Every Knee Shall Bow

<p>The Humbled and Exalted Christ 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, 7 but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.</p> <p> </p> <p>The phrase “every knee shall bow” comes from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. In the last half of the book (chapters 40—66), God prophesies through Isaiah the coming comfort to His people, Israel, who are in exile in Babylon for their covenant unfaithfulness. The phrase in question is found in <a href='https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isa%2045.23'>Isaiah 45:23</a>, which reads, “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.” The main thrust of the overall passage is that God is the only one who can save His people, as opposed to the idols that are worshiped by the nations. God is God and there is no other (<a href='https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isa%2045.5%E2%80%936'>Isaiah 45:5–6</a>, <a href='https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isaiah%2045.18'>18</a>, <a href='https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isaiah%2045.22'>22</a>). Those who turn from their idols will be saved. Those who do not will be ashamed. The bottom line is that, before God, every knee shall bow and every tongue swear allegiance to God. The apostle Paul quotes this passage twice in his writings, once in <a href='https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rom%2014.11'>Romans 14:11</a> and again in <a href='https://bibl