The Mind of Christ

     If a friend does something which puzzles us, we might ask what it was 

he "had in mind" in doing it.  It is in this sense that Paul uses the word 

mind in Philippians 2:5.  What was it that seemed important to Jesus?  

What principles did he cherish?  What objectives?  On what footing 

were his choices made?

     The revelation of the mind of Christ is presented here as the story of 

a great change.  It befits with one who was in the form of God (verse 6), 

that is, one who possessed inwardly and displayed outwardly the very 

nature of God himself.

     As is plain, verse 6 is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ before his 

incarnation...What a change is expressed in verse 8 when he who was in 

the form of God became obedient unto death Wesley put it justly when 

he wrote:

"Tis mystery all!  The immortal dies!"

     Mystery indeed, but at the same time the testimony of the Bible.  How 

it could happen we cannot know, that it did happen we are assured.

     There is great stress on the fact that this change came about by 

voluntary decision and in this we begin to enter into the "mind of 

Christ."  Verse 7 says he emptied himself, and verse 8, he humbled him-

self.  In each case the reflexive expression points to personal decision 

and action.

                     Alec Motyer, The Message of Philippians: Jesus Our Joy

Who is Alec Motyer?  Now retired Alec Motyer was formerly Principal 

of Trinity College, Bristol. He has extensive experience in parish 

ministry and is well known as a Bible expositor, of the Old Testament 

in particular. 

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