This passage at Phillipians 2:6 is very clunky in the King James version. The phrase "thought it not robbery to be equal to God" is used by many as proof of Jesus being part of a trinitarian Godhead.
However, compare with other translations and you get a much more clear understanding of what Paul meant:
New Jerusalem Bible:
"Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped."
New World Translation:
"who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God."
Todays English Version
"He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God"
The context of the surrounding verses (3-5, 7, 8) makes it clear how verse 6 is to be understood. The Philippians were urged: “In humility, let each esteem others better than themselves.” Then Paul uses Christ as the outstanding example of this attitude: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” What “mind”? To ‘think it not robbery to be equal with God’? No, that would be just the opposite of the point being made! Rather, Jesus, who ‘esteemed God as better than himself,’ would never ‘grasp for equality with God,’ but instead he “humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death.”
Surely, that cannot be talking about any part of Almighty God. It was talking about Jesus Christ, who perfectly illustrated Paul’s point here—namely the importance of humility and obedience to one’s Superior and Creator, Jehovah God.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment to start a new comment thread.
Enter new comment
However, compare with other translations and you get a much more clear understanding of what Paul meant:
New Jerusalem Bible:
"Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped."
New World Translation:
"who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God."
Todays English Version
"He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God"
The context of the surrounding verses (3-5, 7, 8) makes it clear how verse 6 is to be understood. The Philippians were urged: “In humility, let each esteem others better than themselves.” Then Paul uses Christ as the outstanding example of this attitude: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” What “mind”? To ‘think it not robbery to be equal with God’? No, that would be just the opposite of the point being made! Rather, Jesus, who ‘esteemed God as better than himself,’ would never ‘grasp for equality with God,’ but instead he “humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death.”
Surely, that cannot be talking about any part of Almighty God. It was talking about Jesus Christ, who perfectly illustrated Paul’s point here—namely the importance of humility and obedience to one’s Superior and Creator, Jehovah God.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?