`I thank him for his remarks, but I think that his going back to the expression `divesting Himself' rather tends to

weaken the teaching of the passage before us than to strengthen it. That divesting was self evident, but the

Kenosis, that He poured Himself out, we do not get until we come to Calvary'.

We now return to Philippians to make one further comment. There, in chapter 2, awaits us in the example of the

apostle, an illustration, so far as such is possible, of the `self emptying' of the Son of God.

`Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith I joy, and rejoice with you all' (Phil. 2:17).

The word spendomai refers to the `drink offerings' that accompanied the Sacrifices under the Levitical law. We

will give full proof of this when we reach the verse in the course of exposition, but will conclude this study with the

paraphrase given by Bishop Lightfoot :

`I spoke of my severe labours for the Gospel, I am ready even to die in the same cause. If I am required to pour

out my lifeblood as a libation over the sacrificial offering of your faith, I rejoice ... '

We are irresistibly turned to Isaiah 53:12, where we read :

`He hath poured out His soul unto death'

and when we find that the word translated `to pour out' arah is translated `to empty' as pitcher, or a chest (Gen.

24:20; 2 Chron. 24:11) we feel that by strange and somewhat circuitous paths we have been led a few steps nearer to

the meaning of the great passage which occupies the worshipping attention of our hearts and minds.

Bishop Pearson, referring to the Authorized Version of Philippians 2:7, writes :

`Our translation of that verse is not only not exact, but very disadvantageous to the truth which is contained in it.

For we read it thus: He made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made

in the likeness of men, where we have two copulative conjunctions ("and" "and"), neither of which is in the

original text, and three distinct propositions, without any dependence of one upon the other; whereas all the

words together are but an expression of Christ's exinanition  with an explication showing in what it consisteth:

which will clearly appear by this literal translation, But emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being

made in the likeness of men. Where if any man doubt how Christ emptied Himself, the text will satisfy him, by

taking the form of a servant; if any still question how He took the form of a servant, he hath the apostle's

resolution, by being made in the likeness of men. Indeed, after the expression of this exinanition, he goes on

with a conjunction, to add another of Christ's humiliations. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled

Himself, etc., etc.'.

There is a definite descent indicated by the three verbs used by the apostle, huparcho `subsisting', einai `being'

and ginomai `becoming' or `made'; the first refers to the eternal subsistence of `the form of God', the second to the

states and conditions that pertain to `being on an equality with God', and the third to the entrance into a new sphere,

`made in the likeness of men'.

Before the apostle tells us that in His great act of self abnegation the Saviour became man, he speaks of His

taking `the form of a servant'. This choice of words is evidently an intentional antithesis to the expression already

studied, `the form of God', and refers to an essential and characteristic attribute. As God He was Despotes `Master',

as man He was doulos `a slave'. We must not limit this element of `servitude' to the period when Christ was

apprehended, bound, scourged and crucified, as some have done. `Our Saviour in all the degrees of His humiliation

never lived as a servant unto any master on earth' (Bishop Pearson).

`The form of a servant is here manifestly contrasted with the form of God. And in comparison with God EVERY

CREATURE has the form of a servant and is bound to obedience towards God' (Bishop Ellicott).

e exinanited Himself' (Phil. 2:7 Rhemish Translation). The word is very rarely used to-day.