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Document Details :

Title: Paul's Reasoning in Philippians 2,6-8
Author(s): LAMBRECHT, Jan
Journal: Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses
Volume: 83    Issue: 4   Date: 2007   
Pages: 413-418
DOI: 10.2143/ETL.83.4.2025347

Abstract :
In his recent commentary J.-N. Aletti defends the position as most probable that in Phil 2,6-7ab Paul speaks of the incarnate Christ and does not point to his preexistence. In vv. 7cd-8 “he humbled himself” depicts the continuation of one and the same movement of Christ’s abasement. According to the present note Paul’s logic cannot but refer in v. 6 to the preexistence of Christ. Moreover the new beginning with 7c indicates that he understands “the form of a slave” as the form of a human being, the opposite of the form of God. In vv. 7-8 one thus better distinguishes two discrete but consecutive steps: Christ “emptied himself” and “humbled himself”.

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