What Is The Context Of This Verse
The Apostle Paul wrote this joy-filled epistle to the church of Philippa when he was imprisoned. The recipients of this letter were Gentiles that he had evangelized during an earlier missionary journey . Paul wrote to this church with gratitude and encouragement, and the overall theme seems to emphasize that believers can and should find joy in their suffering.
A message such as that was very appropriate given that Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter. Truly, he lived by the words he wrote. Though he was wrongly imprisoned, he continued to encourage and care for the churches he evangelized.
Paul began his letter to the Philippians advising them to live in a way that was worthy of being followers of Christ. In the second chapter of the epistle to the Philippians, Paul called the church of Philippa to be more humble. To demonstrate the significance of humility, Paul wrote about Jesus humility as an example they could follow. He urged the church to be in unity with one another and obedient to God. He instructed them on faithful behavior and obedience to God. He encouraged them to treat each other in honoring ways because they were followers of Jesus.
Bible Verses About Every Knee Shall Bow
Bible verses related to Every Knee Shall Bow from the King James Version by Relevance
Philippians 2:10-11 – That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth Romans 14:11 – For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.Philippians 2:9-11 – Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Isaiah 45:23 – I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.Philippians 2:10 – That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth Revelation 1:7 – Behold, he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.Revelation 5:13 – And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Search the King James Version for more references about Every Knee Shall Bow…
Philippians : 10 Meaning And Commentary
Philippians 2:10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow Which is to be understood, not of the outward act of bowing the knee upon hearing the name, and the syllables of the mere name Jesus pronounced for in the bare name there can be nothing which can command such a peculiar respect it was a name common with the Jews: Joshua is so called in and the name of Elymas the sorcerer was Barjesus: that is, the son of Jesus, Now, how monstrously ridiculous and stupid would it be, for a man, upon hearing these passages, and upon the pronouncing of this word, to bow the knee? Moreover, the words ought not to be rendered at, but “in the name of Jesus” that is, in and by reason of the power, authority, and dignity of Jesus, as exalted at God’s right hand, every creature is to be subject to him: add to this, that there are several creatures included in the following account, who, in a corporeal sense, have not knees to bow with, as angels, the souls of men departed, and devils and therefore an external corporeal bowing of the knee cannot be meant. The Jews indeed, upon hearing the name Jehovah pronounced by the high priest, in the holy of holies, used to bow: they say F14,
“that the priests, and the people, that stand in the court, when they hear Shemhamphorash pronounced by the high priest, , “bowed”, and worshipped, and fell upon their faces, and said, blessed be the name of the glory of his kingdom, for ever and ever:”
and in earth
You May Like: Aquatalia Over The Knee Boots
Application Of The Teaching:
1. The exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ is an encouragement to humility.
This is Pauls primary application in the context. If Jesus is the exalted Lord, weve got to dethrone self. We are to follow our Lord in His example of laying aside His rights and taking the form of a servant. Because He humbled Himself, God highly exalted Him. Jesus taught, For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted . It would be wrong to think that Jesus was motivated to go to the cross by the thought of being exalted afterwards. He went to the cross out of love and obedience to the Father and love for you and me. But being exalted was His reward. Our motivation to humble ourselves should be love for God and others, because of His great love for us. But, if we humble ourselves under Gods mighty hand, He will exalt us at the proper time .
2. The exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ is an encouragement in trials.
Jesus endured the cross, and the Father strengthened Him and gave Him grace for that awful ordeal. The cross, the resurrection and subsequent exaltation of Jesus shows that God can transform the most grotesque of human sins against us into the greatest of divine triumphs. Any suffering or tragedy we face can redound to the glory of God.
3. The exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ is an encouragement to evangelism.
4. The exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ is an encouragement to salvation.
Reasons Christians Anticipate Every Knee Bowing
As you can see there are two sides of this experience. Lets look at the other side of this experience to understand why Christians look forward to when every knee will bow. Here are two reasons
1. Victory One of the great reasons for serving Jesus is you are on the winning side. I was having a conversation recently with my pastor about end-times events and what is happening in our society. I concluded the conversation with this question: “Arent you glad you know whose side you are on?”
It is so wonderful to know that you are on the side of the one who will reign forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Each day we live we move closer to that glorious day when he will return and establish his kingdom forever. What a day that will be and that should encourage you. Hebrews 10:25 reminds us to encourage each other all the more as we see the day approaching.
2. Validation Another reason why Christians look forward to when every knee will bow is validation. The truth is that sometimes being a Christian in this world is hard. Jesus said it would be. You may be mistreated, misunderstood, misrepresented, hated for standing for the truth of Gods word. People may call you narrow-minded because you declare Jesus is Lord and the only way to heaven and God the Father. Some people are persecuted in our world for their faith, even to the point of death.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror then we shall see face to face. 1 Corinthians 13:12
You May Like: Best Doctors For Knee Replacement Surgery
Jesus Divinity And Majesty
Though Jesus left his throne in heaven and came to earth as a man who went on to die for our sins and resurrect, we can rest assured that Jesus is once again seated at the right hand of the Father. This verse affirms the divinity of Jesus and the majesty of Jesus. It reminds us to draw closer to God so that we are ready for this day, and to continue sharing the Gospel to those who have not yet received salvation.
We can excitedly await Jesus second coming. For it will be a glorious and humbling moment when each of us comes before Jesus, and in awe and reverence, will kneel before him and confess with our mouths that he is our Lord and Savior.
