Letter 1085: Character is revealed not by what a person says but by what he does when no one is watching.
On the Epistle to the Philippians: "Each esteeming the others as surpassing themselves," and what is meant by: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." The apostolic intention is both fitting and manifest. But if it seems to you deep and hard to attain, I shall attempt to clarify it briefly. The Apostle, exhorting to humility and having said, "Each esteeming the others as surpassing themselves," added: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant." If then he were not equal, the example would be superfluous, since in obeying a greater who commanded him, he would have done nothing remarkable. But if he was equal — as indeed he was equal — the saying is fitting and looks toward humility. If he considered equality something to be seized, he would not have humbled himself, lest his lowering create a prejudice against his dignity. But since he was equal by nature, and possessed his nobility as something essential rather than as a grace bestowed, he did not refuse to humble himself. For a slave who has been freed and honored with adoption, having reckoned his dignity as plunder or a lucky find, would never submit to performing a servant's task. But the true Son, possessing equality naturally and essentially, did not deem the act of condescension unworthy.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
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