Chapter VI – The Character of Christ: The Kenosis
For let this disposition be in you, which is in Christ Jesus also, Who, being inherently in the form of God, deems it not pillaging to be equal with God, nevertheless empties Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of humanity… alla (BUT) heauton (HIMSELF) ekenOsen (EMPTIES) morphen (FORM) doulou (OF-SLAVE) labOn (GETTING) en (IN) homoiOmati (LIKENESS) anthrOpOn (OF-HUMANS) genomenos (BECOMING) Nevertheless The first term we find in this verse is alla. This term, in Greek, generally means “but.” In the past, I have claimed that this term does not need to mean “nevertheless,” and have knocked Knoch’s translation for it. However, there is indeed sufficient evidence from other verses (Mark 14:29, Acts 9:6, Rom. 6:5, 1 Cor. 8:6, 9:2, 12, 2 Cor. 4:16,) where “nevertheless” makes more sense – if we used “but” in any of the cited verses, the verse may be interpreted as if the first clause were to be limited or invalidated, and could become jarred ...