Does Philippians 2:6–11 present Christ as a superior angel?

Abstract

This article questions the angel Christology that Paul Holloway, in the light of Jewish apocalypticism, has detected in a hymnic passage of Paul’s Philippians (2:6–11). At the end of the last century, James Dunn had read there an Adam Christology, accepted now in part and by some scholars. The new thesis of an angelic Christ proposes that he changed himself into human form, and was highly elevated after his crucifixion to bear the divine Name and share the divine throne. But we do not find in the passage itself the language of angels and thrones that this thesis seems to require. Nor has Paul developed elsewhere an Angel Christology that would support Holloway’s proposal. Philippians 2:10–11 uses classic language about the adoration of the one, true God, and not of some principal angel. Holloway distances himself from using any theology or philosophy, which might have lent more stringency and precision to his argument.