Philippians 2:7 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

But made himself of no reputation, &c.— "Nevertheless (αλλα) he was pleased, by a most wonderful act of condescension, so far to disrobe, and, as it were empty himself, of the bright appearances of his divine majesty and glory, as not to make a pompous shew of them, but, in great measure, to conceal them from the observation of men; while, in themselves, they continued to be really and essentially the same as ever, and all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt substantially in him (Colossians 2:9.): and he voluntarily assumed the human nature into personal union with himself, in so low and mean a condition, as therein to become his Father's servant, living and acting, bleeding and dying, according to his commandment (John 10:18.), and as even to act the part of a servant towards his disciples (Luke 12:37.), and go through the most painful, humbling, and difficult servicesfor the salvation of the faithful."The form of a servant, in this verse, is plainly opposed to the form of God. If therefore we can come at the determinate meaning of either of these expressions, it will certainly lead to the knowledge of the other. The true way to explain this place may be found in Hebrews 1:1-14. The image which the writer seems to have before him is that of a great household. Christ is considered as the Son, the eternal Son of the everlasting Father, and heir of all things: other beings are the servants and attendants belonging to the family. Under this view, it is not hard to know what the Apostle means in the passage before us, when he says Christ took upon him the form of a servant. He was truly the Son of the family, the Heir of all things, and possessed the complete form and majesty of his Father; but he in some sense descended from the glories of his Father, and became like one of the family, submitting to take the form and character of a servant upon him, by assuming the human nature, and uniting it to his divine. The Apostle adds, being made in the likeness of men: the reason and meaning of this addition the Apostle will likewise teach us, Hebrews 2:16. Verily he took not on him the nature of angels, &c. Angels are servants as well as men; therefore by saying Christ took on him the form of a servant, there might be room to suppose him to have taken the nature of angels: to shew therefore what nature he took, the Apostle says, he took the form of a servant in the likeness of men; that is, in the nature of man. So then, the form of a servant is a common mark and character of all the creatures of God; the likeness here spoken of is the peculiar and proper character of each species. So that the form of a servant, and the likeness of a man, make a complete and perfect man. He was not only a man in appearance and likeness, but in reality, having the same common nature, distinguished by the same specific differences, but united to his own eternally divine nature.