In the book Scripting Jesus, by L. Michael White, He takes these passages and describes Jesus’ death and resurrection and his ascension into heaven. White discusses the “Pauline Passion Tradition” by dividing up these passages into the topics of: death (1 Thessalonians 4:14), resurrection (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:14), exaltation to heaven (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10-11), and in waiting of return (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:15-16). The core message of these traditions is to show that Jesus humbled himself to be a servant of the God, fulfilling his role as the Messiah, and because of that, God recognizes and rewards Jesus’ work by exalting Jesus to a title of Lord in heaven. God gives Jesus a title of superiority for humbling himself being a slave of God and dying on a cross, being crucified, all to glorify God. Paul is signifying that God has a higher ranking for Jesus in heaven, “seated at the right hand of God.” This, in Paul’s letters, is proof that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. Jesus being exalted in heaven into heaven that coincides with his resurrection after death.

“Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). This signifies that Lord is distinct from God the Father. It is now the second person in the Trinity. This Chris Hymn is an allusion to Isaiah 45:22-25. The Greco-Roman world viewed Lord as God the Father, but this scripture here shows that Christian’s have now distinguished the two “Lord’s” separately; Jesus Christ as Lord and God the Father as Lord. Before, Jesus was under God’s ranking, or position, but now, they are equal. Because Jesus emptied and humbled himself, God exalted him with the title “Lord”. There is question whether the two actions, the resurrection and ascension, were two separate events. White

The Christ Hymn signifies that Jesus had fulfilled the works of the Jewish Messiah. This is exemplifying that if Jesus Lord, one who is equal with God, is able to humble himself and be a servant to God the Father, then the Philippians should be able to as well. That Jesus suffered for God’s glory, he was humiliated, and he fell to the lowest of lows just to be exalted to the highest of highs. Jesus, since he is Lord, did not have to relinquish his position in heaven, however, he did not assert himself on the world, rather he came down to Earth humbly, suffered on the cross and then was raised from the dead to be ascended into heaven in the highest place of honor, “the seat of power and might”. Therefore, the Christian community took this as a way that Jesus followers should conduct themselves in such a way that is humble and serve God. Since the Lord did this for Christians. Meaning that Jesus followers should use Jesus’ life as an example, and that they are awaiting in anticipation his return. This hymn, alluding back to Isaiah 45, is waiting for the Lord to come. But, is this event, the resurrection and ascension two separate events or are they the same moment? They are understood to me as two separate events, but in this hymn, it seems as if they correspond together as one moment.