New Testament 2, the Epistles

to my surprise, it's a joy in itself to be studying God's word. eventhough my reaction to assignment and exam won't be positive nowadays, discovering the truth about God is certainly a comfort at any times.

the assignment is due tomorrow. the question is: compare and contrast the function and content in the context of the christological hymns of Philippians 2:5-10 and Colossians 1:15-20.

In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul was exhorting the church in Philippi to imitate Christ’s humility. He was concerned of the unity in the church. By citing the example of Christ, Paul gets his point across that through living a humble life, unity in Christ is exhibited in actions that consider others better than themselves, as well as being unselfish to put the interests of others before them. The reasons for such unity are because Christians have been united with Christ (therefore they are to be like-minded as Christ who united them in Him), the fellowship with the Spirit (that extends to the fellowship among Christians in the Spirit), and as they have experienced God’s blessings of His love, tenderness, compassion; their relationships with one another should also be marked with the sharing of these blessings among them.

Moreover, this hymn also functions to clearly teach of the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, the incarnate of God the Son into the world through a lowly living in a human appearance, yet this doesn’t mean to take away of the divinity of Christ, but rather that Christ was willing let go of His glory in order to submit to the Father’s will. And because of this perfect submission as a result of Christ’s humility, He was exalted by the Father to be the Lord of the heaven and earth.

In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul used the hymn to refute the heresy prone to the church that teaches worldly philosophies based on the Jewish and pagans’ traditions. Paul did this by revealing the fullness of God in Christ, and since this, Christians have also been given God’s fullness that alone is sufficient for them to remain in their faith in Christ, rather than having to conform still to regulations and principalities over which Christ has supremacy above all (first-born of all creations, head of the church, first-born from among the dead, even the Lord of reconciliation).

Both hymns have similarity in pointing out a couple of facts:
- That Jesus Christ is God, not more or less. Phil. 2:6 stated that Christ is the very nature of God, which means that He is fully God. Col. 1:15 pointed that Christ is the image of the invisible God, in whom God (the Father) was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him (Christ) v.19.
- The significance of Christ’s work on the Cross. Phil. 2:8 stated that Christ’s obedience to God shown in humility leads to the action of giving Himself to die on the Cross that results in His Lordship over the heaven and the earth. Col. 1:20 emphasizes that Christ is the agent of reconciliation that brought peace through His blood shed on the Cross.
- The ministry of Christ brings glory to God the Father. Phil. 2:11 stated that the exaltation of Christ is to the glory of God the Father. Col. 1:18 mentioned that God was pleased that through Christ to reconcile all things to Himself.

Reference: IVP Bible Commentary.

ps. cue you people who are doing the same subject next semester in newtown, thou shalt not steal, nor covet! ;) ah well, i have a peek as well at the commentary, got to have a right attitute toward placing the Bible as the main book to start with.