I received a copy of the Mirror Bible by Francois Du Toit for my birthday this year, and I've been slowly trying to make my way through it; it's very rich. So far, this is one of my favorite sections:
Philippians 2:6-16
2:6 His being God’s equal in form and likeness was official; his sonship did not steal the limelight from his Father! Neither did his humanity distract from the deity of God!
2:7 His mission however, was not to prove his deity but to embrace our humanity. He emptied himself into a physical human form; born in our resemblance he identified himself as the servant of the human race. His love enslaved him to us!
2:8 And so we have the drama of the cross in context: the man Jesus Christ who is fully God, becomes fully man to the extent of willingly dying humanity’s death at the hands of his own creation. He embraced the curse and shame of the lowest kind in dying a criminal’s death.
2:9 From this place of utter humiliation, God exalted him to the highest rank. God graced Jesus with a Name that is far (1) above as well as equally representative of every other name;
(The word, (1) uper, means above, also instead, or for the sake of. The name of Jesus endorses his mission as fully accomplished! He is the Savior of the world! Titus 2:11 The grace of God shines as bright as day making the salvation of humankind undeniably visible. [Clarence Jordan translates this, “For God’s undeserved kindness has burst in upon us, bringing a new lease on life for all mankind.”] See also Eph 3:15, Every family in heaven and on earth originates in him; his is mankind’s family name and he remains the authentic identity of every nation.)
2:10 What his name unveils will persuade every creature of their redemption! Every knee in heaven and upon the earth and under the earth shall bow in spontaneous worship!
2:11 Also every tongue will voice and resonate the same devotion to his unquestionable Lordship as the Redeemer of life! Jesus Christ has glorified God as the Father of creation! This is the ultimate conclusion of the Father’s (1) intent!
(The word (1) doxa, intent, opinion, often translated, glory. Rev 5:13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!”)
2:12 Considering this amazing outcome of what our faith sees and celebrates, I strongly urge you my darling friends to continue to have your (1) ears tuned to that which inspires your conduct to give full expression to the detail of your own salvation in a most personal and practical way. See salvation in its earth shattering awesome and ultimate conclusion. I know that my personal presence encourages you greatly but now I want you to realize an inspiration in my absence that supersedes anything you’ve known before. This would mean that even if you were never to see my face again or receive another Epistle from me, it will make no difference at all to your faith!
(The success of Paul’s ministry was not to enslave people to him but to his gospel! He knew that he would be more present in his message than in his person! Ministry success is not measured by how many partners you can congregate, but how absent you can preach yourself! The word often translated, obedience, is the word (1) upoakoo, to be under the inspired influence of what you hear.)
2:13 Discover God himself as your inexhaustible inner source; he ignites you with both the desire and energy that matches his own delight!
2:14 Your entire life is a poem; any undercurrent murmuring or argumentative debating would be completely out of place! Do not let such issues disrupt the rhythm of your conversation.
2:15 Your flawless innocence radiates attraction as beacons of light in the midst of a people who have forgotten their true sonship and whose lives have become distorted and perverse.
(In this verse Paul quotes Deut 32:5 from the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew text, with reference to Deut 32:4,5 &18. In context God’s perfect workmanship as Father of mankind is forgotten; people have become “crooked and perverse” twisted and distorted out of their true pattern of sonship. Deut 32:18 says, you have forgotten the Rock that begot you and have gotten out of step with the God who (1) danced with you! Hebrew, (1) khul or kheel.)
2:16 Your lives (1) echo-exhibit the (2) logic of the message of life. You are positioned like the stars in the night sky, superimposed and radiating light, which shining pierces the darkness. Thus you (3) confirm the day of the Lord and (3) complete my joy! You are my wreath of honor and (3) proof that I did not run my race in vain.
(The word, (1) epecho, is from epi, to superimpose, and echo, to hold, echo resonance. The word of life, (2) logos, it embodies a conception or idea, thought, logic. The preposition (3) eis, suggests a point reached in conclusion. See Col 1:29 Your completeness in Christ is not a remote goal, but your immediate reference...)
