The Commentaries of Isho'dad of Merv Bishop of Hadatha ( حديثة) of Assyria (850 A.D.) on the New Testament

The Commentaries of Isho'dad of Merv
Bishop of Hadatha ( حديثة) of Assyria
(850 A.D.)
on the New Testament
[Epistle to Philippians 2:5-11]
PART - 1
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Jesus Christ, who being in the likeness of God” and the rest of the passage, that is to say” it was not robbery at all that He is God”, but He is so by nature, for it is called robbery, when a man seizes a rank or honour that is not his. It is a custom with men to seize what they suppose will be advantage to them; again, it is handed down, that not by robbery did He wish to be compared with God, like one who wishes to (rise) against his lord, etc; as we often say, that(so and so) thought this thing robbery, that is to say, that He took it with much effort like one who is greatly advantaged by it. He says this also about Christ, that He did not think this to be robbery, etc, that is to say, He did not consider it a great thing, and was not proud of it, and He remained in His greatness, but took upon Himself natural deprecations from His greatness for the sake of the profit of others; and what are these? But He
emptied Himself, and took the form of a servant, Emptiness is spoken of in four ways, first: like that of David; taking of his purple and putting on the form of a servant and dancing(2 Sam. 6:20). Michal said to him, thou were certainly seen like one of the vain fellows(Jer. 48:11).
Second: as was said about the Moabites, that they had not been emptied from vessel to vessel; that is to say, they had not been led captive from place to place(1Cor.15:14). Third: like this, if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, that is to say it's nothing; Fourth: like what Jerusalem said about babylonian, Thou hast lifted me up like an empty vessel(Jer. 51:34); that is to say, thou hast emptied me of my possessions.
Now the emptiness of our Lord somewhat resemble that of David, who slipped off the garment of his kingship, and put on those of slaves.