JUNE, 1894

JUNE, 1894

The real point in the case is the question of Philippians 2:7. I really prefer the authorised version, for the expression ‘emptied Himself’ suggests to the English mind — ‘emptied of what?’ and I question if this can be definitely answered.. .. I should not like, in the face of John 8:58, to say that He emptied Himself of the status of God. I am sure it is better left alone. But behind all this the question remains, Was Christ here as Man or as God? I am content to take the testimony of the apostles to Jew and gentile on which christianity was founded (Acts 2:22; Acts 10: 38; Acts 13:32 - 39), and I need not say that they knew He was in Person divine, “The word became flesh”, the Son revealing the Father; I think I am as distinct about that as any, and that adequate evidence of it was given; but none the less it remains true that His glory was veiled, and that He entered here into all that was suitable to man and to the servant, that God might be glorified in the Son of man, and I am not inclined to surrender this. I trust things may make for peace and not disturbance. I am content to be in the shade, and to wait on God. I know of no divergence of thought between myself and J.B.S.