Pamela Palmer is a writer, speaker, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces devotionals and faith resources to inspire keeping faith at the center of life. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of others. She lives and thrives on Jesus, coffee, and music. She is the author of Living a Deeper Faith: Nurture Your Relationship with God and Live a Faith-Fueled Life. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com, and you can follow her at upheldlife.com or on .com/upheldlife.
The Judgment Seat Of Christ
We are reminded that judgment is reserved only for God, and the righteousness of ones faith is for Him alone to determine. God claimed ownership of every group of believers when He said: Every knee shall bow before me every tongue will acknowledge God.
It also mentions that whatever one does in the observance of his faith, he must do so without a doubt in his heart. For if he religiously observes his practices but does so without fully believing in them, then he has committed a sin because it is no longer derived from faith. His observance is then derived from convention, a practice that others believe in, but he does not fully believe himself. This is important because the passage also mentions that Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. And if ones faith is merely borrowed, then how can one be held accountable for his own faith.
Read Also: Does Ms Cause Knee Pain
What Is Our Responsibility
I think Jude gives us a great answer:
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to Gods holy people. Jude 1:3
Lets contend for the faith. We know for certain the day will come when Jesus will be acknowledged as Lord. And in case you were wondering, he is Lord right nowits just that everyone has not acknowledged it yet. Until that day, lets all stand strong and contend for the faith knowing that our redemption is nearer now than when we first believed. When Jesus ascended into heaven in the book of Acts, he left us here to be his witnesses in Jerusalem and ultimately to the ends of the earth. Lets go forth proclaiming Jesus as Savior and Lord because here is what we know for sure:
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Not only is he Lord alone, he is Savior alone…a Savior our world desperately needs.
How Does This Truth Impact How We Relate To Others
There are so many areas of Christian teaching that can cause division. Certainly, central elements of the Gospel and of what we believe should be the same no matter what denomination you belong to, or what church building you worship in. For example, belief in an almighty God the sinful nature of mankind the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation and Jesus oneness with the Father as fully God and fully man should always be the bedrock of what we believe.
However, there are many aspects of corporate worship, individual discipline, or doctrinal standards that cause as much division now as they did in Pauls day. Look to any modern denominational conference, and you will see heated arguments over the churchs position on key social issues, our commitment to curing the ills of the world around us, what kind of music to play during a service, terms and conditions of baptism, alignment with conservative or liberal theology the list goes on indefinitely.
While careful study and attention to the Word of God as the only source of teaching is essential for all Christians, an argument over what kind of food we should eat or whether Christians are allowed to work on Sunday is nowhere required of believers as essential to salvation. In these things, we should lovingly submit to each other and build each other up.
Also Check: What To Take For Stiff Knees
What It Means That Every Knee Shall Bow
So why should believers look forward to the day when every knee will bow to Christ?
The time when most scholars believe that every knee will bow is at the Second Coming of Christ, or the Parousia. It is at this time that the Lord will come to judge the earth. While non-believers will bow down in submission to Christs authority out of fear, followers of Jesus have the opportunity to do willingly and joyfully. Bowing at the name of Jesus will be a time of celebration rather than judgment for those who have faithfully served the Lord.
In Romans 8:17, Paul states that we as believers are heirs of God and coheirs with Christ. Though we share in his sufferings, we shall also share in his glory. The day when Christ reigns is also the day we will see Gods kingdom fully established. Our shared suffering with Christ will be fully glorified through Him. Finally, the Lords prayer, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, will be firmly established.
We have both a hope and a challenge in the knowledge that one day every knee will bow at the name of Christ. The hope is found in Jesus promise to return. In that time, he will make things right in the world. All the injustice, immorality, and selfishness will end. The Lord will prove Sovereign over all creation. The wicked will be judged for their deeds. Those who refused to acknowledge God will confess His name.
How Should We Live Knowing That One Day Every Knee Will Bow
1. We rejoice in our present sufferings knowing that they are not in vain.
Every decision we make for Christ matters. Even when the world does not understand why we live differently, the ability to stand firm and endure is not wasted. Colossians 3 encourages us as believers to set our minds on the things of Christ and not live in the way of the world, because when Christ appears, we will also appear with him in glory.
2. We make the most of life to live the difference Christ has mad in our lives.
Jesus told his disciples to be salt and light so that the world would know the difference in them and could be blessed by them. As Christians, the difference Christ has made in our lives is love. As we offer love to the world, hopefully people will want the answer we have.
3. We practice kneeling.
Worship is a lifestyle. It is not meant to be a Sunday event or simply an experience. Rather, we kneel before the Lord out of recognition of who He is, what He has done, and how we respond to Him. Kneeling is an attitude of the heart as much as an action of the knees. As we bow our heads, we ask God to direct our path so we can do His work for His glory.
4. We declare the name of Jesus.
Christs Sonship to the Father and his humility and obedience in his ministry on earth will culminate in the day when all creation will declare his greatness. The question for believers today is, how can we make the most of His great name with the days we have now?
You May Like: What To Do When Knee Hurts
Every Knee Will Bow To The Name Of Jesus Christ
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 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
Merry Christmas! I pray that this will be one of the most wonderful Christmases you have ever known in your entire life! And as you celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ, dont forget to make sure your heart is ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. In fact, I urge you to use today as a special reminder to tell everyone that Jesus is coming again soon!
Because Jesus came to earth the first time and became obedient unto death on the Cross, the Bible joyfully declares: 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 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father .
My friend, the first time Jesus came to this world, He came as a little baby boy that was born in Bethlehem. But the next time Jesus comes and it could be at any time He will come as the Lord of lords and the King of kings! According to the Bible, at that moment every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.