Among those who hold the opposite doctrine are to be found Novatian and Ambrose among the Latin Fathers; Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, Piscator, Hunnius, Cameron, Musculus, Calovius, Le Clerc, Grotius, Bengel, Vorstius, Zachariae, Kesler, Heinrichs, van Hengel, Am Ende, Rheinwald, Matthies, Baumgarten-Crusius, De Wette, Philippi, and Conybeare. What the apostle means by the mind which was in Christ Jesus, he proceeds to explain. Being found in fashion as a Man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient, submitted Himself to the will of the Father, even to the point of drinking the cup, to His true human nature the bitter cup, of death.
How, then, shall we describe the humble ChristianII. Notice the two natures of Christ; his Divine nature, and human nature. In showing what is, it enacts what ought to be. (5-11) Diligence in the affairs of salvation, and to be examples to the world. It was truly exemplified by Him —“Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant.” The “form of God” on the one hand, and obedience to the death on the other, are the two termini; or the extent of our Lord's self-denying grace is measured by the distance between equality with God, and a public execution on a gibbet. Here the apostle presses the duty of humility, from Christ's example; he was a perfect pattern of humility when here on earth: example therefore should recommend this grace and virtue to us, which was so orient in the life of Christ, whose humility was as conspicuous as his innocency; and accordingly the apostle descends in the next verse to give particular instances of the humility and humiliation of the Son of God. Is not this a field in which we may seek for the mind which was in Christ Jesus?
What is given in answer to prayer, should be received with great thankfulness and joy. confess, or express, their adoration of Christ, Revelation 7:9-12, either with delight, or by a forced subjection, Revelation 6:16, and acknowledge that he is Lord, i.e. ‘Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,’We may translate more literally, ‘Be thus minded (phroneite) in/among yourselves which also in Christ Jesus’. Do your duty without murmurings. If you expect or experience the benefit of God's compassions to yourselves, be compassionate one to another. It seems, his illness was caused by the work of God. It is the joy of ministers to see people like-minded. (1-4) The example of Christ. It is not his intention to dwell on His manhood, with a demonstration of its reality; or to adduce His death with evidence of its expiatory worth; or to dilate on His royal glories, with a summons that every one should look up and worship. We may notice two points which St. Paul emphasises. It was He through whom all that is II. It is now of his self-humiliation Paul introduced an illustration of what he meant, namely, the example of Jesus Christ. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. His purpose is in no sense polemical. We must be severe upon our own faults, and quick in observing our own defects, but ready to make favourable allowances for others. The apostle urges them to love him the more on that account. Paul desired liberty, not that he might take pleasure, but that he might do good. In short, he developes that “mind” which was in Christ, and which was manifested in His self-denying incarnation and death. A simple element of daily duty is being enforced; and the inmost secrets of the Person and Work of Christ are used to enforce it; the spiritual and eternal, in deep continuity, descends into the practical. We must resemble him in his life, if we would have the benefit of his death. This is made clear in Here then was the call to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him ((1) That the incarnate Christ alone is here spoken of ought to be beyond all question. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged I. It is his very purpose in so painting the Divine condescension: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, (NASB: Lockman). To this He calls us; may we hear His voice, obey His Word, follow His example, and accept His power, for His name’s sake.Here St. Paul is discussing mainly the necessity of certain Christian duties and certain Christian virtues, and he points to the example of the God-Man, Christ Jesus.‘Those are true and beautiful words, which the little shepherd boy was singing at the bottom of the valley, in the 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:Consider two or three simple instances of the mode in which we may catch something of the true mind of Christ, and carry out into our lives something of a true I. . His object, in the following paragraph, is neither to prove Christ's Divinity, so as to confirm their faith, nor to argue the perfection of His atonement, so as to brighten their hopes. When it tells us how to live, it commands us so to live. I. St. Paul sees in the Passion of our Lord the crown and climax of the stupendous act of condescension which began in His incarnation. (19-30)Here are further exhortations to Christian duties; to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, according to the example of the Lord Jesus.
His appeal is not to the merits of His abasement, but to the depth and spirit of it; not to the saving results of His service, but to the form and motives of it. (1) The condescension has its roots in our blessed Lord's conception of the scope and value of His own Divine prerogatives. Naturally, that is, sincerely, and not in pretence only; with a willing heart and upright views.