Philippians 2:6 kjv
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Philippians 2:6 nkjv
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Philippians 2:6 niv
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
Philippians 2:6 esv
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Philippians 2:6 nlt
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Philippians 2 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Philippians 2:5 | Have this mind also in you, which was in Christ Jesus. | Same chapter |
| John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | Deity of Christ |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. | Incarnation |
| John 10:30 | I and the Father are one. | Christ's equality with Father |
| Colossians 1:15-17 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created... | Christ's creative power |
| Hebrews 1:3 | Who being the radiance of His glory and the express image of His person... | Christ as God's image |
| 2 Corinthians 8:9 | For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor... | Christ's voluntary poverty |
| Matthew 20:28 | just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve... | Christ's servant role |
| Isaiah 53:12 | therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death... | Suffering Servant imagery |
| Mark 10:45 | For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve... | Christ's servant role |
| John 13:3-5 | Jesus... poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet... | Example of service |
| Luke 22:27 | For who is greater, the one who reclines or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as the one who serves. | Christ's humility |
| Romans 15:5 | May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus... | Mind of Christ |
| 1 Peter 2:21 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you... | Christ's example |
| 1 John 3:16 | By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us... | Christ's sacrificial love |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. | Christ's unique position |
| Hebrews 2:14-18 | Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect... | Incarnation for redemption |
| 1 Corinthians 10:4 | and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. | Christ's pre-existence |
| Galatians 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.” | Christ's vicarious sacrifice |
| 2 Corinthians 4:4 | whom the god of this age has blinded. They do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them. | Christ as image of God |
Philippians 2 verses
Philippians 2 6 Meaning
The verse states that Christ Jesus, though existing in the very form of God, did not regard this equality with God as something to be clutched or selfishly held onto. Instead, He emptied Himself, a profound act of self-renunciation, to take on the form of a servant.
Philippians 2 6 Context
This verse is the heart of Philippians 2:5-11, a passage often referred to as the "Christ Hymn." Paul is exhorting the Philippian believers to humility, unity, and mutual service. He presents Christ Jesus as the ultimate example of these virtues. The historical context involves the church at Philippi facing internal strife and external pressures. Paul urges them to adopt the same selfless, obedient mindset that characterized Jesus' earthly ministry, from His pre-incarnate heavenly existence to His atoning death.
Philippians 2 6 Word analysis
- ὂς (hos) - "who"; a relative pronoun introducing the subject of the clause, referring to Jesus Christ.
- ἐν (en) - "in"; a preposition indicating location or state of being.
- μορφῇ (morphē) - "form," "shape," "outward appearance." It refers to the essential nature or characteristics, not merely the outward appearance. In this context, it emphasizes Christ's divine being.
- θεοῦ (theou) - "of God"; the genitive case of θεός (theos), "God." It indicates possession or association, highlighting Christ's divine nature as equal with God the Father.
- ὑπάρχων (hyparkhōn) - "being," "existing," "having existence." This is a present participle, suggesting that while Christ was in the form of God, He continued to be so.
- οὐχ (ouch) - "not"; a strong negation.
- ἁρπαγμὸν (harpágmon) - "a thing to be grasped," "booty," "gain." It suggests something to be seized and kept selfishly. The idea is that Christ did not consider His divine equality something to be jealously guarded.
- ἡγήσατο (hēgēsato) - "thought," "considered," "counted," "esteemed." Aorist middle indicative of ἡγέομαι (hēgeomai). It signifies a deliberate judgment or conviction.
- εἶναι (einai) - "to be"; the infinitive of εἰμί (eimi), "to be." It follows ἡγήσατο to complete the thought about what Christ did not consider Himself to be.
- ἴσα (isa) - "equal." In relation to God.
- τῷ (tō) - "to the"; the dative article.
- θεῷ (theō) - "God."
Words-group analysis:
- "in the form of God" (ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ): This phrase underscores Christ's true divinity. The word "morphē" speaks to the essential being and divine attributes, not just an outward semblance. It emphasizes that Jesus possessed the very essence and nature of God.
- "did not count it a thing to be grasped" (οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο): This highlights Christ's voluntary humility. It wasn't a matter of Him losing equality, but of Him choosing not to insist on His rightful prerogative. The divine equality was His by nature, not something to be selfishly claimed or clung to.
- "equal with God" (ἴσα τῷ θεῷ): This directly asserts Christ's deity and co-equality with the Father. It's not about being like God, but about sharing the same divine nature.
Philippians 2 6 Bonus section
The concept of "kenosis" (self-emptying) is central to understanding this verse. While theological debates exist on the exact nature of this self-emptying, the core idea remains Christ's voluntary restraint from the full outward expression of His divine prerogatives during His earthly life. His action wasn't a reduction of His divine nature, but a choice to take on the "form of a servant." This Servanthood reached its ultimate expression on the cross. The phrase "in the form of God" signifies an inherent nature, contrasting with "form of a servant" (v. 7), which denotes assumed character and role.
Philippians 2 6 Commentary
Philippians 2:6 reveals the unparalleled humility of Jesus Christ. Before His incarnation, He possessed the very form of God, an unequivocal statement of His divine equality. Yet, He did not cling to this exalted status as a prize to be held onto jealously. Instead, He willingly set aside the full exercise of His divine privileges and outward manifestations of equality to embrace a lower station. This wasn't a loss of deity, but a voluntary limitation of His divine attributes and outward glory in preparation for His earthly mission. This voluntary act of self-emptying (kenosis) demonstrates a perfect model for believers to imitate in their relationships with one another, prioritizing others' needs and well-being above personal ambition or status. His divine nature was unchanged, but His mode of existence was transformed from divine glory to humble service.