Phil. 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God a treasure to be grasped, (7) But emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men.
[Part 1 of 2] In verse 5 Paul says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." The Greek words translated "let this mind be in you" can also be rendered "think this in you." The word "this" refers to the counting and regarding in verses 3 and 4. This kind of thinking, mind, attitude, was also in Christ when He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, and humbled Himself, being found in fashion as a man (vv. 7-8). To have such a mind requires us to be one with Christ in His inward parts (1:8). To experience Christ, we need to be one with Him to such an extent, that is, in His tender inward feeling and in His thinking. Verse 6 says, "Who subsisting in the form of God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped." The Greek word rendered subsisting denotes existing from the beginning. It implies the Lord's eternal preexistence. The word form refers to the expression, not the fashion, of God's being (Heb. 1:3). It is identified with the essence and nature of God's Person and thus expresses His essence and nature. This refers to Christ's deity. In verse 6 Paul tells us that Christ did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. Although the Lord was equal with God, He did not consider this equality a treasure to be grasped and retained. Rather, He laid aside the form of God, not the nature of God, and emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave. Verse 7 goes on to say that Christ "emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men." When Christ emptied Himself, He laid aside what He possessed--the form of God. The word form in verse 7 is the same word as used for the form of God in verse 6. In His incarnation, the Lord did not alter His divine nature, but only His outward expression of the form of God to that of a slave. This was not a change of essence; it was a change of state. The word "becoming" indicates entering into a new state. According to verse 7, Christ became in the "likeness of men." The form of God implies the inward reality of Christ's deity; the likeness of men denotes the outward appearance of His humanity. He appeared outwardly to men as a man, but inwardly He had the reality of deity. (Continued tomorrow) (c) Living Stream Ministry.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Philippians, pp. 86-87. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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