Phil. 2:1-8, Emptiness! (1)

This is a valuable study.  “Emptiness” (vanity, worthlessness) is the description of an idol in the Old Testament.  The Hebrew term is “elil.” Its 20 uses in the OT include Ps. 96:5: For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.  All “gods” are empty but YAHWEH, the God of Israel, is the Creator!  Job used the term in its literal sense, calling his three friends worthless physicians (13:4).  The worthless shepherd of Zech. 11:17 is such because he leaves the flock. 

Another OT term, “hebel,” which is well known from Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, all is vanity (e.g. Eccl. 1:2).  That word is translated “idol” in the NKJV in Deut. 32:21: They have moved me to anger by their foolish idols.  When Christ came to earth He was the “epiphany” (appearance, the embodiment) of the grace of God (Titus 2:11) and the kindness and love of God (Titus 3:4).  When people bring idols to the party, it is the “epiphany” of nothing, emptiness, worthlessness. 

Of course, sometimes “emptiness” is a good thing, if what you are lacking is sinful.  Here are the uses of the verb in the NT.

kenoō: to make empty

·       Rom.4:14: faith of no value if we are heirs by law.

·       1 Cor.1:17: gospel preached w/human words of wisdom empties the cross of its power.

·       1 Cor.9:15: Paul had not used his right to be compensated for his ministry, so that he would not hinder the gospel (v9-14).  He would rather die than be deprived of this boast.

·       2 Cor.9:3: In the offering being taken for the Jerusalem Church, Paul wanted to be sure his boast about the Corinthians (that they would be ready to give) was not hollow.

·       Phil.2:7: Christ made himself nothing.

In this initial list, note that in every case, faith, the gospel, Paul’s ministry success, and Christ Himself, all had great value in and of themselves.  Something had to happen to make them empty.  In the case of Christ, the sense in which He made Himself nothing is explained: He, the Lord, the Creator of all things, took on the form of a servant, being subservient to His Father, whose will was that He, Jesus, would come to earth as a Man.  It is important to remember: Christ emptied Himself.  He did this, voluntarily becoming the Servant.

Here is a word used once in the NT, in the context of Christ’s self-emptying.

kenodoxia: vanity, conceit, excessive ambition (compound word: empty keno glory doxia)

·       Phil.2:3: do nothing fr. selfish ambition or vain conceit.  In other words, we are to have the mind of the “self-emptying Christ” rather than the mind of sinful pride, that lives for earthly applause but brings no glory to God.