The Mind of Christ
by Clinton Hamilton
We can think the same thing when each of us has the mind of Christ. But what is the mind of Christ? This Paul explains in Philippians 2:5-8.
Although existing in the form of God, Jesus counted not being on an equality with God a thing to be retained or held to. Rather He "emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being found in the likeness of men ....He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death." A careful analysis of this language will aid in grasping what the mind of Christ is.
Existing is from huparchon, which is compounded from hupo, under and arche, a beginning. The sense is that He existed prior to the condition under consideration and continues after it. Therefore He existed in the form of God before and after His incarnation. His being from eternity is involved. Prior to His incarnation, what was His condition of existence? He was in the form of God. The word morphe is translated form. From it we have such words as metamorphis and morphology. The idea is that of the essential nature or character or essence. Jesus Christ actually subsisted as Deity prior to and after He came to earth. His is that character or essence from which He cannot be separated because it is His by being who He is. Truly and really in every particular and detail of essential nature and character Jesus Christ is Deity.
Being Deity in every particular, He was on an equality with God. Isos, from which equality is rendered,, carries the sense of being the same in quality or of whatever essence is under consideration. In every respect that God is what He is, Jesus Christ is equal. However God existed, so did the Lord; there is no difference whatsoever. Mention anything about or any
characteristic of God, Jesus Christ has it. State any condition or exaltation of God, Jesus Christ possessed it.
Because of His concern for the welfare of man, Jesus was willing to surrender His prerogatives and to take upon Himself the form, morphe, of a servant and be found in fashion as a man. Jesus did not view His being on an equality with God, having the same prerogatives and honors, something to be held to or retained. Rather He was willing to empty Himself. Grasped is
translated from harpagmos, which means a thing to be held as a prize. Robbery is the term used in the King James Version but one should not by it be led erroneously to believe that equality was to be seized. His being in the form of God already made Him to be on an equality with God. Neither should one conclude that when He emptied Himself His Deity is involved. His subsisting as Deity was no less the case after incarnation than it was the case prior to it. He emptied Himself of His glory and prerogatives belonging to Deity when He became in essential character and nature a servant. He surrendered His prerogative in becoming a servant in human flesh. Servant
translates doulon, which signifies a slave in relation to a master. He was truly a slave as He was really Deity. He was both. Therefore He did not empty Himself to His Deity.
As a servant found in the likeness and fashion of men, He became obedient to the will of God, even to dying on the cross. In this supreme sacrifice He redeemed men. Truly, He looked not to His own things but to the things of others. Certainly He did not act out of faction or conceit. In Christ's conduct one observes the very opposite or contrast of erithian, faction. Such humble submission to the will of God in seeking the welfare of others is our example. If each of us has this mind, it will be impossible for there to be disunity or disharmony among us. He loved us and gave Himself for us.
By having this same interest in the welfare of others, we have the mind of Christ. This is the sense in which we can be of the same mind, of one accord, and of the same love.
(Vanguard, Vol. 2, No. 8, Oct. 28, 1976)
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