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NASB | Philippians 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Philippians 2:7 but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. |
Bible Question:
You quote Barret as writing: "The danger comes when it is concluded that in the incarnation, the second person of the Trinity took on human nature AND gave up or lost some of the divine attributes -- such that Jesus was not fully divine." I would absolutely agree with that statement. But is it not possible for Jesus to have set aside *the use* of His attributes of divine nature? Is that not what Barret means when he writes (as you quoted him): "Christianity maintains that Jesus did not 'empty' himself of any of his divinity in the incarnation, although it is true that his divine attributes were veiled"? I would agree that these attributes were at all times in His possession, but that they were veiled (hidden) and that Jesus willing chose not to make use of them (with perhaps a very few purposeful exceptions) from the point of His conception until His resurrection. I am further suggesting that this is what this verse is talking about when it speaks of His humility in emptying Himself. |
Bible Answer: Dear RWC, In the concept of "use" as you are employing the term, is the notion of discretionary application. For example, I have the attribute of mobility. In order to respond to you, I am not making use of that attribute. We actually see examples in Christ's life where He did not exercise His divine perogative. This revealed other attributes, including, humility, meekness, and longsuffering. However, I think you came closer to the truth when you used the word "veil (hidden)." Look at the following passages: He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. (John 1:10 ESV) I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' (John 1:33 ESV) They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." (John 8:19 ESV) For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize Him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning Him. (Acts 13:27 ESV) Who Christ was -- His glory, that is the full manifestation of His nature -- was hidden from the world. (Even today, the only ones who recognize Him for who He is are His own (Hebrews 8:11).) It takes a work of the Holy Spirit to begin to grasp who He is. He has yet to appear in all His glory for everyone to see (Matthew 24:30). Even then, though, all men will know who He is, but only the redeemed will be able to appreciate the full resplendence of His glory. In Him, Doc |