Chiasmus / Literary Structure
The Chiastic Structure of Phil 2:6-11
Phil 2:6-11 (Philippians 2:6-11 — The Christ Hymn) is arranged as a chiasm— an ancient mirror pattern (A-B-C-B′-A′) in which ideas repeat in reverse order around a central pivot. The structure turns on its center: “He humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!”. This early Christian hymn is structured as a perfect chiasm describing Christ's descent into humility and ascent to exaltation. The pivot is the cross, and the structure itself embodies the theology.
The Mirror Pattern
- A
Who, being in very nature God
Phil 2:6a
- B
Did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage
Phil 2:6b
- C
Rather, he made himself nothing
Phil 2:7a
- D
Taking the very nature of a servant
Phil 2:7b
- X
He humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!
Phil 2:8
Central pivot — the emphasized point
- D'
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
Phil 2:9a
- C'
And gave him the name that is above every name
Phil 2:9b
- B'
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow
Phil 2:10
- A'
And every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
Phil 2:11
Indentation shows the nesting toward the central pivot and back out — the hallmark of a chiasm.
Why the Structure Matters
In a chiasm, the author’s main point is placed at the center rather than the end. Reading Phil 2:6-11 as a mirror pattern draws the eye to its pivot — “He humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!” — as the key the passage turns on. Recognizing the structure changes how the passage is read and preached.