(With a special note an Proverbs 8:23.)

We now pass from the supreme example of Christ's utter humiliation on our behalf to that of the example of,

possibly, the closest follower that the Lord ever had, namely, the apostle Paul. Not one of the other apostles had so

many advantages in this life as he had, not one went so far in renouncing all that life held dear for the sake of Christ

and His truth.

To this the apostle returns in chapter 3 and sets out at length how indeed he had counted all things but loss for

the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord, but before he gives his renunciation in detail he follows

the example of Christ's humiliation, with his own.

Lifted from its context such a recital in such proximity might have the appearance of boasting or of some form of

competition. Taken with its context, it will reveal the apostle's intense concern, lest he should appear to be lecturing

others and exhorting others to self denial, while failing to act upon his own principles and advice. This personal

note has already been struck at the close of chapter 1, it is sounded again in chapter 3:1-14, and is restated with

emphasis in chapter 4:9. Returning to chapter 2, we read:

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

The words translated `and if' are ei kai (literally) `if even', the stress being placed on the word `if', the word

`even' belongs to that which is assumed. Appendix 118, 2a of the Companion Bible reads :

`ei = if. Putting the conditions simply :

(a) Followed by the Indicative Mood, the hypothesis is assumed as an actual fact, the condition being unfulfilled,

but no doubt being thrown upon the supposition (1 Cor. 15:16)'.

Where the stress is laid upon kai `even if', the strangeness belongs not to the thing assumed but to the making of

the assumption.

The word `offered' used by Paul here occurs but twice in the New Testament; here in Philippians 2:17 where the

apostle expresses his willingness to be offered, and in 2 Timothy 4:6 where he announces that he was about to be

Service and ministry under the law were essentially associated with `sacrifice and offering', and the complete

fulfilment of the Levitical law by the one offering of Christ, has so filled the vision of the believer under the

dispensation of grace, that one blessed and holy feature that pertains to all Christian ministry has been either

misunderstood or neglected.

The opening words of the practical section of Romans, introduces this sacrificial element into Christian service.

`I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,

acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service' (Rom. 12:1).

When the apostle would expand his exhortation to walk worthy, in the Ephesian epistle, he says :

`Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a

sweetsmelling savour' (Eph. 5:2).

Writing to the Colossians the apostle speaks of this sacrificial character of his ministry saying :

`Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh

for His body's sake, which is the church' (Col. 1:24).

In Philippians itself there is a very lovely illustration of sacrificial service :

`But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an

odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God' (Phil. 4:18).

Here the great-hearted apostle would, as it were, say, do not think merely of the spectacular `offering' that I may

be called upon to make - the lowly service of those who ministered of their substance can be also graced with this

most precious title `a sacrifice acceptable'.