Philippians 2:7 - He Emptied Himself. . . of What?

Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh -- He descended from heaven making Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, in the likeness of men. He emptied Himself, the scripture says -- but what did He empty Himself of?

i included a lot of the context here because i think it's germane - Paul writes, we should have this same mind ((or attitude)) which was in Him, when he describes Christ being made flesh ((v.5)) -- using similar language just prior to this statement, he advises we be 'like-minded' ((v.2)) having the same love, doing nothing selfishly, for ambition or conceit, but being lowly of mind, considering others interests above our own. this attitude informs us of the attitude of Christ, which informs us of the mystery of Him being 'found in appearance as a man'

i hope this doesn't become a divisive question, but it's one we should explore - what exactly does it mean, 'He emptied Himself' ??

“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” John 17:5 (KJV 1900)

So I believe it was the Glory of God he veiled in human flesh, that he emptied himself of. People naturally saw the manhood of Jesus. The manhood needs no special revelation, but his Messiahship does. As in the case of Peter and all believers.

I would agree. He emptied himself of the glory or power of the unseen Father.

The one reason blasphemy was not accredited against the Son of man, Jeus in respect to what the eyes see. Glory represents our unseen God.

The Son of man Jesus refused to stand in the Holy unseen place of God. . our Good Master.

Jesus said God alone in respect to the unseen father is our Good Master.

John informs us to power of the Holy Spirit was not given after the flesh what the eyes see

John 7:39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 17:4-5
I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.


Romans 14:7-8
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.


Acts 20:24
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Finally a new topic that can generate real discussion

Thank you!

I believe Jesus walked the talk an example of what he preached.

He gave no thought of what he should eat or drink what he should wear where he would live. Full surrender to the father.
A example of this is when he was led out into the wilderness being so weak the angels ministered to him.
Trusting only in the father's care.

I looked at the possibility of the glory but then looked at the mount of transfiguration. Could be wrong😏

Answer:
Jesus emptied Himself of the elements of high status and rank by eliminating all privileges and prerogatives,
i.e. His power and His glory.

Additional notes:
A. This emptying (and what followed) was a joint effort of the Trinity. Jesus emptied Himself of His own power and glory because "He considered it something not to be held on to" (Philippians 2:6), that by becoming poor, we might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).
He then relied upon The Father and the Spirit to sustain and help Him; The Spirit clothed Him with power at His baptism. The Father clothed Him with glory at His resurrection. Jesus could not perform miracles or be glorified without the fellowship and help from the Father and the Spirit....because those 2 qualities were intrinsically of the Father and the Spirit and not originating from the Son.

B. This is a great example for us to follow. We are invited to humble ourselves, give up our rights and privileges and depend on God to sustain us with what we need to glorify Him in all things.

C. Regarding the transfiguration, it is important to remember that it was a vision.

"As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, 'Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.' (Matthew 17:9).

Anyone walking by the mountain would not have been able to look up and see what Peter, James and John saw. This is because it was not a present manifestation, but rather a revelation of the future (His second coming). Peter uses a very specific word (παρουσία parousea="coming" or "arrival") in his second epistle, which clarifies that this vision was of the second coming of Christ (1 Peter 2:16-18). We know this is because every use of παρουσία in reference to Christ is in the context of His return. It appears that Peter introduced a new theme here. He plunged quickly into a mention of the Lord’s return: the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He had already talked about that welcome into the eternal kingdom (1:11), and had written about his own departure from this life. His defense of the doctrine of the Second Coming therefore is based on his eyewitness experience on the Mount of Transfiguration at which time he truly saw Christ’s majesty. Several times in his earlier epistle he spoke of Christ’s return (1 Peter 1:5, 13; 4:13). Obviously Peter considered this doctrine of great importance, one his readers should always keep in mind.

Best answer I heard is some sort of self limitation. He cant no longer be God, or lose any attributes of Himself but He maybe could voluntarily limit.

I would suggest to empty himself would be to take a lesser role in the mutual work of Him and the Father.

Humbling himself in a body of death he attributed the greater work of strengthening as the Son cries out the father in mutual submission pouring out their love. This was in order to perform what the letter of the law "death" could not .Give new spirit life. In the end establishing the government of God as a peace that surpasses our literal understanding. Strengthening us in the inner man. As it did strengthen the Son who knew no sin.