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revealed Truth, for monotheism is one of the Biblical fundamentals. There never has
been two Gods, one inferior to the other. This borders on the darkness of pagan
polytheism and is really a species of the early Arian heresy. Bringing in the doctrine of
the Trinity at this point does not solve the problem. It is true that these expositors do not
state things so boldly, but it is what such a view logically means. Furthermore such
teachings goes right against the clear statements of John 1: 1 and Col. 1: 15-18
regarding the Lord's pre-incarnate Deity. We are perturbed to see some conservative
evangelicals taking this position and we are bound to reject such a view absolutely, and
also their exposition of the passage we are now dealing with, treating it as a prize for
Christ, giving Him finally a position which He never had before. The error here is
contrasting the Lord's exaltation with His pre-incarnate state, whereas the contrast is
with His earthly humbling. Professor F. W. Beare's comments here are so much to the
point that we quote them in full:
"The thought is not that God exalts Him to a higher rank than He held before,
as being in the form of God. No such comparison between the pre-existent state
of Christ and His exalted state is envisaged. We must altogether reject the
notion, widespread as it is among the commentators, that Christ received as the
reward of His humility the high station of equality with God which He refused to
seize for Himself as plunder, by storming the heights like a Titan. The contrast is
not between the pre-existent condition and the present exaltation, but between the
earthly condition of slavery (self-humbling, obedience) and the consequent
exaltation. Here is given, as it were, the archetypal pattern of the divinely
established law: `whoever shall humble himself will be exalted' (Matt. 23:11).
It is in His manhood that Christ is now exalted and endued with all authority.
Even the verb `conferred', (granted as an act of grace), suggest that God is here
dealing with Christ as man. God `giveth grace to the humble' (I Pet. 5:5,6)"
(The Epistle to the Philippians, pp.85,86. First two sets of italics ours).
We believe this puts the case clearly and is according to Truth. The other view would
surely have been treated as heresy in the early centuries, for, however much they failed to
grip the distinctive teaching of the Apostle Paul, they were at least clear on the Deity of
Christ and held on to it tenaciously. We must surely "prove all things" and "hold fast that
which is good" (I Thess. 5: 21).