“Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be
equal with God.” Philippians 2:6
Paul now launches into the great example of what it takes to
have unity in the church.
Who Paul refers back to verse five. Who better to show us what it
means to have the mind of Christ than the Lord Jesus Himself?
Being in the form of God We run into a problem at this phrase.
There are no words or description that can fully express the majesty of God. Even as we read the great descriptions of the Lord in Revelation, we know those words fall far short of our understanding the Lord’s majesty. The step down from fully God to fully man is unfathomable.
Being Paul uses a word that means to exist or be in possession. Christ fully possesses what Paul is about to describe. The word is a present active participle which denotes the continuance of a previous state. It indicates the essence of a person’s nature, that which is absolutely unalterable, inalienable, and unchangeable.
Form Strong’s Concordance defines this word as “the essential form or nature of something, particularly in a way that is visible or manifest. It is used to describe the outward expression of an inner reality. The term implies more than just external appearance; it \is the true essence or nature of a being.” The only other time this word is used in Scripture is when the Lord met with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in a different “form”. They did not recognize His appearance but came to recognize His character.
It should be noted that the word “form” does not refer to external appearance but of the essential attributes and the inner nature. When Paul says Jesus Christ was “in the form of God,” he asserts the Lord is identical in attributes and character with the Father. Whild Mary at the tomb and and the disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Him, His essence as God was unchanged.
God Paul uses the word “theos” which refers to the one true God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It is used to denote
the full divine nature and attributes of God.
Did not consider it Despite his exalted position the Lord did not “consider”, “grasp” or ”hold onto” His exalted status.
Robbery Wuest defines this word as “a treasure to be clutched and retained at all cost”. It does not mean taking what is God’s by force but rather that the Lord did not consider His status as fully God some-thing that was only His and that He would hold onto and refuse to give up.
To be equal with God The Lord did not try to hold on to His glory but willingly put it aside. He did not assert his rights even if it was legitimate for Him to do so. This forms the basis of Paul’s example of the Lord’s humility.
What can we learn? In verse 6 Paul presents the attitude (mind) of Christ that is at the core of all unity –unity between Him and the Father, between believers and God and between the members of the body of Christ. We see this attitude (mind) in the Lord’s statement “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me”. The example of the Lord Jesus is that despite His full right to claim His unique status and privilege, He would not cling selfishly to that right as the divine Son of God. Love over-shadowed His right to heaven and ignore man’s need. Thus he willing set aside His deity that we may become like Him. If the Lord would put aside His glory for us, how can we as believers dare to exalt ourselves
and ignore the needs of others?