Being in the form of God. Philippians 2:6
27th March 2010, hej
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, (Philipians 2:6)
The following translation is based on keeping as closely as possible to the Greek text and is made with reference to the Greek texts.
Who in the form of God existing, did not think to seize-by-force to become like unto God, but emptied himself, having taken on a form of a bondman, having been formed in the likeness of men, and in condition being found as a man: humbled himself, having become obedient unto death, even the death of a stake (stauros, cross). Therefore his God also has highly exalted and given to him the name (Minority Text has 'the') which is above every name: (Philippians 2:6-9)
Firstly we should note the context, or why Paul is asking us to consider Jesus Christ's (Anointed Y'shua's) humility.
Do not let each man look upon his own things, but each man also on the things of others. For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:4-5)
In other words, we have to think exactly like Christ did. In what way were we to think?
This is where we need to know the Torah like Paul and the Philippians did. Who was made in the form of God who did grasp at being like God? Come on you know. It was Eve (and Adam)!
It is said specifically that Adam was made in the form, shape or likeness of God.
And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness (Heb: d'muth model, shape, form). And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth.(Genesis 1:26)
But what did the serpent say?
“for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil.”
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make wise, she took of its fruit, and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:5-6)
Eve grasped at, seized, and stole from that tree, the one that was forbidden to her, as she wanted to be like God and know good and evil. And so both Eve and Adam sinned. Paul's thinking is clarified in his previous letter to the Romans,
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14)
In other words when Paul says Y'shua did not grasp at being 'as God', he is saying he was not like Adam, and he did not sin.
The challenge for us is that Paul asks us to be like this, and likewise humble ourselves and be mere servants to God, always accepting what he says and doing what he desires of us.
Paul said we need to understand, just as Christ did, that we are mere dying humans, and that obedience is required to God's commands. Because, by this obedience, Christ was exalted. Our hope is that in the future we will be found to be like him (I John 3:2).
See here for more on the Son of God
