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Greek Lessons
- Reverent Burial and Narrative Simplicity: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Mark 6:29
- The Morning They Found It Razed: Perfect Participles and Sacred Surprises
- Deliverance and Acceptability: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Romans 15:31
- Worry and Growth: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Matthew 6:27
- Seeking the Signs or the Bread? A Grammatical and Stylistic Journey through John 6:26
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Category
Tag Archives: Philippians 2:7
The Self-Emptying: Greek Grammar in the Descent of Christ
Philippians 2:7 stands at the center of the famous “Christ Hymn” (Philippians 2:6–11), portraying Jesus’ voluntary humility. The verse — ἀλλ’ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος — contains two aorist participles that unpack the main verb ἐκένωσε (“emptied himself”). The grammar intensifies the mystery: the eternal Son of God empties himself not by subtraction, but by taking — taking the form of a servant, becoming like us.
The Greek Text in Focusἀλλ’ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος (Philippians 2:7)
“But he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.”… Learn Koine Greek
