Afterwords -- week 5
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7 ESV)
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HE EMPTIED HIMSELF (Phil 2:7). Chapter two of Paul's letter to the Philippians contains an amazing truth: Christ, though equal to God, "emptied himself" to come into our world in order to humbly serve and to die upon the cross. The mystery of God's Son taking on a human nature is called the Incarnation (John 1:14). Here the truth of Christ emptying himself is sometimes called the Kenosis, after the Greek verb, "to empty" (κενοω, v 7). Some have argued that this means Christ gave up his Deity or his divine attributes, but the context would indicate it's more about taking on a mindset and role. This phrase is variously translated: he "emptied himself" (NAS, NET, CSB), or "made himself nothing" (ESV, NIV), or "he gave up his divine privileges" (NLT). Translators indicate this word means to "take an unimportant position" (Friberg) or "remove all privileges and prerogatives associated with status or rank" (Louw-Nida).
A DIFFERENT GLORY. The Apostle John wrote that it was Christ's coming into the world, taking on human nature, that enabled us to see his glory (John 1:14). During the Reformation, Martin Luther contrasted scholastic theology -- which sought to understand the invisible glory of God by means of human reason -- with a more biblical view, that is, to understand God's glory as being embodied in Christ, and specifically, through his suffering and death. In other words, we don't really understand the glory of God in this life by trying to climb the ladder of heavenly speculation, but by realizing that God in Christ came down the ladder to us in our misery. Luther said, "He deserves to be called a theologian who comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen through suffering and the cross." (Martin Luther, Heidelberg Disputation, 1518.)
THE PRACTICALITY OF DOCTRINE. We may not be able to plumb the heights (or depths) of what it meant for Christ to empty himself to come to earth, but the Apostle Paul does not treat this as an abstract, speculative doctrine. This very truth -- of Christ's emptying himself, laying aside his privileges as God -- becomes the pattern for our own walk with the Lord and his people. "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus," he says (v 5). This becomes the basis for our humility, for giving up rivalry and conceit, and for esteeming others as more important than ourselves (vv 3-4). We too are called to lay aside our rank, our privileges, and our rights in order to serve others, even to death. And that in itself is a manifestation of glory.
WHAT I'M READING THIS WEEK. I've begun reading The Reformation, by Owen Chadwick (Penguin Books, 1990). My wife and I also have thoroughly enjoyed the new PBS Masterpiece series, All Creatures Great and Small. It's excellent!
SOME RECENT ARTICLES I've found helpful, along with quotes:
-- "One of the greatest bulwarks against centralization and nationalization has always been the existence of defined physical communities—you know, towns, neighborhoods, whatever—that are beyond the easy or daily reach of faraway social engineers. Social media, by design, seeks to overcome these physical impediments" (Jonah Goldberg). Read "The Perils of Our Virtual Reality" here.
-- "Relegating religion to the margins of intellectual life is untenable, even if you do it with a smile" (Samuel James). Read "My Facts Versus Your Facts: Can We Really Know Truth?"
-- "One of the best ways we can help people in their marriages is to encourage them to be on their knees before the Lord. Everybody’s marriage is different, and everybody’s circumstances are different." Read an interview with Mike and Melissa Kruger here.
-- "When deciding whether to speak up or not, we must be honest with ourselves. Is our desire to speak up somehow born out of a bitter or jealous heart, or a desire to elevate ourselves either in our own eyes or in the eyes of others? If so, it would seem wise to remain silent." Read "Wisdom: Knowing When to Speak" here.
BIBLICAL STUDIES INSTITUTE begins spring semester this Thursday night at 6:30 pm at BCF (use side entrance to second floor). Here's what's going on. Don't forget to sign up, so we know you're coming!
THIS WEEK I'm taking notes with a 1960s black (#11) Parker 45, filled with Monteverde Back Ash. Here's the story on that pen.
Have a good week and stay warm!
Sandy