Philippians 2:5-6
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Paul doesn't just tell us to have Christ's mind, but that this very disposition is what we possess in Christ Jesus. This shifts the focus from a human effort to achieve humility, to recognizing it as an inherent quality of our new identity, a gift already given to us through our union with Him.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is urging the Philippian believers to overcome their internal disputes and live in unity. To achieve this, he directs them to the ultimate example of Christ Jesus, whose humility in becoming human and dying on the cross led to His exaltation by God. This profound act of self-emptying is presented as the model for their own attitudes and actions.
Paul urges believers to have a specific mindset, but what exactly is it? It's more than just good behavior; it's a fundamental way of thinking.
Paul uses the Greek word 'phroneo' here, which means more than just 'to think.' It encompasses your mindset, your attitude, your affections, and your intentions.
When Paul says, 'Have this mind among yourselves,' he's calling for a unified perspective that prioritizes the needs and well-being of others over personal gain or status. It's about adopting a self-giving attitude that seeks the good of the community.
This isn't about suppressing your own thoughts or feelings, but about directing them towards a humble, others-focused orientation, mirroring Christ's own disposition.
Paul points to Jesus as the ultimate model. But what specific aspects of Jesus' life and nature are we to imitate?
The verse doesn't just tell us to 'be like Jesus.' It points to a profound reality: the very disposition that was 'in Christ Jesus' is what we are to cultivate.
This 'mind' of Christ involved an incredible act of self-emptying. Though He was in the very 'form of God,' He didn't cling to His divine status. Instead, He voluntarily took on the 'form of a servant,' becoming human and humbling himself to the point of death on the cross.
This wasn't just outward action, but an inward reality of prioritizing God's will and the salvation of humanity above His own comfort or glory. We are called to reflect this same selfless, humble spirit.
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Paul connects having this mindset to being 'in Christ Jesus.' What does this divine connection mean for our unity?
The phrase 'in Christ Jesus' is foundational to Paul's thought. It signifies our union with Christ, a deep spiritual reality where our identity is transformed by His life, death, and resurrection.
When we are 'in Christ,' His mind, His disposition, His very nature becomes available to us. This isn't about us generating humility from scratch, but about living out the humility that Christ has already accomplished and imparted to us through our union with Him.
This shared identity in Christ is the ultimate basis for unity. It means that as we all share in Christ, we are called to reflect His selfless love and humility towards one another, breaking down divisions and fostering genuine fellowship.
Understand the original words
phroneō · Greek Verb
A mindset, attitude, or disposition that governs one's perspective and actions; in the New Testament, it refers to the transformed way of thinking that characterizes a disciple of Jesus.
morphē · Greek Noun
The essential nature, character, or external manifestation of something that perfectly reflects its inner essence. When applied to God, it signifies the fullness of divine nature.
isa · Greek Adjective (adverbial use)
The state of being equal in nature, dignity, and authority. Here it refers to Christ’s inherent, pre-existent status as fully God.
harpagmos · Greek Noun
Something to be seized, snatched, or held onto for one's own advantage. Christ did not view his divine prerogative as something to be selfishly clutched at the expense of his mission.
The Philippian church faced internal divisions. Paul, writing from Roman imprisonment, urges them to adopt the humble, self-sacrificing mindset of Christ. This isn't just abstract theology; it's a practical call to unity, rooted in the historical reality of Jesus' life, death, and exaltation, meant to transform their relationships and community.
c. 6 BC - c. 4 BC
Birth of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem, fulfilling prophecies and marking the beginning of God's plan for salvation through His Son.
c. AD 27 - c. AD 30
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
Jesus' public ministry, characterized by acts of compassion, teaching about the Kingdom of God, and revealing God's nature.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is crucified, dies, and is resurrected, demonstrating ultimate self-sacrifice and victory over sin and death.
c. AD 40s - c. AD 50s
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul travels widely, establishing churches and spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.
c. AD 60 - c. AD 62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul writes the Epistle to the Philippians while under house arrest in Rome, providing guidance and encouragement to the church there.
Jesus demonstrates this same humble mindset by washing his disciples' feet, teaching that true leadership involves service.
Romans 15:3Paul directly points to Christ's example of not seeking his own pleasure but enduring hardship for God's glory and the people's benefit.
1 Peter 2:21This passage calls believers to follow Christ's example of suffering for righteousness, echoing the self-sacrificing attitude described in Philippians 2:5.
Galatians 2:20This verse highlights the believer's union with Christ, suggesting that the 'mind of Christ' is realized through Christ living in us.
Colossians 3:12Paul urges believers to 'clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,' which are all key components of the mind that was in Christ Jesus.
barnesPhilippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus - The object of this reference to the example of the Saviour is particularly to enforce the duty of humility. This was the highest example which could be furnished, and it would illustrate and confirm all the apostle had said of this virtue. The principle in the case is, that we are to make the Lord Jesus our model, and are in all respects to frame our lives, as fa…
vincentPhilippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"
Let this mind be in you (τοῦτο φρονείσθω ἐν ὑμιν)Lit., let this be thought in you. The correct reading, however, is φρονεῖτε, lit., "think this in yourselves." Rev., have this mind in you.
Paul doesn't just tell us to have Christ's mind, but that this very disposition is what we possess in Christ Jesus. This shifts the focus from a human effort to achieve humility, to recognizing it as an inherent quality of our new identity, a gift already given to us through our union with Him.
Paul is urging the Philippian believers to overcome their internal disputes and live in unity. To achieve this, he directs them to the ultimate example of Christ Jesus, whose humility in becoming human and dying on the cross led to His exaltation by God. This profound act of self-emptying is presented as the model for their own attitudes and actions.
Paul is urging the Philippian believers to overcome their internal disputes and live in unity. To achieve this, he directs them to the ultimate example of Christ Jesus, whose humility in becoming human and dying on the cross led to His exaltation by God. This profound act of self-emptying is presented as the model for their own attitudes and actions.
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped," — Paul doesn't just tell us to have Christ's mind, but that this very disposition is what we possess in Christ Jesus. This shifts the focus from a human effort to achieve humility, to recognizing…
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Last reviewed October 2026
