The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 102

in Ghrist ,Tes11•," etc. Now, this "mind," 01· Spirit, he details as developed in Chri~t l1imsclf. 1. In tvliat Christ did not do. "Who, being In the form of God thought it JJ0t rnbbery to be equal with God." Or, as Dr. Da\rldson renders the word~ "Did not think equality with God a thing to be gre.sped at.'' "'l'he term• God' hare' and in tho fo!lowing pare.graph," _says _Dengel," does n?t_denote God the Father; the/ormof God does not mean the Deity himself nor the D1vme nature, but somethincr0 risincr out of it. Again, it does not signify the being equal with God, but something prior the mani- festation of God, that is, the form shining out of the \rery glory of tho invisible Deity." The form of man is not the man himself, so the manifestation of God is not God him- self. Now, Christ did not seize at this manirestation, did not consider it a thin" to be !!n1sred at. Of the true Christly spirit it may be said that, when great good i~ to be done, it docs not hold on to privileges, honours, dignities, etc. This is strikincrly ii lustratcd in St.. Paul, "\Vhat things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Cbri~t" (eh. iii. 7). 2. In what Christ did do. (1) "He made himself of no reputation." 'l'his should be rendered, " he emptied himself," or stripped himself of his original glory the glory which he had with the Father before the world was. Not that he was les~ Di\'ine and great in time than he was before all time. Dut he did not appear so. He concealed his splendour in the ,·cil of his flesh, so as to rulfil his redemptive mission. (2) H c "took upon him the form of a servant." "Tho three words," sa.ys Bencrel "• fonn,' 'likeness,' 'fashion,' are not synonymous, neither are they virtually inter~ changeable; there is, however, a cannection between them ;foNn means something posi- 1i,·c, likeness signifies a relation to other things of the same condit.ion,fashion relates to the sight and perception." The King of the universe a servant! (3) " Ho was made in the likeness or m,.m," and "found in fashion as a man." '!.'his does not mean that he bad merely the appearance or a man and nothing more. He was a man," mado in a.11 parts like unto his brethren.'' (4.) He" became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." "His death," sayB Dr. Barry," is not here regarded as an atonement, for in that light it c<;U]d be no pattern to us, but as the completion of the obedience of his life. He followed out the Divine will even to death, and to the death of the cross-a death of anguish and ignominy." Here is seir-abnegation, and this self-abnegation is essentially the Christly spirit. Self-sacrifice is the essence of religion. Ho that does not lose himself in the swelling tide of benevolent sympathy for lost souls has not the "mind that was in Christ Jesus." II. IT IB A SPIRIT OF DIVI!-."E EXALTATION. Because of this self-abnegating love "God also hath highly ex.a.lted him, and given him a Name which is above every name; "rather," the Name above every name.'' Perhaps all intelligent creatures through the universe have appellations by which they are distinguished from others and recog- nized. Angels have their names: Michael, Gabriel, etc. Some names are greate~ than othem. It often happens that the name of one man towers in significance and grandenr above the name of a whole generation. Such names as Moses, Paul, Luther, Howard, Garibaldi But the apostle declares that there is one" Name abo1•e every name," either on earth or in heaven. 1. It ia a transcendent Name. 11 A Name which is above every name." It is idealistically and independently perfect. '!'hero is no name like unto it in the universe. Above every name in every hierarchy in the creation. 2. It is a morally conquering Name. "That nt the Name of Jesus every knee should bow." There is a talismanic energy in this Name. It has wrought won- ders ou our !'.arth already, and far greater wonders it will work in the human mind "until all hi.I enemies be made his footstool." It wins the mastery over the soul, ay, and gains ascendency over all minds in the universe. "Of things in heaven, and things in earth," etc. For "things," read "beings." "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." 3. It is a God-glori- fying Name. "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The acknowledgment of the glory of Christ is the acknow- ledgment of the glory of the Father as the soure;e of Deity rnanifeste<l perfcctlr in him. "Ar:.d when all things shall be subdue<l unto him, then shall the Son also himself ho Eui,ject unto him 1hat j'Ut all tl1ing~ under him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cur. ;-_ \', '.::'.~). CU, lI, 1-30.) 'l'Hl!: EPISTLE TO 'l'llE PHILIPPIANS.