Neville Goddard on Philippians 2:5

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets the scriptural passage, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” as a fundamental directive to claim your own divinity. The 'mind of Christ' is the consciousness of being equal with God, a state that is not considered blasphemy or 'robbery.' This principle is enacted within one's own imagination, which is the true stage for all of life's dramas. The verse is a call to shift from believing in an external God to believing you are God.

Key Concepts

• The "mind of Christ" is the belief that one is equal with God.
• This belief is not considered "robbery" or a wrongful claim.
• You are that which you believe yourself to be.
• This divine consciousness is exercised within your own imagination, which is the creative center where the dramas of life are formed.
• The instruction is to stop believing in God and start believing you are God.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard explains that the instruction “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” is a command to adopt a specific state of consciousness. This is the mindset of one who, “being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” This is not a call to worship an external figure, but to embody the same principle of self-belief that Jesus did. The core of this teaching is the immediate realization that “You are that which you believe yourself to be.”

This interpretation demands a radical shift in perspective: from believing in God or Jesus to believing you are God or Jesus. It is a transition from faith in an external power to faith in your own consciousness. The works that Jesus did are available to anyone who believes as he believed—that is, anyone who accepts their own divinity and equality with God.

This divine drama is enacted on the “stage of the mind.” Your imagination is the creative sphere where all things are constructed. Everything you behold in the outer world, though it appears to be without, is actually a shadow of what is taking place within your imagination. To have the mind of Christ is to consciously direct the themes and dramas within your imagination, knowing that you are the creative power—Jehovah himself—enacting the script.

Important Quotes

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God” [Philippians 2:5,6]. You are that which you believe yourself to be.

— Feeling Is The Secret

Instead of believing in God or in Jesus – believe you are God or you are Jesus.

— Feeling Is The Secret

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: . . ."

— Seedtime And Harvest

"All that you behold, tho' it appears without, it is within, in your imagination, of which this world of mortality is but a shadow." - Blake

— Seedtime And Harvest

Related Concepts

• Imagination: The source material explicitly identifies the imagination as the "stage of the mind" where the drama of life is enacted. Having the mind of Christ means consciously directing the activity within your imagination.
• Consciousness / I AM: The teaching to "believe you are God" is a direct instruction to change your consciousness of being. It is an application of the principle that I AM is God.
• Law of Assumption: The statement "You are that which you believe yourself to be" is a clear expression of the Law of Assumption. To have the mind of Christ is to assume the state of being God.

Common Misunderstandings

• External Worship vs. Internal Identity: A common misunderstanding is to interpret this verse as a call to worship an external Jesus. Neville's teaching corrects this by explaining that the instruction is to embody the same consciousness as Jesus—to believe you are God, not simply to believe in him.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this teaching is to consciously change your self-concept. Instead of looking outside of yourself for a savior or creator, you must accept that you are the creative power. This is done by assuming the feeling of your wish fulfilled. Believe you are the person you want to be, because you are that which you believe yourself to be. Use your imagination to construct the inner dramas that you desire to see expressed in your world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Neville Goddard say the 'mind of Christ' is?

It is the belief that you are equal with God, and that it is not 'robbery' or blasphemy to hold this belief about yourself.

How does this teaching change the act of prayer or belief?

It shifts the focus from believing in an external God to believing you are God. You stop asking an outside power and start assuming the state of being that which you desire.

What is the role of imagination in this interpretation?

Imagination is the 'stage of the mind' where you, as the creative power, enact the dramas of life. All that appears in your outer world is a shadow of what you construct in your imagination.