Paul is giving a “sermon illustration,” a reminder that if we are to be like Christ, we must imitate His humility as well. All of the Carmen Christi is, in fact, a means of illustrating what it means to act in “humility of mind,” to give one’s life in the service of others. This is why verse 5 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” The attitude of humility of mind that the Philippians are to have is best illustrated in Christ, so Paul directs them to have the same manner of thinking, the same outlook, as seen in Christ.
