Christ’s Poverty Paul’s Mighty Argument—Here was the apostle’s mighty argument. It is not the commandment of Paul, but of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Son of God had left His heavenly home, with its riches and honor and glory, and clothed His divinity with humanity—not to live in the palaces of kings, without care or labor, and to be supplied with all the conveniences which human nature naturally craves. In the councils of heaven He had chosen to stand in the ranks of the poor and oppressed, to take His part with the humble workers, and learn the trade of His earthly parent, which was that of a carpenter, a builder. He came to the world to be a reconstructor of character, and He brought into all His work of building the perfection which He desired to bring into the characters He was transforming by His divine power. {6BC 1103.8}

Kristi armod var Paulus’ mægtige argument. - Her var apostlens mægtige argument. Det var ikke Paulus bud, men Herren Jesu Kristi bud. Guds Søn havde forladt Sit himmelske hjem, med dens rigdomme, ære og herlighed, og iklædt Sin guddommelighed med menneskelighed -. Ikke for at bo i kongers paladser uden bekymringer eller arbejde, og blive forsørget med alle de bekvemmeligheder som menneskenaturen i sin natur beder om. I himlens rådssamlinger havde Han valgt at stå i de fattiges og fortryktes (1104) rækker, for at tage Sin del sammen med ydmyge arbejdere, og lære Sine jordiske forældres erhverv, som var en tømmer, en bygningsmand. Han kom til verden for at genopbygge karakteren, og med Sit arbejde tilførte han bygningen den fuldkommenhed som Han ønskede at få ind i de karaktertræk, som han forvandlede med Sin guddommelige kraft.