SEASON'S GREETINGS (PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11)

Every year my wife and I include in our Christmas cards a short newsletter catching everyone
up on events in our family's lives over the previous year. We always conclude with an appropriate
Bible passage for the season such as:
          “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
or
          “I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. To you this day is born in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'” (Luke 2:10-11)
or
         “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

But this year my personal vote for a seasonal Scripture will be cast for Philippians 2:6-11, a passage
that Paul may have composed himself or was quoting from an early Christian hymn to Jesus Christ,
who (in the NRSV):
          “(v. 6) though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited
          (v. 7) but emptied himself taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,
          (v. 8) he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.
          (v. 9) Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name.
          (v. 10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
          (v. 11) and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

Note how all-encompassing this short hymn is, covering all time periods from the very beginning (v. 6)
to the first Christmas (v. 7) to the Easter event (v. 8) to the present time (v. 9) and on into the future
extending throughout all eternity (vv. 10-11).

Unlike many recently composed Christian songs, this one is jam-packed with a whole semester of
biblical theology and is well worth contemplating and studying in depth.