“THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY.”
Paul, in Phil. 2:6, thus writes concerning Christ: “Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Taking these words alone, the force of the expression, “Thought it not robbery to be equal with God,” is not easy to be seen. But if we take them with the context, the matter is rendered still worse: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation,” &c. According to our version, the mind which was in Christ was, being in the form of God, not to think it any robbery to be equal with God. Man, also, we are told, is made in the image of God, and shall we have the same mind, and think it no robbery to be equal with God? Here is the apparent difficulty with the text. But if we give to the word rendered robbery another meaning which is given to it in the lexicons, it relieves the difficulty and brings out the beautiful idea of the passage. That word is defined to mean, also, something to be earnestly desired, coveted, or sought after, like the spoil which is so earnestly desired as to be obtained by robbery. With this idea let us read the text: “Who being in the form of God, thought it not something to be pre-eminently desired to be, or still to appear, equal with God, but made himself of no reputation,” &c. That is to say, though he was in the form of God, having exaltation and glory with him before the world was, being the express image of his person, and the brightness of his glory, he did not think it so desirable to still retain this position, and to continue to appear before the exalted intelligences of Heaven the equal of God, as it was to do something else. And what was this other thing that was more desirable? It was to come down and redeem man. Therefore he made himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and humbled himself to the death of the cross. With this idea, the force and beauty of the passage is seen. See Dr. Clarke. Now, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in so exalted and glorious a position, thought it not desirable to continue in it if he could rescue perishing man. He might have retained his place in Heaven and left man to perish. But he laid aside his glory, for a while put off his equality with God, and came down in the form of a servant to rescue us. If we have the same mind we also shall not cling to those things which minister to self, even as Christ served not himself, but shall go forth to succor and rescue those whom we can reach by any possible sacrifice and labor of love.