Philippians 2:7 is studied here as a Biblical passage first: in its immediate King James context, through its recurring metaphysical themes, and through source-grounded readings preserved in Neville Goddard's lectures and books.
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Read the Passage in Context
- Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
- Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
- Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Open Philippians 2:7 in the YHWSA Bible workspace for the complete chapter, word tools, notes, and comparisons.
Key Metaphysical Themes
- Form Of A Slave
- Obedience Unto Death
- Cross Of Man
- Incarnation
- Son Of God
- Servant
- Cross
- Obedience
- Descent
- Resurrection
- Kenosis
- God Becoming Man
Neville’s Reading in Christmas
Neville interprets Christ's humility and obedience unto death as God (the 'I' awareness) taking on the limitations of human flesh, becoming a 'slave' and restricted by incarnation on the 'cross called Man'.
Finding myself in the form of a slave, I become obedient until death upon the cross called Man, where I remain as God, restricted by my incarnation.
Source: Christmas
Neville’s Reading in Consigned To Disobedience
This describes the descent of the Son of God into human form, taking on the role of a "servant" and enduring the "crucifixion" of earthly experience, which is a necessary part of the divine journey towards ultimate resurrection and union with the Father.
Yes, I gave it up as the son of God, and took upon myself this garment, and became a servant, a slave, and was crucified upon this garment called the “cross,” and made myself of no reputation, and became obedient unto death -- even death on this cross, and went through all the horrors of the world; and He called me, then, His servant.
Source: Consigned To Disobedience
Neville’s Reading in Eschatology The Doctrine Of The End
God, as the creative power and wisdom, deliberately limited Himself by taking on human form and experiencing death, including the 'cross of man,' which is a metaphor for human limitation and suffering, and this internal fulfillment is often disbelieved when shared.
The power and wisdom to create emptied himself of all that was his and, taking upon himself the form of a slave, was born in the likeness of man. Spirit became obedient unto death, even death upon the cross of man. And when an individual man told the story of how the prophecies unfolded in him, no one would believe his story.
Neville’s Reading in I Am The Cause
Humanity's descent from heaven involved a voluntary 'emptying' of divine attributes and an assumption of human limitations, poverty, and weakness. This was not a pretense but a deliberate act of becoming human for the sake of experience.
You came down from heaven and emptied yourself of all that you were in order to assume the limitations and weaknesses of the human flesh. You are not pretending that you are man; you became man by assuming poverty, though you were rich. You assumed weakness, though you were strong. You - an infinite being - assumed all these things for their experience.
Source: I Am The Cause
Neville’s Reading in Pauls Autobiography
This describes the mystical act of God (Christ) emptying himself and taking on human form (the 'cross' being the body) as an act of love, not grievance, leading to a delightful crucifixion experience.
Again Paul answers, in his letter to the Philippians 2: “He emptied himself and became obedient unto death, even death upon a cross.”
Source: Pauls Autobiography
Neville’s Reading in Power And Wisdom
The act of emptying oneself of divine power and wisdom to experience human limitation (taking the form of a slave) is a divinely planned descent, which, though appearing as a tragedy, ultimately leads to the triumph of becoming aware of being God the Father.
You see, when you emptied yourself of your power and wisdom to take on the form of a slave in the world of time, it was at once a tragedy and yet a triumph.
Source: Power And Wisdom
Practical Reflection
- Understand that your current human experience, with its challenges and limitations, is a temporary "garment" or "cross" that you, as the Son of God, willingly took on for a divine purpose, leading to ultimate awakening.
- This perspective reframes human suffering and limitation as a necessary part of a grand divine plan, leading to an enhanced awareness of one's true identity as God.
- Understanding the divine descent into human form as a voluntary act of self-emptying, leading to the experience of physical limitation and mortality.
- This passage illustrates the divine descent into humanity, where the I AM (God) willingly takes on the limitations of the human form to experience and ultimately fulfill scripture from within.
Authoritative Neville Sources
YHWSA provides the Biblical workspace. MyNevilleGoddard.com preserves the complete source works behind the Neville-specific readings.
- Christmas (lecture)
- Consigned To Disobedience (lecture)
- Eschatology The Doctrine Of The End (lecture)
- I Am The Cause (lecture)
- Pauls Autobiography (lecture)
- Power And Wisdom (lecture)
Questions about Philippians 2:7
What is the metaphysical meaning of Philippians 2:7?
YHWSA reads Philippians 2:7 in its Biblical context while examining the states of consciousness and spiritual themes expressed by the passage.
Where can I read Philippians 2:7 in context?
Open the linked YHWSA Bible workspace to read the complete chapter and use its language, note, and comparison tools.
Where did Neville Goddard discuss Philippians 2:7?
The source list links to the complete lectures and books on MyNevilleGoddard.com rather than reproducing those works as a competing article.