Philippians
2: 6-8 ESV
ος εν μορφη θεου υπαρχων
ουχ αρπαγμον ηγησατο το ειναι ισα θεω
6 who,
though he was in the form(μορφη) of God, did not count equality with God
a thing to be grasped,
αλλα εαυτον εκενωσεν μορφην
δουλου λαβων εν ομοιωματι ανθρωπων γενομενος και σχηματι ευρεθεις ως ανθρωπος
7 but
emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of
men.
εταπεινωσεν εαυτον
γενομενος υπηκοος μεχρι θανατου θανατου δε σταυρου
8 And
being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point
of death, even death on a cross.
Many
people argue that μορφη in this verse refers to Jesus having
the exact same nature as God. However,
this is not the way the Bible uses μορφη. The only other place
it appears in the New Testament is in Mark 16: 12, where it mentions that Jesus
appeared to two men in another form (μορφη)
after the resurrection. In this verse it
is clearly referring to his outward form, not his nature.
μετα δε ταυτα δυσιν εξ
αυτων περιπατουσιν εφανερωθη εν ετερα μορφη πορευομενοις εις αγρον
After that he appeared in another form (μορφη) unto two of them, as
they walked, and went into the country.
If we take this into consideration, along
with Paul’s fondness of comparing Jesus to Adam, then Philippians 2: 6-8 seems
to be simply saying that Jesus did not try to become God. This is in contrast to Adam who was made in
the image of God and tried to become God through eating the forbidden
fruit.
