Part 5 (2/2)

[8] _En morphe_: _morphe_ is imperfectly represented by our common use of the word ”form,” which stands often even in contrast to ”reality.”

_Morphe_ is _reality in manifestation_.

[9] _Uparchon_: R.V. margin, ”originally being.” The word lends itself to such a reference, but not so invariably as to allow us to press it here.

[10] _Arpagmon_: the word is extremely rare, found here only in the Greek Scriptures, and once only in secular Greek. Strictly, by form (_-mon_), it should mean, ”_a process_ of plunder” rather than ”an object of plunder” (_-ma_). But parallel cases forbid us to press this. The A.V.

rendering here suggests the thought that our Lord ”thought it no usurpation to be equal with G.o.d, _and yet_ made Himself void,” etc. But surely the thought is rather, ”_and so_ made Himself void.” So sure was His claim that, so to speak, with a sublime _un-anxiety_, while with an infinite sacrifice, He made Himself void.

[11] _Isa Theo_: the neuter plural calls attention rather to the Characteristics than to the Personality.--Through this whole pa.s.sage we cannot too distinctly remember that it occurs in the Scriptures, and in the writings of one who was trained in the strictest school of Pharisaic Monotheism. _St Paul_ was not the man to use such terms of his Saviour and Master had he not seen in Him nothing less than the very ”Fellow of JEHOVAH” (Zech. xiii. 7).

[12] _Eauton ekeose_: _Heauton_ is slightly emphatic by position; I attempt to convey this by the words ”by His own act.”

[13] See further below, pp. 98, etc. [Transcriber's note: page 98 is indicated in this text with ”{98}”.]

[14] _Labon_: the aorist participle, in Greek idiom, unites itself closely in thought with the aorist verb _ekenose_ just previous. The resulting idea is not ”He made Himself void, and then took,” but ”He made Himself void _by taking_.” The ”Exinanition” was, in fact, just this--_the taking the form of the_ _doulos_: neither less nor more.

[15] Note again the aorist verb and aorist participle: _etapeinose_ . . .

_genomenos_.

[16] The Greek, _mechri thanatou_, makes it plain that the Lord did not _obey death_ but _obeyed the Father_ so utterly as even to die.

[17] Cicero, _pro Rabirio_, c. 5.

[18] Bishop Lightfoot has well vindicated this reference of the _onoma_ here. I venture to refer the reader also to my commentary on Philippians, in _The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges_.

[19] Not ”the Name Jesus,” but ”the Name of, belonging to, Jesus.” The grammar admits either rendering, but the context, if I explain it aright, is decisive. ”The Name” is still the Supreme Name, JEHOVAH, as just above.--”_In_ the Name” should be explained, in view of the context, not of wors.h.i.+p _through_ but wors.h.i.+p yielded _to_ the Name. See Lightfoot for examples of this usage.

[20] Chrysostom brings this great truth n.o.bly out in his homiletic comments here (_Hom._ vii. on Philippians, ch. 4): ”A mighty proof it is of the Father's power, and goodness, and wisdom, that He hath begotten such a Son, a Son nowise inferior in goodness and wisdom . . . like Him in all things, Fatherhood alone excepted.” Nothing but the orthodox Creed, with its harmonious truths of the proper G.o.dhead and proper Filiation of the Lord Christ, can possibly satisfy _the whole_ of the apostolic language about His infinite glory on the one hand and His relation to the Father on the other.

[21] In my _Veni Creator_ and _To my Younger Brethren_, and more recently in a University Sermon quoted at the close of a little book published Easter, 1896, by Seeley: _Prayers and Promises_.

”Make my life a bright outs.h.i.+ning Of Thy life, that all may see Thine own resurrection power Mightily shewn forth in me; Ever let my heart become Yet more consciously Thy home.”

MISS J. S. PIGOTT.

_THE LORD'S POWER IN THE DISCIPLE'S LIFE_

”O Jesus Christ, grow Thou in me, And all things else recede; My heart be daily nearer Thee, From sin be daily freed.

”More of Thy glory let me see, Thou Holy, Wise, and True; I would Thy living image be In joy and sorrow too.”

H. B. SMITH, _from the German of_ C. LAVATER.

CHAPTER VI

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