Philippians 2:6

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Translate, 'Who subsisting [or existing-namely, originally: huparchoon (G5225), not oon (G5607)] in the form of God (God's essence is not meant, but His external self-manifesting characteristics, the form shining forth from His glorious essence. God had infinite beauty in Himself, even without any creature contemplating that beauty: that beauty was "the form of God." As "the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7), which is in contrasted opposition to it, takes for granted the existence of His human nature. so "the form of God" takes for granted His divine nature (Bengel). Compare...

6_Inasmuch as he was in the form of God. _This is not a comparison between things similar, but in the way of greater and less. _Christ’s _humility consisted in his abasing himself from the highest pinnacle of glory to the lowest ignominy: _our _humility consists in refraining from exalting ourselves by a false estimation. _He _gave up his right: all that is required of _us _is, that we do not assume to ourselves more than we ought. Hence he sets out with this — that, _inasmuch as he was in the form of God, he reckoned it not an unlawful thing for him to shew himself in that form; yet he emptied himself_. Since, then, the Son of God descended from so great a height, how unreasonable that we, who are nothing, should be lifted up with pride! _The form of God _means here his majesty. For as a man is known by the appearance of his _form_, so the majesty, which shines forth in God, is his figu...

5-11 The example of our Lord Jesus Christ is set before us. We must resemble him in his life, if we would have the benefit of his death. Notice the two natures of Christ; his Divine nature, and human nature. Who being in the form of God, partaking the Divine nature, as the eternal and only-begotten Son of God, John 1:1, had not thought it a robbery to be equal with God, and to receive Divine worship from men. His human nature; herein he became like us in all things except sin. Thus low, of his own will, he stooped from the glory he had with the Father before the world was. Christ's two states, of humiliation and exaltation, are noticed. Christ not only took upon him the likeness and fashion, or form of a man, but of one in a low state; not appearing in splendour. His whole life was a life of poverty and suffering. But the lowest step was his dying the death of the cross, the death of a...

Verse 6. _WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD_] This verse has been the subject of much criticism, and some controversy. Dr. _Whitby_ has, perhaps, on the whole, spoken best on this point; but his arguments are too diffuse to be admitted here. Dr. _Macknight_ has abridged the words of Dr. _Whitby_, and properly observes that, "As the apostle is speaking of what Christ _was before he took the form_ _of a servant_, the _form of God_, of which he divested himself when he became man, cannot be any thing which he _possessed_ during his _incarnation_ or in his divested state; consequently neither the opinion of _Erasmus_, that the form of God consisted in those _sparks_ _of divinity_ by which Christ, during his incarnation, manifested his Godhead, nor the opinion of the _Socinians_, that it consisted in the _power of working miracles_, is well founded; for Christ did not divest himself either of on...

WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD - There is scarcely any passage in the New Testament which has given rise to more discussion than this. The importance of the passage on the question of the divinity of the Saviour will be perceived at once, and no small part of the point of the appeal by the apostle depends, as will be seen, in the fact that Paul regarded the Redeemer as equal with God. If he was truly divine, then his consenting to become a man was the most remarkable of all possible acts of humiliation. The word rendered “form” - μορφή morphē - occurs only in three places in the New Testament, and in each place is rendered “form.” Mark 16:12; Philippians 2:6. In Mark it is applied to the form which Jesus assumed after hi

EXPOSITION PHILIPPIANS 2:1 IF THERE BE THEREFORE, ANY CONSOLATION IN CHRIST. Mark the fervor of the apostle. Ὅρα πῶς λιπαρῶς πῶς σφοδρῶς πῶς μετὰ συμπαωείας πολλῆς (Chrysostom). He appeals to the Christian experience of the Philippians; if these experiences are real, as they are; facts verified in the believer's consciousness; not talk, not mere forms of speech,—then fulfill ye my joy. _Consolation_;_ _perhaps "exhortation" is the more suitable rendering in this place: if the presence of Christ, if communion with Christ, hath power to stir the heart, to stimulate the emotions, to constrain the will. If any comfort of love; comfort springing out of love. Love is the subjective result of the presence of Christ as an objective reality, and with love comes comfort. If any fellowship of the Spirit

WHO BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD,.... The Father; being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. This form is to be understood, not of any shape or figure of him; for as such is not to be seen, it is not to be supposed of him; or any accidental form, for there are no accidents in God, whatever is in God, is God; he is nothing but nature and essence, he is the το ον, the Jehovah, I am what I am; and so is his Son, which is, and was, and is to come, the fountain of all created beings nor does it intend any outward representation and resemblance of him, such as in kings; who, because of the honour and dignity they are raised unto, the authority and power they have, and because of the glory and majesty they are arrayed with, are called gods: nor does it design the state and condition Christ appeared in here on earth, having a power to work miracles, heal diseases, and di...

Philippians 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 fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord of one mind._ He knew that these saints at Philippi loved him. They had sent once and again to relieve his necessities, so he pleaded with them, by their love to him, to love each other. He does as much as say, «If you really do love me, if it is not a sham, if you have any sympathy with me, and with my labours and sufferings, if you really have the same spirit that burns in my breast, make my heart full of joy by clinging to one another, by being like-minded, ‘having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.'» Philippians 2:3. Let n

FORM OF GOD "Form," etc. (Greek, "morphē", "the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision", the "external appearance"). -- Thayer. Compare (John 17:15). "The glory which I had with Thee before the world was." Nothing in this passage teaches that the Eternal Word (John 1:1) emptied Himself of either His divine nature, or His attributes, but only of the outward and visible manifestation of the Godhead. "He emptied, stripped Himself of the insignia of Majesty." -- Lightfoot. "When occasion demanded He exercised His divine attributes." -- Moorehead. Compare (_ See Scofield) - (John 1:1). _ ( See Scofield) - ...

II. CHRIST, THE BELIEVER'S PATTERN CHAPTER 2 _ 1. Oneness of mind through self effacement (Philippians 2:1)_ 2. The humiliation and exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:5) 3. Work out your own salvation (Philippians 2:12) 4. As lights in the world (Philippians 2:14) 5. The example of Paul (Philippians 2:17) 6. The example of Timotheus (Philippians 2:19) 7. The exampl