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        JESUS IN PERSPECTIVE, "THE EXALTED SERVANT" 
                    PHILIPPIANS 2:1-9
A study in who Jesus is, and the nature of the incarnation 
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This week we are studying one of the most important passages 
about Jesus in the entire Bible. It gives us insight into 
who Jesus actually is, and Jesus' approach to self-
promotion.

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MONDAY

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LEVEL 1: OBSERVATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY?
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1.1  This passage consists of an exhortation to righteous 
living and an example. Which verses contains the 
exhortation? Which contain the example?

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TUESDAY

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LEVEL 2: INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN?
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Comment: Vs. 1:6 says of Jesus that he is "in very nature 
God" (NIV) or "in the form of God" (KJV). The word "nature" 
or "form" is Greek morphe, "form, outward appearance, shape" 
(BAG, p. 528) FW Beare  says, "Yet morphe does, or at least 
can, retain in the usage of the NT its proper sense of `form 
which corresponds to the underlying reality'" (Philippians, 
p. 78f)

2.1  Vs. 6: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider 
equality with God something to be grasped..." If Jesus is by 
very nature God, why does vs. 6 talk about grasping at 
equality with God? (This is difficult, but worth your 
meditation.)

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WEDNESDAY

2.2  Vs. 7: "But made himself nothing (KJV, "emptied 
himself"), taking the very nature of a servant, being made 
in human likeness."  In what sense did Jesus "empty" 
himself?  Why did he need to empty himself in order to 
become a human?  

2.3  Vs. 6 says Jesus was in very nature (Gk. morphe) God. 
Vs. 7 says he took the very nature (Gk. morphe) of a 
servant. Which was he in the flesh: God or man?

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THURSDAY

2.4  Does Jesus' struggle with obedience in the Garden of 
Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46) reveal his weakness or his 
strength? Defend your answer.

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FRIDAY

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LEVEL 3: APPLICATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
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3.1  Why do we find it so hard to consider others better 
than ourselves? (vs. 3)  In what ways is looking beyond your 
own interests to the interest of others (vs. 4) opposed to 
the philosophy of the world. 


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Copyright 1997, Ralph F. Wilson, all rights reserved. 
Joyful Hear