Being in the form of God, thought it not robbery

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I have been studying this passage in Philippians 2:6, noticing the translations are kind of all over the place.

Some say - "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;" NIV

"Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to." NLT

KJV says it this way - "King James Bible
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery (the act of seizing) to be equal with God:"

Some Commentators say:





Yet, I find that Gill seems to have it more correct, in my estimation:



The scriptures, IMO, do not ever seem to imply that Jesus was trying to separate Himself from the Glory of the Father, i.e., "thought it not a prize to be grasped at to be equal with God," as Ellicott's Commentary states.

Philippians 2:7 begins with "but", which indicates that verse 6 and 7 are opposed to each other. I do not believe the "but" goes as far in opposition as some Commentators state.

Jesus tells us that "greater things than these will you do..."

I believe that Philippians is simply saying that while we acknowledge the power and authority we have with God through the Spirit, our main desire should always be love and compassion which only belongs to a servant.

As way of example, the gifts of the Spirit are something to be desired. However, if we desire them to bolster or set our ministry apart we are on the road to shipwreck. As I heard a pastor state, "the crazy side of Waco" or something to that effect.

But, if we pray and seek the Gifts because we have love and compassion toward those who need God to come in and lift them up in the most miraculous way to set their lives in order, that is what the heart of a true servant looks like to me.

Just my thoughts today - Seek charity...

I would paraphrase the verse this way:

"Jesus was in the form of God, even equal to God and yet he thought it did not take away anything from God (robbery of God) for him to make himself of no reputation, and take upon him the form of a servant, and to be made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (paraphrased)

The robbery of God is about that which is "like God" acting as servant instead of as a King. Basically it's saying don't think that just because you are holy, spiritual, just, holy etc, that it's some kind of offense to God if you are treated no better than a servant obedient unto death. In fact it's going a step further and saying you should act like such a servant and look after your brothers things instead of just after your own things.

That's my opinion anyways.

[CC1]

Good thought provoking thread Pressing Iron!

[Praxeas]

Theo lacks the article and is considered qualitative, therefore it refers to what God is not who

[Praxeas]

Who has always been and at present continues to subsist in that mode of being in which He gives outward expression of His essential nature, that of Deity, and who did not after weighing the facts, consider it a treasure to be clutched and retained at all hazards, to be equal with Deity (in the expression of the divine essence)

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