“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV.
Humble, tapeinoo, Strong’s # 5013. Literally, “to make low,” used of a mountain in Luke 3:5. Metaphorically, the word means to debase, humble, and lower oneself. It describes a person who is devoid of all arrogance and self-exaltation—a person who is willingly submitted to God and His will. In the manifestation of Jesus’ incarnation (Phil. 2:8), He brought about the recognition of His humanity by demonstrating His absolute dependence on His Father. 
The truth of the incarnation is expressed in the complete self-renunciation of Christ as He made Himself of no reputation (emptied Himself of His privileges) see July 8, 2014 post “The Empty God.” He veiled the manifestations of deity and assumed real humanity. Likeness suggests that Jesus was really a man, but not merely a man. His humanity was genuine, yet His being was still divine.
Human viewpoints on humility distort the idea, often “humbling” people by loveless actions that rob them of dignity and nobility. But the example of Christ like humility is manifested in the freedom of God’s Son to affirm the fullness of all of God has placed in Him, without needing to flaunt, prove, or push it through self-advancement.
Jesus’ complete absence of any need to “clutch” for power or attention is manifest humility. It is the royal spirit that the King of heaven Himself displayed in servant like graciousness. Just as Christ’s humility received ultimate exaltation (Phil. 2:9-11), so our call to “humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” points to the way for the rise of God’s highest purpose in each of us (James 4:10).
Humbling ourselves opens us up to increased grace (1 Peter 5:5), and child likeness is the doorway to the liveliness of “kingdom come” in our life and service (Matthew 18:4). :-) I need more grace, how about you?
Filed under: Christianity, Commentary, Nuggets, Theology, Word Study, word study Greek
