUICK FACTS: PHILIPPIANS 2:7
WHAT DOES “EMPTIED HIMSELF” REALLY MEAN?
Berean Literal Bible — Philippians 2:7
“but emptied Himself, having taken the form of a servant, having been made in the likeness of men.”
Many Christians understand Paul to mean that Jesus pre-existed in heaven as God and then “emptied Himself” in order to become a human being.
But is that actually what Paul says?
The verse itself never says that Jesus emptied Himself of being God, came down from heaven, entered Mary’s womb, or transformed from a divine being into the baby Jesus.
So what does “emptied Himself” mean?
THE GREEK WORD — ἐκένωσεν
The Greek word translated “emptied” is:
ἐκένωσεν — ekenōsen
It comes from κενόω (kenoó), meaning to empty, to deprive of content, or to make void.
But notice something important.
Paul immediately explains HOW Jesus emptied Himself:
“but emptied Himself, HAVING TAKEN THE FORM OF A SERVANT…”
— Philippians 2:7, BLB
And the very next verse continues:
“He humbled Himself, having become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
— Philippians 2:8, BLB
Paul's emphasis is therefore on self-humbling, servanthood and obedience unto death.
Jesus did not exalt Himself as an earthly king.
He gave Himself, humbled Himself and became a servant.
JESUS WAS A KING — YET BECAME A SERVANT
Jesus was born:
“King of the Jews”
— Matthew 2:2
Yet instead of living like an earthly king, Jesus humbled Himself.
He served others.
He washed His disciples' feet.
He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.
And ultimately He surrendered His own life in obedience to His Father. This is the pattern described throughout the fuller research behind this Quick Facts article.
Jesus Himself explained His mission:
Matthew 20:28 — Berean Literal Bible
“even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
That fits Philippians 2 perfectly.
Jesus “emptied Himself” by humbling Himself, taking the role of a servant and ultimately giving His life.
ISAIAH HAD ALREADY DESCRIBED THE MESSIAH AS BEING “POURED OUT”
Hundreds of years earlier, Isaiah prophesied concerning the suffering Messiah:
Isaiah 53:12
“because he poured out his soul to death…”
This is extremely interesting.
Isaiah does not describe the Messiah pouring out his deity or transforming himself from God into a man.
He describes him as:
POURING OUT HIS SOUL TO DEATH.
That is sacrificial language.
The fuller article makes this same connection between Isaiah 53:12 and Philippians 2:7.
PAUL USED THE SAME KIND OF LANGUAGE ABOUT HIMSELF
Now compare Paul's words concerning his own sacrifice:
Philippians 2:17
“But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”
Obviously Paul did not mean that he had previously existed as another kind of being and then transformed into a human.
Being “poured out” describes giving oneself sacrificially.
Paul uses this imagery again:
2 Timothy 4:6 — Berean Literal Bible
“For already I am being poured out, and the time of my departure is come.”
The language describes a life being completely given over in sacrifice and service.
THINK OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMETHING IS POURED OUT
When the contents of a vessel are completely poured out, what happens?
IT BECOMES EMPTY.
POURED OUT → EMPTIED
This provides a simple way of understanding Paul's language.
Isaiah says of the Messiah:
“He poured out his soul to death.”
Paul says of Jesus:
“He emptied Himself.”
And Paul says of himself:
“I am being poured out.”
The idea is one of self-giving and sacrifice, not necessarily a description of changing from one nature or kind of being into another. The original research develops precisely this comparison.
SO WHAT DID JESUS “EMPTY” HIMSELF OF?
Paul does not actually say:
“Jesus emptied Himself of His deity.”
Nor does he say:
“Jesus emptied Himself of His divine powers.”
Nor:
“Jesus emptied Himself of His heavenly existence.”
Instead, Paul tells us what Jesus did:
He took the form of a servant.
Then:
He humbled Himself.
Then:
He became obedient unto death.
And finally:
even death on a cross.
The movement of Philippians 2:7–8 is therefore one of extraordinary humility, obedience, service and sacrifice.
THE CORRECT MEANING
Paul's statement that Jesus “emptied Himself” can therefore be understood as Jesus giving Himself completely, denying Himself, humbling Himself and accepting the role of a servant—even to the point of surrendering His life.
Jesus did exactly what He later commanded His followers to do:
Matthew 16:24 — Berean Literal Bible
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Jesus Himself was the supreme example of that self-denial.
As Peter wrote:
1 Peter 2:21 — Berean Literal Bible
“Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow after His steps.”
The fuller research draws this connection between Christ's self-humbling and the self-denial expected of his followers.
QUICK FACT CONCLUSION
Philippians 2:7 says:
“BUT EMPTIED HIMSELF…”
It does not say:
“God emptied Himself of deity and became a human baby.”
Instead, Paul's own explanation continues:
“HAVING TAKEN THE FORM OF A SERVANT.”
And then:
“HE HUMBLED HIMSELF.”
And:
“HAVING BECOME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS.”
Compare that with Isaiah's prophecy:
“HE POURED OUT HIS SOUL TO DEATH.”
Isaiah 53:12
And Paul's own words:
“I AM BEING POURED OUT.”
Philippians 2:17
The point is beautifully simple:
JESUS EMPTIED HIMSELF BY GIVING HIMSELF.
He humbled Himself.
He served.
He obeyed His Father.
And ultimately:
HE POURED OUT HIS LIFE FOR US.
That is the meaning of “emptied Himself” that should be considered before importing the later theological idea that Paul was describing God transforming Himself into a human baby.
OLD RESEARCH ARTICLE
Philippians 2:7 — The Correct Meaning of “Emptied Himself”
https://wwwrealdiscoveriesorg-simon.blogspot.com/2019/12/philippians-27-trinitarian-deception.html
Research by Simon Brown
wwwrealdiscoveriesorg-simon.blogspot.com
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