The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-27

vine service in unparalleled lowliness Of

vine service in unparalleled lowliness OF
spirit.
If this exposition, in distinction
from that which makes the passage
teach the Deity of Christ, is not the
correct one, what CAN be the meaning OF
the saying that we should be likeminded
with Christ? If Paul taught that Jesus
is Deity. he by the same language taught
US to regard our individual selves as
Deity.
What ethical value can there be
in the example of Jesus. il he is God?
We could not in that case become his
imitators il we would; there would be
wanting essential points of similarity
between US. IL Jesus was God, could
he temporarily cease to be Deity? Can
human being cease for one moment to
be human beingf Can Deity be such
nominal thing as can be put off and
on at will?
g. God Exalts the WY
ChriSt,-vs. Gil.
Wherefore also God highly exalted
him, and gave him name which is
above every name; that in the name OF
Jesus every knee should bow, Of things
in heaven. and things 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.
Does not this language imply Christ's
subordination to God? The import is:
Because of Jesus voluntary choice Of a
Inundated life and shameful death,
the Eternal Father has exalted him,
and given him THE name-SAvIoR--
which symbolizss the power that will
subdue all evil in the universe; the
name which, next to that Of the Father.
is worthy of highest honor in all worlds.
Connected with this passage is some
interesting Universalist history. Early
in the nineteenth century Professor
Stuart of Andover expounded the words
in this way: "Things in heaven. earth,
and under the earth. is common peri
phrasis of the Hebrew and New Testa-
ment writer's. for the universe. What
can be meant by things in heaven, i. O.,
beings in heaven, bowling the knee to
Jesus, il spiritual worship be not
meant? What other worship can
heaven render? And il worship of
Christ in heaven be spiritual should not
that of others. who ought to be united
with them, be spiritual also? Walter
Balfour of Charlestown, then schol-
arly Baptist clergyman, asked of Pro-
lessor Stuart whether this was not ex-
pounding the passage as signifying the
triumph of Christ as Saviour in all the
univ erse. Professor Stuart, while scorn-
ing Universalism, did not explain his
own explanation to the satisfaction OF
Mr.. Balfour; and the investigation which
Mr.. Balfour then began, Of this passage
and related passages, resulted in his be-
coming an assured believer in Christ as
the complete Redeemer. Mr.. Balfour
by his books rendered subsequently a
great service to the larger hope.
1t is not easy to read into our les.
son passage the meaning which ortho-
dox Trinitarians have thought they
have seen in it, 1t is not natural to in.
terpret the phrase, form of God" as
equivalent to God" There is no clear
teaching in the mistranslation, Thought
it not robbery to be equal with God," il
| the phrase is taken to mean that he
thought it not robbery to be equal with
himself. Why should God be spoken of
as the Rewarder of Christ, il God and
Christ are one?
The natural meaning of the passage
is in this free paraphrase: Let the same
mind 1.-THE same humility and unselfish-
messy be in you which was in Christ;
who. when he found himself in the
image of God, did not covet Divine
honors. but became as bondservant to
men. humbling himself to lowly obed-
fence. even to the suffering and ignominy
of death on the cross. being rich, for
our sakes he became poor" Therefore,
according to Christ's own teaching,
1.-The Son of man came not to be served
but to serve" and again, Whose would
be greatest among you, let him be SER
want of ll."-Jesus had been exalted to
honor next to that of God himself; in
all worlds all knees shall bow in his
name. and all tongues confess his Lord
ship to the Fathers glory.