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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:1-11

Exhortation to unanimity and humility. I. HE APPEALS TO PHILIPPIANS BY FOUR COMMON ELEMENTS IN THEIR COMMON CONFLICT TO FULFIL HIS JOY . 1 . By the comfort there is in Christ. "If there is therefore any comfort in Chris The connecting word has reference to the duty which was enjoined in the twenty-seventh verse of the last chapter, and is again enjoined in the second verse of this chapter. But there is also reference to the circumstances under which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus Christ the supreme Example of humble-mindedness. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Jesus Christ." The exhortation to mutual concord is strengthened by a reference to the example of Christ's humiliation on earth. I. CONSIDER HIS ESSENTIAL PRE - EXISTING GLORY . "Who, subsisting in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God." 1 . This language evidently describes Christ before his incarnation , in his Divine glory ; for the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:5-8

The self-sacrifice of Christ. Paul backs up his appeal for public spirit by the example of Jesus Christ. If the Philippians will only entertain a like mind with Christ, then all needful abnegation for the good of others will be forthcoming, even up to self-sacrifice itself. And here we have to— I. CONSIDER CHRIST 'S EQUALITY WITH GOD . (Verse 6.) The Revised Version puts this verse more accurately than the Authorized Version when it gives it, "Who being in the form of God,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:5-11

The example of type Lord Jesus. I. THE IMITATION OF the Lord JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE RULE OF CHRISTIAN PRACTICE . 1 . In the outward life. He pleased not himself; he sought not the high places of the world; he did not choose a life of ease, comfort, pleasure. He lived for others; he went abrupt doing good; He cared for the temporal needs of the sick and poor. He cared for the souls of all. 2 . In the inner life of thought and feeling. The Christian must... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:5-11

The moral history of the Christly spirit. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," etc. "From a practical introduction in the familiar exhortation to follow the example of our Lord, St. Paul passes on to what is perhaps the most complete and formal statement in all his Epistles of the doctrine of his great humility. In this he marks out first the Incarnation, in which, 'being in the form of God, he took on him the form of a servant,' assuming a sinless but finite... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:5-11

The mind that was in Christ Jesus. The experience of Christ is the supreme example of his doctrine that "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." It is here described as an incentive to our duty of unselfish humility. But as the apostle narrates the wonderful facts, and enumerates the details with evident delight on their own account, we may find in them an inexhaustible subject for meditation, and, while not forgetting the object of drawing a practical lesson from them, we may be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:6

Who, being in the form of God . The word rendered "being" ( ὑπάρχων ) means, as R.V. in margin, being originally . It looks back to the time before the Incarnation, when the Word, the λόγος ἄσαρκος , was with God (comp. John 8:58 ; John 17:5 , John 17:24 ). What does the word μορφή form, mean here? It occurs twice in this passage— Philippians 2:6 , "form of God;" and Philippians 2:7 , "form of a servant;" it is contrasted with σχῆμα fashion, in Philippians... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:6-8

The humiliation of Christ. I. THE HEIGHT FROM WHICH HE . CAME IS THE MEASURE OF THE DEPTH TO WHICH HE DESCENDED . He was for ever "in the form of God;" i.e. with the essential nature of God (cf. John 13:3 , John 13:4 ). II. HIS HUMILIATION WAS NO LOSS OF GLORY OR ESSENTIAL WORTH . He is for ever in the form of God; this he could not renounce. He laid aside for a time his external equality with God. This he considered not to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 2:7

But made himself of no reputation ; rather, as R.V., but emptied himself ; not, he indeed, of the Godhead, which could not be, but of its manifestation, its glory. This he did once for all, as the aorist implies, at the Incarnation. The word "emptied' involves a previous fullness, "a precedent plenitude" (Pearson on the Creed, Philippians 2:25 ). The Divine majesty of which he emptied himself was his own, his own rightful prerogative; and his humiliation was his own voluntary act—he... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philippians 2:6

Who, being in the form of God - There is scarcely any passage in the New Testament which has given rise to more discussion than this. The importance of the passage on the question of the divinity of the Saviour will be perceived at once, and no small part of the point of the appeal by the apostle depends, as will be seen, in the fact that Paul regarded the Redeemer as equal with God. If he was truly divine, then his consenting to become a man was the most remarkable of all possible acts of... read more

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