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For Marilyn - Of No Reputation

by Harry Goldtmann  
3/17/2016 / Bible Studies

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Philippians 2:7 KJV

A young lady approached me at church, asking for a word study on a verse that she cannot seem to let go until she has a better understanding. When she explained the word and her dilemma, she was struggling with the first part of the second chapter of Philippians, and the phrase in the seventh verse, of no reputation.

As you read this verse, what came to your mind? To get the content of the verse, please read the verses before and see if you arrive at alternative meanings. I started the study by reading Philippians 1 and 2, and found myself focused on the phrase, of no reputation, along with some other curious words, especially verse 8. Soon after reading, the Spirit impressed upon me that the subject phrase was a characteristic of Jesus, what he left and his life on earth. This was unusual to be given clues at the start of a word study, but as I finished up the technical approach, I had a better understanding why I was provided the first impression.

Paul uses the Greek word, ἐκένωσεν (ekenOsen) which the King James' translators describe as "of no reputation", yet the Latin Vulgate (400 AD) translates as emptied himself. John Wycliffe (1382 AD) translated as Lowide in middle English, which is lowed or meeked himself. Martin Luther (1545 AD) translated as empties himself, as many other translations read the same. I looked at a Hebrew translation of the Greek which interpreted as undressed, stripped, unclothe, or divest.

As I have learned in other biblical word studies, some words are no longer used in Modern Greek or Hebrew, and some words are found only in the Bible. I believe this is one of those times, and this could have been a dialect Paul used. As I researched scholar definitions, this word has challenged them, and it is unclear the exact interpretation of the word. The scholars provided ekenOsen is form the verb kenoo, which Strongs' defines as to make empty, make of none effect, of no reputation, void, or to be in vain.

Kenoo comes from the root word κενός which means empty, vain, devoid of truth. Thayer's Greek Lexicon defines metaphorically destitute of spiritual wealth, of one who boasts of his faith as a transcendent possession, yet without the fruits of faith. Another metaphoric interpretation: of endeavors, labors, acts, which result in nothing, vain, fruitless, without effect, things that will not succeed.

Having a better understanding why even the scholars struggle with this word, I ended the technical approach. If PhDs, theologians, professional linguistics have issues defining this word, then I will rely on other techniques of study, and the main source of study, prayer. As I have studied and read, there is a technical approach to scripture, yet there is also an emotional content that cannot be translated. This approach relies on our individual experiences and makeup, allowing the Bible to come alive, becoming personal to us. In the end, it's the personal relationship and personal experiences that solidify our faith.

For a moment, omit the word ekenOsen from the verse, and pretend you found an ancient document where this word was missing. How would you read the verse in the content of the chapter and idea Paul is trying to portray? "But (Jesus) ______ himself, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."

The emotional content lead me to, "But He took the impossible upon Himself"

During a prayer before bedtime, I had a second impression on this verse. The emotional content gained from this chapter depends on the person's understanding of what Heaven is like. Whatever one conceives about Heaven, Jesus left this behind when he came to earth, and this will define the emotional content one interprets with this passage.

As scholars have struggled with the negative notions of this word, maybe this was the idea Paul was trying to portray. This attempt by Jesus, in man's thinking is vain, fruitless, without effect, it is something that will not succeed. Seriously and carnally, a Holy Being is going to take on the form of man in all its issues, gather up a rough group of twelve followers, and they are going to take on the powers of darkness, and bring Light into the world by the acts of their Leader, his death and resurrection? Impossible! Yet, He did it!

As the King James translators used of no reputation in 1769 AD, and the New King James continued its use, I looked at the earliest dictionary by Noah Webster from 1826 AD, which defines reputation as:

Good name; the credit, honor or character which is derived from a favorable public opinion or esteem. Reputation is a valuable species of property or right, which should never be violated. With the loss of reputation, a man and especially a woman, loses most of the enjoyments of life. The best evidence of reputation is a man's whole life.

I pondered upon this definition and the life of Jesus, and I wonder if the emotional content and the Spirit lead the KJV translators to use this phrase. To me, of no reputation, encompasses the life of Christ as the Spirit impressed upon me. Jesus left Heaven in all of its splendor, taking on the form of an embryo as the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, a betrothed young lady, in the Immaculate Conception. By our standards, his start was of no reputation, from conception He was at risk, at the mercy of this world, and was born in an inopportune time in an inopportune place.

As my study on Psalms 22 has shown me, from the womb to his death, Jesus trusted in God, that He would quietly and publicly deliver Him. God answered His prayer with the resurrection from the dead, the crescendo of this Psalm.

As I thought about the life of Jesus given in scripture, His only possessions was his clothing. When Jesus healed, he requested "tell no one." Jesus did not try and make a name, or reputation for Himself, but wanted people to see and experience God. When he became "popular" he would leave, for the crowds were focused on the physical needs instead of the spiritual relationship with God, thus he said, "seeing they do not see, hearing they do not hear." The purpose for his life was to point us to the Father, and having the same relationship. His earthly life showed what is possible with man's relationship with God.

I'm an engineer, who loves to study the Bible. Friends asked me to publish my studies, which shows my spiritual growth. I also made a blog for a central point for my studies:
http://www.goldtmann.wordpress.com
I also authored a book releasing in May
www.mazzarothbirthofaNation.com

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