CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
Philippians 2:9. Highly exalted.—A word much stronger than those, e.g., in the Acts, which describe the raising up of the murdered Lord of life. We trace the descent step by step to the last rung of the ladder; by one stupendous act (Romans 1:4) God graced His Son with unique honour and dignity (Ephesians 1:21).
Philippians 2:10. That at the name of Jesus.—Not at the mention of the name Jesus, but in the name of Jesus. For illustration of the phrase see Christ’s own words, “in My name” (John 14:13-14, etc.). Every knee should bow.—The outward symbol of an inward submission or recognition of superiority. By what language could the apostle express the exaltation above creaturely needs if not by this? If used of a creature, it would be blasphemous. The jealous God does not allow bowing down in worship to any but Himself. As Pliny said, Quasi Deo.
Philippians 2:11. Should confess.—“Proclaim with thanksgiving” (Lightfoot). It is the word which describes the frank admission [of wrong, Matthew 3:6]. That Jesus Christ is Lord.—The emphasis is on “Lord.” The specific Christian profession of faith is “Jesus is Lord”; its opposite, “Anathema Jesus” (1 Corinthians 12:3 and Romans 10:9).
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Philippians 2:9-11
The Exaltation of Christ—
I. Was a divine act.—“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him” Philippians 2:9). As a recognition of the humiliation and obedience of Christ, God exalted Him to the throne of mediatorial sovereignty. As Bengel puts it, “Christ emptied Christ; God exalted Christ as man to equality with God” (Compare Psalms 8:5-6; Psalms 110:1; Psalms 110:7; Matthew 28:18; Luke 24:26; John 5:27; John 10:17; Romans 14:9; Ephesians 1:20-22; Hebrews 2:9).
II. Was the acquisition of a name of pre-eminent dignity and significance.—“And given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus” (Philippians 2:9-10). Jesus is the same as Joshua, or Jehoshua, only framed to the Greek pronunciation and termination. Joshua, who brought the hosts of Israel into the rest of Canaan, was originally called Hoshea, but it was changed into Joshua or Jehoshua, by an addition of the first syllable in the divine name Jehovah, perhaps to intimate that not Joshua of himself, but Jehovah by him, would complete the deliverance and rest of Israel. The name Jesus means Jehovah-Saviour, or Jehovah-Salvation, and Jesus is so called because He saves His people from their sins. The name cannot be given to any other being; it belongs solely and absolutely to the one Jesus. “Here we should probably look,” says Lightfoot, “to a common Hebrew sense of name, not meaning a definite appellation, but denoting office, rank, dignity. In this case the use of the name of God in the Old Testament to denote the divine Presence or the divine Majesty, more especially as the object of adoration and praise, will suggest the true meaning; since the context dwells on the honour and worship henceforth offered to Him on whom the name has been conferred. To praise the name, to bless the name, to fear the name of God, are frequent expressions in the Old Testament.” The name of Jesus marks the pre-eminence of Jesus—it is the “name above every name.” That name wields the mightiest power in the world to-day. A modern writer of reputation has said: “There is a wave—I believe it is only a wave—passing over the cultivated thought of Europe at present, which will make short work of all belief in a God that does not grip fast to Jesus Christ. As far as I can read the signs of the times and the tendency of modern thinking, it is this—either an absolute silence, a heaven stretching above us, blue and clear and cold, and far away and dumb; or else a Christ that speaks—He or none. The theism that has shaken itself loose from Him will be crushed, I am sure, in the encounter with the agnosticism and materialism of this day.” The name of the exalted Jesus is the salvation of the world in more senses than one.
III. Entitles him to universal homage.—“Every knee shall bow … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11). Beings above, below, and on the earth shall acknowledge the supremacy and deity of Jesus, and unite in a universal and consentaneous act of praise and worship of His divine majesty. On the door of the old mosque in Damascus, once a Christian church, but now ranked among the holiest of the Mahometan sanctuaries, are inscribed these remarkable words: “Thy kingdom, O Christ, is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.” For more than twelve hundred years the inscription has remained unimpaired by time and undisturbed by man. What is it waiting for? Already a Christian Church has been founded in that ancient city, and the gospel is preached there every Sabbath. The world’s submission to Jesus is drawing near.
Lessons.—The name of Jesus—
1. Is unique in its reputation.
2. In its moral influence among the nations.
3. In its saving power.
4. In the homage Paid to it.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
Philippians 2:9-11. The Name of Jesus: its Exaltation and Power.
I. The Saviour’s exaltation (Philippians 2:9).—He was exalted by His resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and His glorious session at the right hand of God, whence He now discharges the high functions of Prophet, Priest, and King.
II. The Saviour’s name.—“That at the name of Jesus” (Philippians 2:10). Jehovah, the Saviour.
1. The supreme eminence of the name.—“A name which is above every name.”
2. Pre-eminent because no other being could receive the title.
3. Pre-eminent because there is no other name that has the mysterious virtue of saving as this.
III. The power of the Saviour’s name.—
1. In saving the sinner.
2. In commanding the homage and worship of all, and in eliciting the universal acknowledgment of His deity (Philippians 2:10-11).
We learn a lesson of humility.—
1. Because Christ humbled Himself for us.
2. We should humble ourselves on account of past sins.
3. Humility leads to exaltation.
Christ Worthy of Universal Homage.—
1. The Lord Christ, having abased Himself for our redemption, was exalted by the Father to the highest pitch of glory.
2. The name which is above every name is said to be given to Christ, because His divine majesty, before hid, was now manifested and the human nature so highly honoured that that person who is man is true God, and is to be acknowledged as such. 3. However small a part of the world acknowledge Christ to be the Lord, His glory will grow till all reasonable creatures in heaven, earth, and hell subject themselves to Him, and the giving of divine honour to Him does in no way impair the glory of God the Father.—Fergusson.