Philippians 2:5-11 - The Mind Of Christ

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.[a]

  7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant,

taking on the likeness of humanity.

And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

9 For this reason God highly exalted him

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth—

11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The text is written as a chiasm

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

Adopt the same attitude - present active imperative - command, do this, option to disobey. Not automatic, must obey.

Phroneo - think like this, set your mind on this.  1 Cor 2:16 - we have the mind of Christ

6 who,

existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God as something

to be exploited.[a]

Existing - present active participle - the one "being"

Denotes being which is from the beginning.  Speaks of the preincarnate Christ. 

The distinction between this word and the simple εἶναι, to be, is very subtle. The verb ὑπάρχω, originally means to make a beginning; hence, to begin or to come into being; and, though used substantially as a synonym of εἶναι, of a thing actually existing and at hand, it has a backward look to an antecedent condition which has been protracted into the present. Thus we might paraphrase here, “If a brother or sister, having been in a destitute condition, be found by you in that condition.” Εἶναι, on the other hand, would simply state the present fact of destitution

Form - morphe - nature, shape, visual form

However, contextually not about shape or form physically but about character and nature.  It's philosophical rather than physical. Means the essence of the person.

To say, then, that Christ was in the form of God, is to say that He existed as essentially one with God

Consider - aorist active imperative - regard, be of the opinion

Equality - to be equal -

Exploited - retain by force, something to be grasped, the act of seizing.

He did not feel that his divinity was a prize that was to be grasped and held at all cost. 

What do we hold on to so tightly?

Christ’s great object was to identify Himself with humanity; not to appear to men as divine but as human.

The rather He counted humanity His prize, and so laid aside the conditions of His preëxistent state, and became man

7 Instead he emptied himself (contrast)

by assuming the form of a servant,

taking on the likeness of humanity.

And when he had come as a man,

Emptied - aorist active indicative - vain, cause to lose power, empty oneself, purge

Assuming - aorist active participle - take hold of,  acquire

Form - morphe - nature, shape, visual form

Same word as above. We have a change of state.  The form of a servant for the form of God. 

Servant - doulos - means "unfree" it is used of servants and slaves who are personal property of their owner

Taking on - aorist middle particple - being

Likeness - similarity, expression

Come as a man - find, discover, attained

He gave up the right to enjoy his rights.  We expect our rights - the idea of being treated with respect, get our way,

8 he humbled himself

by becoming obedient (means)

to the point of death—

even to death on a cross.

Humbled - make low, base, ignoble, low birth

Obedient - giving ear (neat way the GK describes obedience)

To the point of - a word that means to the degree, until, as far as

9 For this reason (purpose)

God highly exalted him and

gave him the name that is above every name,

Reason - a way of saying "therefore"

Exalted - aorist active indicative - give exceptional honor

Gave - charizomai - generously give, show favor,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— (purpose)

in heaven and

on earth and

under the earth—

11 and every tongue will confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”  1 Peter 5:6