Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
Phil 2:5-8
Philippians 2:6
- (NLT) Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
- (ASV) who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,
- (KJV) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Χριστῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ, ὃς ἐν μορφῇ Θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα Θεῷ,
Christ Jesus, who in {the form} {of God} existing not {to be seized} {deemed it} to be equal {with God}
This one verse is a surprise. Remember, the verse and the concept of not {clinging to}, {grasping on to}, {seizing}, {robbing, or stealing, or taking without authority} is part of a cascade of verbs relating to Christ Jesus. But this one stands out in the sense that it doesn’t seem to fit the majesty of the moment. Why would the KJV have robbery here? It doesn’t seem to fit because of the nature of the depth of the comment Paul makes. There is an allusion here. In Deeper Bible we will be entering the House of Allusion – Beth Midrash in a few more weeks. Paul here in his wisdom is making a strong allusion. Jesus though He had equality with God, being in the very form [μορφῇ] of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be seized, grasped, clung to, stolen. Using the term “robbery” as the KJV has done, masks the depth of the comment. Robbery is not a good way to translate the concept. The concept rather is taking by force or taking unlawfully without being given the authority. But of course that is what stealing is, isn’t it?
Does this make you think of the passage Paul has in mind? Paul is making an illusion to others who have taken by force or taken unlawfully or grasped on to something they should not have taken. Can you think of who is the focus of this analogy? It came immediately to my mind. The first is satan and the second level misappropriation belongs to Adam and Eve. Isn’t that exactly what the Bible describes for both sets of actions? Satan sought to be like God in all the ways he could, seeking to steal the glory, the worship, the place of God by being like Him. Now take a look at what satan himself told Adam and Eve:
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Genesis 3:1-7
Hang on a moment, where is the apple tree? There is no apple tree! It was all about equality with God, being like God, eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We need to understand the link here. Jesus already had equality with God in every possible way. Despite having it, Jesus knew He didn’t need to hang on to it to keep it. He didn’t need to take his equality with God and grasp it in such a way that He wouldn’t let go of it. Paul draws a wonderful analogy between the First Adam and Second or Last Adam in 1 Cor 15:45-49. The brief reference in the Majestic Passage is reminding us of the aim of satan and the temptation of Adam and Eve. It wasn’t about an apple; it was all about being like God. It is always about being like God, either on a grand scale of ruling the world or in my own kingdom and me taking control and ruling my own life. But if I yield control to the One who made me, then I begin to have life in abundance. I start living the Life of the Age to Come the moment I bow my knee to the rightful King. Oh now I trust you’re getting it. You know now where Paul is heading with this and you are beginning to make more connections for yourself. I told you this passage was Majestic. Satan tried to take it by force in a rebellion of the angels; ooh does that makes more sense of the motif in the Bible about taking the Kingdom of God by force? Oh things are coming together, aren’t they? The first Adam senselessly tried to grab on to equality with God when it was not his to take. The second Adam (Christ Jesus) chose to yield what was His in the beginning (equality with God) by being obedient and giving up the glory and equality with God which resulted in Him being exalted by God. Oh there is more to say but I will hold my tongue; oops hold back on the keys.
An interesting question comes to my mind at this point.
By humbling Himself as He did, did the equality with God Christ Jesus had in the beginning change to be a greater level of equality after His exaltation or was it the same equality?
You can ponder on that just as well as I can.
[ἁρπαγμὸν] harpagmon / harpagmos is a most interesting word meaning plunder, booty, robbery, a thing seized. The stark, usual meaning of the word is related to robbery in the taking of a valuable prize. Hence the KJV has gone for the literal meaning of robbery, or stealing a priceless item. Then once grasping it, never letting it go. Hang on to it in a steely grip; once appropriated it is MINE forever. I could even use the term misappropriated here. I didn’t steal it, I appropriated it. No misappropriated it is a better word. If you can put all of this play on words together you will understand the depth of what Paul is saying here by drawing on this analogy. It doesn’t matter whether this prize, priceless treasure, object of desire has already been seized and is being used or whether it is waiting to be appropriated. The desire and the act are one and same. Christ gave up His right to equality with God and humbled Himself taking on human flesh. He didn’t resist the Father’s will and seek to take it back or hang on to equality with God by force or violently. Nor did he snatch the glory and the equality back again after yielding it for a moment. He did not take it inappropriately as satan persuaded Adam and Eve to do. “Oh God wasn’t meaning that! He knows if you KNOW the difference between good and evil then you will be like God. He has only told you not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because you will then be equal with Him.”Oh how deep and insidious is that thought now sown.
We will investigate the idea further in the next Gem. If I begin the process now, this Gem will grow too long. Rather I will give you time to ponder the allusion that is to be found in this Majestic Passage.
The glory of God is not the psychological projection of human longing onto reality. On the contrary, inconsolable human longing is the evidence that we were made for God’s glory.
Reading the New Testament without seeing the subtle allusions to the Old is missing the point and the grandeur of it all.
Ian Vail
It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
Harry S. Truman
God knows what we know. And when we know the truth, what is right and what is wrong, we are so much more accountable to God. This is such a truth that is often lied about because we feel uncomfortable to share or we lie to ourselves or satan uses to blind people to ever seeing the truth.
So it makes me want to be more spiritually aware of how and when I can share God’s truths with the people I encounter every day, in thought, in word and in deed.