Greek Key Terms:
Context: Paul exhorts the Philippians to humility by pointing to Christ's example. This passage (likely an early Christian hymn) describes Christ's descent and exaltation: though existing in the "form of God" (μορφῇ θεοῦ), He did not consider equality with God "something to be grasped" (ἁρπαγμός), but "emptied Himself" (ἐκένωσεν), took the form of a servant, became human, and humbled Himself to death on a cross. Therefore God "highly exalted Him" (ὑπερύψωσεν) and gave Him "the name above every name"—so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
OT-to-OT Development:
Connections:
Christological Connection: Philippians 2 presents Christ as the anti-Nimrod. (1) Grasping vs. Emptying: Where Nimrod (and every empire-builder) grasps for power, Christ "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself" (vv. 6-7). This is the fundamental inversion of the Babylonian spirit. (2) Ascending vs. Descending: Isaiah 14:13: "I will ascend to heaven." Philippians 2:7-8: Christ "made Himself nothing... humbled Himself... even to death." True glory comes through descent, not ascent. (3) Self-Exaltation vs. God's Exaltation: Nimrod "began to be a mighty one on the earth" (Gen 10:8)—he made himself great. "Therefore God exalted Him" (v. 9)—Christ's exaltation comes from the Father, not self-assertion. (4) Lord of Lords: The name "above every name" (v. 9) means Christ now occupies the position every Nimrod sought but could not achieve. Universal sovereignty belongs to the Servant who died, not the hunter who conquered.
Connection Method(s): Contrast — Christ as the "anti-Nimrod" systematically inverts the Babylonian pattern: emptying versus grasping, descending versus ascending, receiving exaltation from the Father versus self-assertion, demonstrating that universal sovereignty belongs to the Servant who died, not the hunter who conquered.
Trajectory Table: 111 - Nimrod (The First Empire Builder)