emphatic position of ἑαυτόν, “himself,” and the form of the verb strongly suggest that this act of “emptying” was voluntary on the part of the preexistent Christ. But what did this act of self-emptying entail? Of what did Christ empty himself? Sensing that this is a real question, some interpreters are quick to answer: he emptied himself (1) of his glory (Plummer), (2) of his independent exercise of authority (Hendriksen), (3) of the prerogatives of deity (Lightfoot), (4) of the insignia of majesty
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