To what does “under the earth” refer?

Explanation:

Paul explains that Jesus is given the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow. When it comes to the notion that every knee under the earth will bow to Jesus, it seems there are only two options for what this might mean. Either Paul is referring to demons who could reside in something like a netherworld, or he is referring to dead people.⁴ Interestingly, we can rule out the notion that Paul refers to demons in the netherworld because elsewhere Paul posits that demons and other spiritual beings are in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Thus, since Paul does not have demons in mind, he has dead people in mind.

Counterargument:

The problem here is that it is not the case that Paul has in mind either dead people or demons. Rather, there are other options. For example, Paul might be using a figure of speech to make clear that all created beings, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will worship Jesus. Or, Paul may be working within a Greek cosmological framework, which posited that there are the heavens, the earth, and the underworld.⁵ In any case, the point is that there are more than the two options for what Paul means. And since there are more than two arguments, we cannot conclude that since Paul does not refer to demons, he refers to dead people.

Response to counterargument:

This counterargument makes a fair point. Still, it is plausible that of the options available to Paul, he has dead people in mind. In fact, we might even combine the insight that Paul uses a figure of speech to highlight the fact that all will bow to Christ with the notion that he has dead people in mind.⁶ That is, Paul is saying that every creature will bow to Christ, even the dead.

Explanation:

We want to deduce who Paul refers to when he says that those under the earth will bow to the name of Jesus. We can deduce that these are dead people by determining which beings are not included in heaven and earth. For Paul says that every knee, that is, all rational beings, will bow to Christ. He then speaks of every being in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. We know that angels are in heaven, and humans are on earth. At the same time, we know that dead people are in the ground. Thus, Paul likely has in mind dead people.

Counterargument:

In fact, we know from Scripture that while dead bodies are in the ground, the souls of those who are saved are in heaven. For we know from Luke 23:43 that when the criminal next to Christ on the cross professed his faith, Jesus said today he would be with Jesus in Paradise. Of course, dead bodies in the ground are not rational, so dead bodies cannot bow to anyone. Thus, Paul likely does not have dead people in mind 

Response to counterargument:

This counterargument makes a fair point. Maybe we can refine our argument to say that Paul is referring not to all dead people but to dead people who are in Hades.⁷ The dead in Hades are not in heaven, and we know from Scripture that the Hebrews thought of Hades as an underground place (Genesis 37:35; Numbers 16:30; Isaiah 5:14). Thus, when Paul refers to those under the earth, he likely has in mind the dead who are in Hades.

The notion that Paul has dead people in mind is likely too general. For we know that bodies are not people, and many souls are in heaven. Thus, the view should be refined to hold that Paul refers to dead people in Hades.

Explanation:

When Paul says that every knee in heaven, earth and under the earth will bow to Christ, it is not difficult to see what he means in light of his ancient context. For the ancient Greek cosmologists held that the universe comprises three realms: the heavens, the earth, and the underworld.¹¹ For example, there is a Greek saying, Guard me from every daimon of the air on the earth and under the earth. Betz, Hans Dieter, and Janet H. Johnson. The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation, Including the Demotic Spells. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, (1986).¹² Thus, when Paul refers to the beings under the earth, he has in mind the third realm of Greek cosmology.

Counterargument:

The problem with this view is that it suggests Philippians 2:10 has in mind Christ’s mastery over the dark forces in the three realms of Greek cosmology. In fact, what Paul seems to have in mind is something more like simple Christ worship by those who confess that Jesus is Lord.¹³ We can deduce this is likely the case because there is no mention in this section regarding Christ’s conquering his enemies.¹⁴ Rather, what we find is Paul giving instruction to a community of believers on how to submit to one another as Christ served humanity.

Response to counterargument:

Paul does not need to mention Christ’s enemies to make his point in Philippians 2:10. For his point is that although Christ humbled himself, he is now exalted so that every creature from every realm will bow to him. In other words, by including the three realms of Greek cosmology, Paul does not intend to point out Christ’s ability to conquer his enemies. Rather, he means to point out that Christ is supreme over all.

Explanation:

When Paul says that every knee should bow, in heaven and earth and under the earth to the name of Jesus, under the earth refers to a realm. We can deduce this because Paul here is exalting the name of Christ and explaining that the entire universe, including every possible realm, whether above, on earth, or below, will bow to Jesus’ name.¹⁵ Of course, we know the Greek cosmologists had a view that there were three realms: heaven, the earth, and the underworld. So Paul is likely saying that every creature from every realm will bow the knee to Jesus.

Counterargument:

The problem with this argument is that Paul can accomplish the same intent without there being a realm called under the earth. That is, if Paul’s intent is to exalt the name of Christ by saying that the whole universe will bow to his name, it is enough to say that the heavens, the earth, and those who are dead and buried in the ground will bend the knee. Thus, Paul does not have to posit a third realm referred to as under the earth.

Response to counterargument:

If Paul has in mind the dead who are buried in the ground, he must have in mind something like the realm of Hades. For dead bodies are not going to bend the knee. Rather, the dead who reside in the realm of Hades will bend the knee. Thus, Paul has in mind three realms: heaven, where God resides with the angels; earth, where the physical universe resides; and Hades, the realm of the dead.

Response to response to counterargument:

If this view admits that Paul has in mind that the dead reside in Hades, then this view collapses into Interpretation 1. That is, the view is in line no longer with Greek cosmology but with the Hebrew view that God resides in heaven and the dead go to Hades.

The weakness of this view is that Paul likely thought in terms of Hebrew, not Greek cosmology. Further, this view has not made clear what Greek cosmology consists of. We know that in Hebrew cosmology, the underground place is Hades, where the dead go. Is the same true in Greek cosmology, or is the realm under the earth something else? Unfortunately, this view gives us no clear picture of this third Greek realm and so it is very difficult to decide whether Paul would refer to it.