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Philippians and Philemon: Prison Epistles, Part 2

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of Philippians (Philippians 1–4)
    22 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Philippians: Suffering and Community (Philippians Review)
    22 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    Overview of Philemon
    22 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    Paul and Slavery (Philemon, Romans 6 Review)
    17 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Social Impact
    9 Activities
    |
    4 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

The book of Isaiah played an important role in the early Christian understanding of Jesus. Read the hymn in Philippians 2:6-11 one more time, alongside two brief passages from Isaiah 53:7-12 and 45:22-23. Use YouVersion to navigate from Philippians to Isaiah, or use your own Bible to compare the passages. 

  1. In your workbook complete the table by filling in the third column with the appropriate verses from Isaiah. You may refer to Philippians 2:6-11, Isaiah 53:7-12 and 45:22-23.
Philippians (NIV)JesusIsaiah
2:7“emptied himself”
2:8“humbled himself”
2:8“obedient to death”
2:9“therefore God exalted him to the highest place”
See the completed table below comparing attributes of Jesus in Philippians 2 with those of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53.


Each of the four rows in the table identifies Jesus with the Suffering Servant from Isaiah, but what this hymn does in the following verse (Philippians 2:10) is even more significant. It uses language about Jesus that the prophet reserved for God Himself.

 

This poem presents Jesus as fulfilling a prophecy that unambiguously refers to YHWH. In subtle comments like this, it is clear that for Paul and the early church, Jesus is not only fully human, but also fully God. Jesus is not just our Savior; he is YHWH himself.


Reference: Ben Witherington III, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary, 2011, p. 146.