Philippians 2:9-11
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”
King James Version · the opening — all 3 verses are below
Universal acknowledgment of Christ's Lordship by all creation, fulfilling Isaiah 45:23's worship of the one God.
Read the whole passage — all 3 verses (KJV)
2:9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
2:10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
2:11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Fulfillment References
Isaiah 45:23 Revelation 5:13 Romans 14:11
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalGod 'hath given him a name which is above every name' — the name of Jesus — that at it every knee should bow. Paul applies to Jesus the words of Isaiah 45:23, where the LORD (YHWH) swears every knee shall bow to Him alone. Therefore Jesus is the LORD; the one God's incommunicable honor is given to the name of Jesus, 'to the glory of God the Father' — Father and Son not two Gods, but the one God revealed and exalted in Christ.
JewishThe background, Isaiah 45:23, is a strict monotheistic oath — every knee bows to YHWH alone; Judaism does not apply it to Jesus.
CatholicThe exaltation of the humbled, incarnate Christ and the universal lordship of His name; the kenosis hymn (cf. the Catechism).
ProtestantThe exalted Lord Jesus before whom all creation bows; Paul's use of Isaiah 45:23 ascribes divine lordship to Christ.
AcademicAn early Christ-hymn; applying Isaiah 45:23 (a strict-monotheism text) to Jesus is a landmark of early high Christology (much discussed since Hurtado and Bauckham).
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Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.