Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [ASV]Phil 2:9-11
As a result of what has been described before these verses, I would translate this passage as follows:
Have this mind in you that was also in Christ Jesus who though being in the form of God didn’t consider His equality with God something to be held on to, but emptied himself, took on the form of a servant, being willing to come in human form, in the likeness of a man, humbled Himself becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death of a cross. So [because of the extent to which he humbled himself] God highly exalted Him and gave him The Name which is above every name, that in/at the name of Jesus (i.e. the new Name given to Jesus) every knee should bow and every tongue of every being in heaven, on earth and under the earth should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father. [IVV]
This is my humble offering of a translation of the full Majestic passage for what it is worth, but I will not dare to raise it to the status of Scripture on this website. It is my attempt to help you to see what is going on, so I have labelled it the IVV – [Ian Vail’s Version]
- So what then is the Name that is above every name?
- Is it clear to you now?
Let’s take another look at our list, compiled by the commentators and added to by you ,my readers. I have revised the list by striking out and colouring red those which don’t equate with The Name that is above every name.
- The name given was
Jesus Christ. The first name should be translated as “title“.- The name given is a revelation of the Name for God and Christ.
“The name” and not “a name” is meant. i.e. it is mistake.- This strange construction is a way of indicating
the name is not used to distinguish one individual from another by name but is used to show the character or status. - The name given was
Lord. - The name given was LORD.
- The name given was
Jehovah. - The name given was YHWH.
- The name given was
Jesus. - The name given was Ha Shem “The Hebrew word meaning “The Name” signifying the actual Divine Presence.
“A high rank” is meant as such and not any specific name is being referred to.- The name given was Adonai.
- The name given was
Christ Jesus. - The name given was The Lord Jesus Christ.
- The name given was J
esus Messiah. - The name given was
lord. - The name given was Kurios.
You will note that I put the seven names left in reverse order.
- Kurios
- The Lord Jesus Christ
- Adonai
- Ha Shem
- YHWH
- LORD
- The Name for both God and Jesus
Now I am going to leave you to put the importance of what I have told you in this Gem and in Gem 1941 together to reach your own conclusion. Then in the following Gems I will work my way methodically through each of these seven names evaluating them as to the appropriateness of using each of them as The Name that is Above Every Name.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
John 19:19
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
John 20:27-29
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12