A Clarification.
We are obliged to a friend for referring us to an expression which appears in the story “An Incident in a Prison,” which appeared in the July issue of the magazine. The statement is: “Bergier dwelt chiefly on the love of Christ on emptying Himself of His inherent glory for our sakes.” The words “emptying Himself of His inherent glory” are no doubt intended to be a simplified form or brief exposition of the words appearing in Philippians ii, 7, viz., “But made himself of no reputation.” These words are frequently re-stated or explained by saying that Christ “emptied Himself.” But the point queried is: did He empty Himself of His “inherent glory”? He, the Son of God, equal in power and glory with the Father and the Holy Ghost, did not in any sense, manner or measure divert Himself of His essential glory and perfections as God when He appeared in the world. But as the following useful and explanatory term explains—Christ, while in the world, “veiled” His divine, inherent glory to a great extent, from the eyes and experience of men. He, in point of fact, did reveal His divine glory but in a limited degree after all, even when He raised Lazarus from the dead. He came to suffer, to die, in human nature, and in His Person as the Lord Jesus Christ, for the redemption of His people from sin. And in order to do this, “He took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Phil. ii. 7), yet He was still the Son of God possessed of all the glory of Deity.