For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

2:10   so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

This verse (along with the next verse) brings to mind the eventual destiny of all of creation!

Prior to delving into this verse, I would be remiss to not discuss my understanding of the Christian faith in a general manner. It is important to remember that you own your faith and that the Christian faith is an amazingly broad and wonderous faith. Based on an faith that the Savior is the Second Person of the God head, and that the Bible is the revelation of the only true God, the Christian faith allows for many diverse points of view in various secondary teachings. Teachings such as the end times for example, vary in approach and in details, but all who take the Word seriously believe in a judgement/punishment period in the end.

In understanding this verse, I would like to consider not only the action but the motivation of all of creation in the bowing of the knee to Jesus as Lord. As 99% of modern day Christianity sees this verse, the action of bowing and confessing is what Paul is addressing and not necessarily the motivation. I too have understood that those who do not worship willingly while on earth, will worship after death, and that this post death “adoration” of the Son will be reluctant, forced and demanded.

Should or Shall?

Our passage speaks of bowing the knee in homage to the Christ, and that all creatures should bow, those in heaven, those on earth and those under the earth. When Paul says “should”, does he mean “ought to” but may not, or “shall bow” – it is inevitable! Consider the passage Paul is quoting from.

Isaiah 45:23 By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

It seems clear that the action of bowing the knee shall/will occur, if I understand Isaiah. All of creation shall bend the knee to the name of Jesus, and this should not be a surprising statement for believers to accept, since our faith declares that He is Lord of all.

All of creation will bow the knee!

So let’s consider what it means to “bow”. The verb for bow is κάμπτω kámptō, and has the primary meaning of worship, being found in the New Testament four times. Besides the verse we are considering, and Romans 14:11, which is as repetition of Isaiah 45:23, both of the remaining times this verb is used, it refers to willing worship.

Romans 11:4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Romans 14:11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

Might Paul be speaking of a time when all of creation freely and willingly worships the Son? I readily admit that the previous consideration is not convincing on it’s own, and for additional support we will address this theme in the next verse, yet is it not an interesting thought that all of creation would freely and willingly worship the Savior, not due to an eternal punishment received from the Savior, but due to His overflowing grace, kindness and forgiveness from the cross? How could we not rejoice if this is a possible outcome for all of creation?

Of course this impacts the teaching of man’s free will. How can we maintain man’s free will and yet have some freely and willingly bend the knee to the Master, even after death? If Paul is referring to bowing the knee due to the passing of punishment on the soul, this implies a forced submission, and that the suffering soul admits (reluctantly?) to the truth of the Saviors existence and dominance. This forced action, in my opinion, seems somewhat hollow and empty, somewhat unexpected if we only consider the Savior we find in the gospels. Yet there are passages that may support this forced submission.

But I have to ask – Does not the action of worship include the free will offering of oneself to the One worshipped, not out of compulsion or threatening, but out of love?

No matter how you slice it, this passage and the next impacts our thinking on free will, and of the final destiny of all souls.

How do you understand it my friend? Are you convinced of a forced submission of multitudes after judgement as the answer to our verse we are looking at today? Will this forced submission of multitudes of suffering souls satisfy the character of the Messiah, or may He be seeking the free and willing worship of all of creation?

However you see it, nothing stands in the way of freely and willingly worshipping Him today. He is worthy, He is mighty, He is wise and loving!

And He may be doing greater works than you or I could even imagine!

Worship Him today.

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