p. 12 | The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 18, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 45.

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON X.—SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1897.

CHRIST'S HUMILITY AN EXALTATION.

NOTE.—In the older classes it would be well to have at least a portion of the time given to the consideration of the epistle as a whole. Notice the several instances throughout the epistle in which the kindness of the Philippian church is mentioned. The epistle was written from Rome by Epaphroditus, a member of the Philippian church, who had been sent to Rome with gifts for Paul. An account of the founding of the Philippian church is given in Acts 16:10-40. Several of the gifts of this church to Paul are mentioned in the following texts: 2 Cor. 11:9; Phil. 4:10, 16. Notice the absence of reproof in this epistle, and how many times the thought of rejoicing is brought in; also the fulfilment of Christ's words, "in prison and ye visited me."

Lesson Scripture, Phil. 2:1-11, R. V.

1 "If there is therefore any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, 2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. Have this mind in you, which was also 5 in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God, counted it not 6 a prize to be on an equality with God, but emptied himself, 7 taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of 8 men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him 10 the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things 11 on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Golden Text: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Phil. 2:5.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Upon the existence of what four facts did Paul ask the Philippians to fulfil his joy? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) What was his joy? Verse 2. (3) What is the significance of the word "likeminded"? Same verse. Note 2. (4) What motives should not enter into the church in doing its work? Verse 3. (5) What is the proper attitude of the working Christian? Same verse. (6) What injunction does he put upon the selfish man? Verse 4. Note 3. (7) What work of unselfishness does he lay upon all? Same verse. (8) What is the crowning admonition of the apostle? Verse 5. (9) What was the form of Christ? Verse 6. (10) Notwithstanding this, how did he regard equality with God? Same verse. Note 4. (11) What did he do with reference to his own glory and position? Verse 7. (12) What form did he then take upon himself? Same verse. (13) In whose likeness was he made? Same verse. (14) Being found in this form and fashion, what was his next step? Verse 8. (15) To what did this humility at last bring him? Same verse. Note 5. (16) What came to him in consequence of his unselfishness, humiliation, and obedience? Verse 9. (17) How will the honor of the name of Jesus be manifested, and to what extent? Verse 10. (18) At the final restitution what will be the confession of every tongue? Verse 11. (19) In this exaltation of Christ who is glorified? Same verse.

NOTES.

1. If there is therefore any comfort.—The "if" does not signify a doubt as to the existence of these four facts, but is used to make them stand forth more emphatically. The subjunctive form is often used for this purpose. It is more striking in this way than as if expressed in the positive form: There is comfort in Christ; there is consolation in love, etc.

2. Of the same mind.—"Thinking the same thing, in accord with the two respects which follow: (1) a unity of affection, 'having the same love;' (2) a unity of sentiment, 'of one accord.' The general expression is then repeated in a stronger form, 'of one mind,' thinking the same thing."—Vincent. That "one mind" must be the mind of Christ. If all have that, they will have one mind, and will be "likeminded," as it is expressed in the common version.

3. Not looking . . . to his own things.—This is an injunction against selfishness, against having one's mind absorbed in things that pertain to self. He is to look to the things of others—not to covet them—but to be interested in the welfare of others and to conserve their interests; to look to them that no harm comes to them.

4. Counted it not a prize.—This is the very opposite of the spirit which actuated Satan and worked his ruin. He said, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation; . . . I will be like the Most High." Isa. 14:13, 14. He thought an equality with God something to be grasped after, a prize. The result was, he fell and brought innumerable angels with him. The result of the unselfish course which Christ took will make him not only the adoration of all the angels but of the whole universe of God as well.

5. Obedient unto death.—Obedient to the Father's will, even to the utmost extremity, death; or, taking upon himself the form of man, and with that form accepting as his own the sins of the world, death (the penalty for the transgression of the law) demanded him, called him, and he answered the summons. In this, then, he was obedient to death itself; but his obedience to his Father's will made it impossible that he should be "holden" of death, and he triumphed over it, bringing its keys with him. In the two characters of Satan and Christ are personified selfishness and unselfishness, with the results of each.