Michael Gorman calls this passage “Paul’s master story,” the controlling narrative pattern that reveals the essential character of Jesus, through which Paul envisions his own ministry, the shape of Christian relationships, and the character of Christian community life.1 I refer to this as a “narrative pattern” because it involves a sequence of events, each of which is indispensable. This narrative pattern stands in direct contrast to worldly modes of life, such as self-glorification, selfishness,