Matthew Poole and continuators on Philippians 2:8

8 And being found in fashion as a man , he humbled himself , and became obedient unto death , even the death of the cross .

To be found is a meer Hebraism, not unusual in the N. T. not importing any question of the thing, but onely the thing certainly happening beyond expectation. It notes here not his being apprehended of the Souldiers when betray'd by Iudas, being before his humble obedience, but his being and really appearing to be (as the Greek word is elsewhere used, c. 3.9. Gen. 5.24. 2 Cor. 5.3. Gal. 2.17. Heb. 11.5. with 1 Pet. 1.7.) as a Man simply considered among Men, which was before his being scourged, &c. consequent upon his apprehension. Now being made Man, not reserv'd for a time like the Angels, for Heaven it self and the view of Angels: neither from the Privilege of the first Man (which Adam could not keep) did he reserve himself for the inhabiting of Paradise onely: but after the manner of Men, he stay'd in this Earth, amongst and convers'd with them, and therefore is said to be in the fashion of Men, or as Man.

Whereby his habit and deportment is more especially express'd, as his essence in the foregoing Phrase. Man here is considered according to what is proper unto humane Nature, not having the Article prefix'd as if it connoted the first Man Adam, onely Man as Man. The particle as here, not intimating onely likeness without reality of Nature (as the Marcionites conceited) but as a confirming and assuring particle, nothing certainly, Ioh. 1.14. Some indeed take fashion more strictly as noting onely the External figure of Christ's Body, others more largely and commodiously for the whole outward species of humane Nature: whence the truth of the humane Nature shined out, not onely in the figure and matter of the Body with true flesh and bones, the habit of his Members, Mouth, Eyes, &c. that he might be seen and touch'd, 1 Ioh. 1.1. as he himself alledgeth, Luk. 24.39. Io. 20.20, 27. growing in stature and wisedom, Luk. 2.52. but his labouring with hunger, thirst and weariness, Eating, Drinking, Sleeping, Watching, Speaking, Gestures, being mov'd with Pity, Sorrow, Joy, Weeping, in all which his humane Nature was evidenc'd of God and easily found of Men who convers'd with him, Io. 4.29. & 9.11. & 18.22. What the Socinians urge, that this gainsays his being incarnate, from Samson's saying, I shall be weak and as another Man, Iudg. 16.7, 11. There's no strength in the Allegation, that Samson of Dan's Tribe, Iudg. 13.2. should be compar'd with Christ coming from Heaven (as they themselves do not deny, found in fashion as a Man: because Samson being stronger than an hundred men, if he were dealt so and so withall would become as other Men, (for that's the import of the words) no stronger than any other Man, v. 17. whereas here, 'tis not said as one, any or every, but simply as a Man. And from those in power dying as other Men, Psal. 82.6. When they scoffingly ask, doth it evidence these to be incarnate? 'Tis answered though he who was strong as many became weak as any one Man; they who live in power, dye in weakness as other Men do, and are not said to be incarnate: yet he who being equal with God, took on him the form of a Servant, and was in this world a very Man, may very well be said to be incarnate, 1 Tim. 3.16.

He doth not say he was humbled or depress'd by the just Judgment of God, but of himself, voluntarily, on his own accord without any constraint. He did really submit himself to the will of his Father unto whom he was a Servant both in regard of the Divine Nature, which he vail'd, and also the humane in his whole Life, Luk. 1.48. both outwardly, and inwardly, v. 5. in thoughts, and afflictions, as well as actions, and passions: wholly yielding his own will and appetite to God, by a patient subjection to affection, not in shewing humility onely, but really undergoing, it. For we find this low degree of his Humiliation, oppos'd to his Superexaltation, in the following verse, and agreeing with what Isaiah prophesy'd of him, Is. 53.7. expounded by Philip, Act. 8.32.

Without the Copulative, and in the Greek expressing the manner of [illegible: 1 letter]is Humiliation, being of his own free will, and not by any force made obedient, i. e. to God, (not my will but thy will be done) to others, Parents and Magistrates for God, according to the prescript of his Law, and will in his life time unto death, and in death. Vnto being taken here, not exclusively but inclusively, for the further Amplification of the obedience, Mat. 26.42. Ioh. 4.34. & 8.29, 46. Heb. 10.9. Had he staid in his life for degrees of obedience, his condescension had been admirable, but that he should submit to a penal and painfull death (taking in his burial, and abiding in a separate state till the third day) this is stupendous: aggravated by the shame.

Of dying on the Cross, willingly and meekly yielding himself though a Son to that ignominious cursed death, Deut. 21.23. Act. 5.30. Gal. 3.10, 13. Heb. 12.2. far more reproachfull than by heading, hanging, or burning, out of unspeakable love, to bring us nigh unto God, Rom. 5.19. Col. 2.14. 1 Pet. 2.24. &. 3.18. Upon these considerations how should Christians in mutual love, condescend to each other?

Marginal references: Mat. 26.[illegible: 1 letter] 42. [illegible: 1 word] 10.18. [illegible: 1 word] 5.8.