Friday 14 September 2012

Background

This passage from Philippians for today (Holy Cross Day)explores the nature of Christ in the incarnation (God being born inhuman form). The writer, Paul, adapts an earlier hymn which heincorporates into the letter. The hymn is based on images of the'suffering servant' in Isaiah (Isaiah50:4-11; 52:13 - 53:12), where, among other meanings,the servant is an image of the Israelite king. As servant, the kingis both the royal son of God and servant of the divine king, livingand dying in obedience to God. This scriptural echo reflects earlyChristian attempts to understand the humanity and divinity ofChrist in Jesus.

Paul introduces the hymn with the exhortation to the Philippiansto have the "mind" of Christ (v. 5), which is characterised by loveand selflessness. It is this same "mind" that characterises God'slove and it is out of God's love for humanity that Christ "emptiedhimself" (v. 7) and was incarnated in human form.

The hymn uses a complex series of terms in Greek to explore the"form" of Christ, who, before taking on human form, was in the"form of God" (v. 6). The Greek word implies both outwardresemblance and inner nature. Equality with God was not somethingthat needed to be grasped, held tightly (in Greek 'harpagmon', v.6), because it was already Christ's nature, and so could not belost in the incarnation. With these difficult verses, Paul affirmsboth the humanity and divinity of Christ.

In obedience to his own nature as God, and in love forhumankind, Christ offers himself as a sacrifice on the cross (verse8). The end of the passage indicates God's acceptance of thatsacrifice and the exaltation of Jesus Christ. By God's grace, hereceives a new name (verse 9), 'Kurios' (Lord), a term that inHebrew is used for the unsayable name of God, YHWH. The hymn closes(verse 10) by quoting Isaiah 45:23: YHWHproclaims that he alone is God and that every knee shall bow tohim. Jesus, in his exalted state as Christ, has been given thesupreme name of God ("Jesus Christ is Lord" (v. 11)), so that likeGod he is worshipped by all creation.

To Ponder

• How does this passage contribute to your understanding ofnature of Jesus Christ as both human and divine?

• How do the elements of the Christian life (for example, prayer,study, or action) enable the church community to grow in the 'mindof Christ'? How far is the balance among these the same for yourindividual growth in holiness?