THE CONTEXT OF PHILIPPIANS THE SECOND CHAPTER:
One translation, becoming popular as "vernacularly" more correct, has Jesus saying, in Php 2:6, that he deemed "equality with God" to be considered a thing "not to be grasped". Why then are we "GRASPING" it so hard, for him?

The truth of Php 2: is clouded by "scholarship," falsely-so-called; by those scholars who, ignoring the rules of grammar, have established a "form of words" which is in direct violation of correct grammatical principles.

Who in the form of God, being (morphe theos huparcon)

A LOOK AT THIS WORD "BEING"

huparco, hoop-ar'-kho; from hupo;
a preposition; "under", i.e. of inferior position or condition and

arcomai; middle voice of arco; a verb; meaning to reign; rule over.

In order of time: to begin or rule under... (sub=hupo) (arco);
This shows that Jesus' existence had a beginning (arcomai), which was less than FIRST (hupo)

A LOOK AT THIS WORD "FORM":
First of all, when we say that something is in the form of something else, this is equivalent to saying that it is not the "something else" itself. I can give my child clay, and he can make it into the "form" of a dog, but he cannot make it a dog. We understand that to be a "form" of, is not the same thing, as being that of which the form expresses a relationship. It is understood as being "other," not the thing itself.

Many times a son is called the "spittin' image" of his father. He is recognized as belonging to his father by his very appearance. Or consider a son who so mimicks his father's ways as to be instantly a reminder of his father. It is said of this son, that he has his father's form. This use is especially notable in the field of Sports. A son who imitates his father's form at bat, or catching or fielding a ball, for instance. Or a Golfer who imitates his father's golf-swing.

JESUS IS CALLED THE ONLY BEGOTTEN GOD:
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten [God](theos), which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

NOTE: Many of the translations say "son" but son is "huios" in the Greek, not theos, which is God. And, being his father's son, he is a "form" of his father.

Jesus, (present tense) (while a man), emptied himself. This could not have been a pre-historic occasion in which some pre-existant entity gave up his all. But this was a decision and action made by, and carried out by, that man who was the Son of God.

JESUS COULD HAVE BEEN KING:
Jon 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born; and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

JESUS COULD HAVE RULED ANGELS:
Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
NOTE: Many perceive Jesus as being in charge of the angels, but Jesus himself shows that this is not the case.

THE CONTEXT OF PHILIPPIANS TWO IS ONE OF THE HUMILITY OF MEN AMONG MEN; IT IS NOT CONCERNED WITH THE PERCEIVED PREEXISTENT DEITY OF THE SON OF GOD. THE MAN JESUS CHOSE TO EMPTY HIMSELF OF HIS RIGHT TO RULE ANGELS AND MEN, CHOOSING RATHER TO SERVE, IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH FOREVER, HOW HE EXPECTED HIS CHOSEN ONES TO BEHAVE TOWARD EACH OTHER:
John 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, (including authority over men and angels) and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

HOW SHOULD GOD HAVE SAID IT IN ORDER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND IT THAT WAY?
If he wanted us to understand that Jesus, while a man, and as a mature, grown man, emptied himself of power and prestige that comes with being the Son of God and being born a king, and in an effort to set for his disciples a perfect example of humility, emptied himself of "self", and all the advantage which was a part of who and what he was, He (God) would have said it exactly like he did in Phillipians the second chapter.

THE PHILLIPIAN CONTEXT REITERATES JESUS' EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY. PAUL IS REMINDING THE DISCIPLES OF THE GREAT EXAMPLE GIVEN TO THEM BY JESUS AND ENJOINS THEM TO FOLLOW IT IN THEIR BEHAVIOUR TOWARD ONE ANOTHER.

LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONTEXT:
Phil 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 16 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant (washed the disciples feet), and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Paul said to the church at Rome. (Romans 12:1) Present your bodies a living sacrifice... This is the same idea, sacrifice of the ego, the pride of self. Service to others will serve self, in this capacity of being Christ-like.

GOD EXALTED CHRIST BECAUSE OF HIS HUMILITY, HIS ACT OF OBEDIENCE, AND HIS SUCCESFUL PERSUIT OF HIS MISSION; AND BECAUSE THE PLAN, OR logos WAS GOD'S, SO ALSO WAS THE GLORY.
Phil 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.

ALL FULNESS OF DIVINITY DWELT IN CHRIST BECAUSE IT PLEASED THE FATHER TO HAVE IT THUS:
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the DEITY bodily.

BUT CHRISTIANS ARE TO ENJOY THAT SAME TYPE OF INDWELLING OF THE FULNESS OF DEITY, BY LETTING CHRIST DWELL WITHIN:
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

WHEN WE FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE SET BY CHRIST, WE REPRESENT A FORM OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD:
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Go to PART XII: THE "GODHEAD" EXPLAINED

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