What does it mean that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord?

Explanation:

Paul writes that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. When he writes this, he uses the verb ἐξομολογέω (to confess), which we normally translate confess. Thus to understand what it means that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, we need to understand the nuance of the term confess. While the verb has a number of senses, the most likely in the case of Philippians 2:11 is to declare openly in acknowledgement.⁵ Thus, Paul says that every tongue will declare openly in acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Counterargument:

The problem here is that, as this argument admits, there are a number of senses to the verb ἐξομολογέω (to confess). This is especially the case when the verb is used in conjunction with God. Then it denotes confession in the sense not only of public acknowledgment but also of praise, thanksgiving, and the like.⁶ For example, in Romans 15:9, Paul quotes from the Septuagint, where the verb is used in connection with praising God. Given that to confess, when used in conjunction with God, has to do with praise and thanksgiving, we can see that the verb denotes public acknowledgement that is characterized by praise and thanksgiving.

Response to counterargument:

While it might be the case that ἐξομολογέω (to confess) is sometimes used to denote praise and thanksgiving to God, we need to understand the meaning of the verb in context. One important element that influences the context is the fact that when Paul says every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, he likely has in mind Isaiah 45:23 where God proclaims through Isaiah that every knee and tongue swear allegiance to God. What is important for understanding how Paul uses the verb ἐξομολογέω (to confess) in Philippians 2:11 is that in Isaiah 45:24, God says through Isaiah, To him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him.⁷ In other words, what we have here is an admission even of those who were incensed with God, that Jesus Christ is indeed Lord of all.

Explanation:

There are two ways to make a confession: either willingly or unwillingly. The notion that Paul says every tongue will willingly confess that Jesus is Lord is unlikely based on what we find elsewhere. For we know from other passages that not every creature will willingly confess that Jesus is Lord. For example, in Revelation 9:20 we read that after plagues reign down on earth, there are a number of people who do not repent from their sins. Also, in Revelation 16:9 we learn that God’s wrath is poured out by the angels so that the sun is allowed to scorch people. Even so, those scorched by the heat would not repent but cursed God.⁸ Thus, while every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, it is doubtful that all will do so willingly.

Counterargument:

The problem here is that Revelation is an apocalyptic vision of John, so it is hard to see how it has any bearing on Philippians 2:11. When we interpret, we consider the immediate and broad literary context to determine what the author means. Revelation falls clearly outside the immediate and broad literary context. For Revelation is a different book, written in a different genre, by a different author.

Response to counterargument:

While it is true that we identify an author’s meaning by considering the immediate and broad literary context, Revelation is part of the broad literary context. That is because Paul’s letters are not isolated from the rest of Scripture but are part of the canon. Thus, Scripture as a whole is God’s book, and he inspired individual authors from various times and places to develop the content for his book. As such, our goal is to identify what God is trying to say in a given passage so we ought to consider the meaning of Paul within the context of Scripture as a whole. Since Revelation says that some will curse God and refuse to repent, we can conclude there are some who will not willingly confess that Jesus is Lord.

This argument makes sense in light of the biblical notion that not all will willingly confess Christ. For if there were biblical support for the idea that, in the end, all would willingly profess faith in Christ, we would take this verse at face value. That is, we would take it that every rational creature would confess, praise, the name of Christ. Still, since there are reasons to think that not all will willingly profess faith in Christ, we ought to conclude along with this interpretation that not every rational being will willingly profess Christ.

Explanation:

Paul says that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Likely, Paul means that every person will make an unguarded public profession of faith in Jesus.¹¹ We can deduce this because confessing the name of Jesus is often associated with placing one’s faith in him for salvation. For example, in Romans 10:13 we learn that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. And in 1 Corinthians 1:2, Paul refers to those who have been sanctified, who have called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, in 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul encourages Timothy to flee youthful passions, as do all those who call on the name of the Lord from a pure heart.¹² Thus, we can see that confessing the name of the Lord is associated with putting faith in him.

Counterargument:

Unfortunately, this argument is unconvincing. In order to understand the meaning of a passage we need to consider that passage in context. For example, in Romans 10:13, Paul has in mind the fact that salvation is accessible to all who repent and place their faith in Christ. That is, all who call on the name of the Lord, which implies a sincere heart of repentance, will be saved. On the other hand, Philippians 2:11 has to do with the fact that Christ’s humbleness is transformed into universal exaltation. Likewise, 1 Corinthians 1:2 is where Paul addresses the audience of his letter as those who call on Christ, which again implies that they call on him with a pure heart. Finally, Paul explicitly says in 2 Timothy 2:22that Timothy should align with those who call on Christ with a pure heart. Further, the verb Paul uses in each of the above passages is ἐπικαλέω (to call), whereas the verb he uses in Philippians 2:11 for confessing is ἐξομολογέω. Thus, the above passages are not relevant in terms of context or grammar.

Explanation:

Paul says that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, before following this up with the prepositional phrase to the glory of God the Father. In other words, Paul is saying that the result of every tongue confessing Jesus Christ is Lord is that God will be glorified.¹³ Given that God will be glorified when every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord, it is likely that every tongue will confess Jesus in the sense of praise and thanksgiving.

Counterargument:

The phrase to the glory of God the Father is a summary of the entire section beginning at Philippians 2:6. Paul is saying that Christ’s humbling himself in order to serve humanity results in his exaltation, and all of this to the glory of God the Father.¹⁴ In other words, it’s not the fact that every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord that results in glory to the Father; rather, Christ’s entire act of service and subsequent exaltation will result in glory to the Father.

The problem with this view is that it implies a doctrine of universal salvation that is not taught by Paul.