Philippians 2:11

Verbal confession of Jesus’ lordship will accompany symbolic physical submission. Every being that has a tongue and can speak will acknowledge Jesus as Lord. The affirmation, "Jesus Christ is Lord," was the earliest confessional formula of the church (cf. Acts 2:36; Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 11:23; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 16:22). [Note: Hawthorne, p. 93.] God will by this universal confession receive glory. Jesus Christ’s purpose is, always has been, and always will be to glorify the Father (1 Corinthians 15:27). [Note: See John V. Dahms, "The Subordination of the Son," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 37:3 (September 1994):351-64.]

"Verse 11 means, then, that the hope of God is that every intelligent being in his universe might proclaim openly and gladly (Lightfoot) that Jesus Christ alone has the right to reign." [Note: Hawthorne, p. 93.]

The exaltation of Jesus Christ is as much a motivation for the Christian to live a life of submissive humility as is His incarnation. God will reward a life of self-denial now and in the future. That is the obvious implication of Paul’s illustration.

Is it not selfish to serve the Lord for a reward? Was it selfish for Jesus to endure what He did because He knew He would receive a reward? Motivation is the key. If we submit to God and to one another for the glory of God rather than for selfish glory, as Jesus did, our motivation is correct.

The power of a positive example is very strong. Paul had previously used himself as an example of steadfastness (Philippians 1:30), and he would do so again. Here he pointed to Jesus Christ, the greatest example of submissiveness (Philippians 2:2-11). He would use Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples for his readers later (Philippians 2:19-23; Philippians 2:25-30). [Note: See David J. MacLeod, "The Exaltation of Christ: An Exposition of Philippians 2:9-11," Bibliotheca Sacra 158:632 (October-December 2001):437-50.]