Thread by @ThatJohnChaffee

Let's do some New Testament Greek, shall we?

I'd like to highlight a particular passage.

Philippians 2:9-11. It's a famous one. One that often makes its way into songs or hymns in various ways, but it is also one that I believe might be overlooked by many. Here it is...

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

It's a good one, right?

I remember coming across it years ago and asking myself, "Wait, everyone? Above, on, and UNDER THE EARTH? What does it mean that everyone will confess? Doesn't Paul also say elsewhere that if one confesses, they will be saved?"

But that sounds like some kind of universalism? Everyone recognizes Jesus as Lord?

Well, it says "confess," so that sounds like, "Shucks, didn't do it in time."

Curious, I had to take a look at the original Greek...

The word that happens in Philippians 2:11 for "confess" is εχομολογησηται (exomologesetai). This has its original roots in εχομολογεω (exomologeo).

Εχομολογεω in usage means, "I fully, openly, and joyfully profess without reservation."

That doesn't sound like anyone is unhappy. It rather sounds like a joyful celebration of everyone everywhere for everything being restored, redeemed, renewed, reconciled, repaired, reclaimed, and rescued.

This is how the early Church thought of the Gospel.

All things. All people. Everywhere. Everywhen. Because of the burning love of the Crucified One. This is about "all things being made new." (Rev. 21:5) This is about the Son of Man "dragging all people to himself." (John 12:32)

And if your understanding of the Good News is about God saying within the Trinity, "Let's forgive everyone everywhere everything..." (Thanks, mewithoutYou.)

Then sure, Philippians 2:11 makes sense.

One day those above the earth, on the earth, and under the earth, and every knee will bow and every tongue fully, openly, and joyfully profess without reservation that Jesus is Lord. Why? Because God will be fully revealed as being Infinite Love.

#exomologeo #Philippians