Here is a list of passages where the Apostle Paul mentions Jesus coming into the world to dwell as a humble servant, perfectly obedient to the will of God the Father. As a result, He’s exalted above all creation and worshipped as the divine Lord and Savior.
The Obedience That Undoes Adam’s Fall
Paul frames Christ’s humbling as His obedience unto death, which becomes the basis for His exalted role as the source of righteousness for many.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:18–19
God Sends the Son in Weakness
Christ enters the world “in the likeness of sinful flesh,” taking on weakness so He can condemn sin and restore creation.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 8:3
He Died and Rose to Become Lord of All
Paul shows the pattern clearly: Christ died (humbling) and rose (exaltation) so that He might be Lord over both the dead and the living.
For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:9–11
The Descent Into Death and the Rise in Glory
Christ’s burial marks His deepest humbling; His resurrection is the beginning of His exaltation as the firstfruits of the new creation.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
From Riches to Poverty to Riches Again
Paul uses economic imagery: Christ becomes “poor” in the incarnation so that through His poverty we might share in His exalted riches.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2Corinthians 8:9
Raised, Seated, and Given All Authority
The Father exalts Christ by raising Him, seating Him above all powers, and placing everything under His feet.
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:20–23
The One Who Descended Is the One Who Ascended
Paul ties Christ’s descent to His ascent: the One who went down into the lower regions is the same One who ascended far above the heavens to fill all things.
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:7–10
The Great Descent and the Great Exaltation
Christ empties Himself, takes the form of a servant, and dies — therefore God highly exalts Him and gives Him the name above every name.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5–11
The Preeminent One Who Reconciles Through the Cross
The One who is supreme over creation humbles Himself through the blood of the cross, and is exalted as the head of the new creation.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15–20
Manifested Low, Vindicated High
Paul summarizes Christ’s story: manifested in the flesh (humbling), vindicated in the Spirit and taken up in glory (exaltation).
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16
The Self-Giving Savior Who Will Appear in Glory
Christ gives Himself to redeem a people (humbling), and Paul points forward to His glorious appearing (exaltation).
waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of ourgreat God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:13–14
The Judge Appointed Through Resurrection
In Paul’s preaching, Christ’s resurrection is the proof of His exalted authority as the appointed Judge of the world.
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said, “For we are indeed his offspring.” Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to suppose that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the craft and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now commanding men that everyone everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He determined, having furnished proof to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:22-31
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