Philippians 2:5

Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

As Wesley said, "From this verse to Philippians 2:11, Paul presents the great renunciation of Christ as the supreme example of the unselfishness to which he has exhorted the Philippians in Philippians 2:4."[9]

Have this mind in you ... This is one of eight Scriptural expressions describing the redeemed in Christ. For a full list and discussion of these, see under Galatians 5:23, this volume.

Which was also in Christ Jesus ... The proper verb in this clause must be "is" rather than "was"; because, while true enough either way, the eternity and pre-existence of Christ clearly enunciated in the whole passage suggest "is" rather than "was." Hendriksen translated it "is."[10] The Greek in this clause has no verb at all,[11] the reason being that no single tense of the verb "to be" is adequate in this clause. Of himself, Jesus said, "I am ... I was ... and behold I am alive forever more" (Revelation 1:17,18). Thus Jesus Christ is, was and ever will be. See also Hebrews 13:8.

Having the mind of Christ in one is equivalent to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as well as to the indwelling of the Father and the Son in Christian hearts. The Christian's being "in Christ," "in God," "in the Holy Spirit," or having "the word of Christ dwell in" him are also equivalent in every way. See under Galatians 5:23, above.

[9] John Wesley, op. cit., in loco.

[10] William Hendriksen, op. cit., p. 102.

[11] Alfred Marshall, The Nestle Greek Text with a Literal English Translation (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1958), in loco.