A Breakdown of Philippians 2:5-11

                                                A Breakdown of Philippians 2:5-11

Trinitarians treat Philippians 2:5-11 as a proof text of Jesus' incarnation and divine nature. But upon closer inspection, the opposite is true. The word "form"/"appearance" is Morphe/Morphosis in the Greek. It is an external attribute. It has nothing to do with the internal nature of its subject. Below, I have provided a rendered version of Philippians 2:5-11 for readability purposes. Because of its complex constructions in the Greek, a lot of its meaning can be lost. This is apparent due to the various translations and interpretations we have on this passage.

 

Philippians 2:5-11 English Standard Version 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

My Rendered Version- Although Jesus was in the Image of God, he did not seized equal authority with GOD. Instead, he lowered himself into the image of a servant, born onto the likeness of a man. In humility, he became obedient to the point of death on a cross. Because of this, GOD has exalted him and gave him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of GOD the Father.

 

Note: Instead of the word Form (Morphe), I substituted it for the word Image (Eikon). This is only used here for readability purposes. The true Greek word in Philippians 2:5-11 is Morphe.

 

When reading this, consider the following:

 

  • The image is not the exact thing it is representing -See Genesis 5:3
  • Adam was a Son of God, it does not make him God. Likewise, Jesus is the 2nd Adam, a Son of God-See Luke 3:38
  • Jesus sharing the authority of God the Father doesn't make  him God. A person can share authority and not be the same exact being- See Joseph in Genesis 44:18, 41:55; See Moses in Exodus 4:16, 7:1
  • One can take on the appearance/resemblance of something and not be that exact thing. See 1 Corinthians 9:20-22, Zechariah 12:8.

 

 

Morphe- Greek translation in the Old/New Testament

Mark 16:12 English Standard Version  12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.

 

Note: This is Jesus on the Road of Emmaus.

 

 

Judges 8:18 English Standard Version 18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.”

 

Job 4:16 English Standard Version 16 It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice:

 

Isaiah 44:13 English Standard Version 13 The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.

 

Daniel 4:36 Brenton Septuagint Translation 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and I came to the honour of my kingdom; and my natural form returned to me, and my princes, and my nobles, sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and more abundant majesty was added to me.

 

Daniel 5:6 English Standard Version 6 Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.

 

Daniel 5:9 English Standard Version 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.

 

Daniel 5:10 English Standard Version 10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.

 

 

Daniel 7:28 English Standard Version 28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

 

 

 

Morphosis-New Testament

2 Timothy 3:5 English Standard Version 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

 

Romans 2:20 King James Version 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

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