Echoes of Jesus in Us (Philippians 2 and 3)

Think and live like Jesus.

Simple enough, this theme is yet rich and one of many in the book of Philippians. And not just clearly stated, but also artfully so.

Paul gives this theme as a clear command and describes the life of Jesus in Philippians 2:5–11. Then, he gives linguistic echoes of this passage when describing his own life in Philippians 3:5–21. The subtle effect, as we will see, is to hear the echoes of Jesus in the life of Paul, reinforcing that we must imitate him and others like him, a life that is in line with Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:16–17).

The following points out the verbal echoes, putting the original language in brackets as necessary below.

• Whereas Jesus “did not regard [hēgeomai] equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Phil 2:6), so also “whatever things were gain to me,” Paul says, “those things I have counted [hēgeomai] as loss for the sake of Christ” (Phil 3:7). We do not regard anything greater than Christ who did not regard His heavenly privileges as something to hoard instead of dying for us.
• Whereas Jesus was “found in appearance as a man” (Phil 2:8), so also Paul’s desire was to “be found in Him… having a righteousness… which is through faith in Christ” (Phil 3:9). What Jesus did, found as a man, us allows us by faith to be found in Him with His righteousness.
• Jesus “emptied Himself, taking the form [morphē] of a bond-servant” (Phil 2:7) in order to suffer “death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). As we have faith in Him, we are “being conformed [symmorphizō] to His death” (Phil 3:10) and, thanks to our coming resurrection, we will have a body in “conformity [symmorphos]” with His (Phil 3:21).
• “He humbled [tapeinoō] Himself” to bring “glory” to the Father (Phil 2:8, 11) so that “our humble state [tapeinōsis]” could be like that “of His glory” (Phil 3:21)
• Jesus took on the “appearance [schēma] as a man” (Phil 2:8). Likewise, He “will transform [metaschēmatizō] the body” to be like His at the resurrection (Phil 3:21).
• All will confess “Jesus Christ” as “Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:11). So also, each one who claims “Christ Jesus” as “my Lord” will enjoy a body in “conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil 3:21).

This quick comparison between Philippians 2 and 3 is enough for us to see that as Christ lived, so also shall we as we have faith in Him. How He thought, suffered, was raised, and is Lord over all to the glory of the Father, so also as we think like Him, suffer like Him, will be raised to be like Him, and thus have a glorious body like His. What an amazing thing it is to consider these echoes of Jesus in us today!

—

David Huffstutler is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Troy, MI. He blogs here, where this article also appeared. It is published here by permission.

Image generated by ChatGPT

All biblical quotes NASB