2:7 but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave, 2
by looking like other men, 3
and by sharing in human nature. 4
1 tn Grk “not according to selfish ambition.” There is no main verb in this verse; the subjunctive φρονῆτε (fronhte, “be of the same mind”) is implied here as well. Thus, although most translations supply the verb “do” at the beginning of v. 3 (e.g., “do nothing from selfish ambition”), the idea is even stronger than that: “Don’t even think any thoughts motivated by selfish ambition.”
2 tn See the note on the word “slaves” in 1:1.
3 tn Grk “by coming in the likeness of people.”
4 tn Grk “and by being found in form as a man.” The versification of vv. 7 and 8 (so also NRSV) is according to the versification in the NA27 and UBS4 editions of the Greek text. Some translations, however, break the verses in front of this phrase (NKJV, NASB, NIV, NLT). The same material has been translated in each case; the only difference is the versification of that material.
3 tn Grk “according to my eager expectation and hope.” The κατά (kata) phrase is taken as governing the following ὅτι (Joti) clause (“that I will not be ashamed…”); the idea could be expressed more verbally as “I confidently hope that I will not be ashamed…”
4 tn Or possibly, “be intimidated, be put to shame.”
5 tn Grk “whether by life or by death.”
4 tn Or “holding out, holding forth.”
5 tn The words “of contentment” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by Paul’s remarks at the end of v. 11.
6 tn Grk “flesh.”
7 tn Grk “fruit of work”; the genitive ἔργου (ergou) is taken as an attributed genitive in which the head noun, καρπός (karpos), functions attributively (cf. ExSyn 89-91).
8 tn Grk “what I shall prefer.” The Greek verb αἱρέω (Jairew) could also mean “choose,” but in this context such a translation is problematic for it suggests that Paul could perhaps choose suicide (cf. L&N 30.86).
7 tn Grk “will guard the hearts of you and the minds of you.” To improve the English style, the second occurrence of ὑμῶν (Jumwn, “of you”) has not been translated, since it is somewhat redundant in English.
8 tn Grk “which is,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 27.
9 tn Grk “to them.”
10 tn Grk “this.” The pronoun refers back to “a sign”; thus these words have been repeated for clarity.
9 tn The word here translated “dung” was often used in Greek as a vulgar term for fecal matter. As such it would most likely have had a certain shock value for the readers. This may well be Paul’s meaning here, especially since the context is about what the flesh produces.