Philippians 2:6 - Being in the Form of God Explained
Philippians 2:6, in the Rotherham translation, states: "Who, in form of God, subsisting, not, a thing to be seized, accounted the being equal with God" [1]. This verse is part of an early Christian hymn (Philippians 2:6-11) that describes Christ's preexistence, divine nature, incarnation, death, exaltation, and lordship [4].
The phrase "form of God" (Greek morphē theou) has been a significant point of interpretation. It refers not to a physical shape, as God does not have one, but to the essential nature and characteristics of God [3]. It signifies the external self-manifesting characteristics of God, the "form shining forth from His glorious essence" [6]. This "form of God" is contrasted with the "form of a servant" in Philippians 2:7, which refers to Christ's human nature [6].
Commentators like John Gill emphasize that "form of God" does not imply an accidental form, as "whatever is in God, is God" [3]. Adam Clarke notes that this "form of God" is what Christ possessed before His incarnation, from which He divested Himself when He took on the "form of a servant" [5]. This understanding aligns with other biblical texts that speak of Christ's preexistence and divine nature, such as John 1:1-3, John 17:5, and Colossians 1:15 [4].
The hymn describes Christ's profound humility, as He "emptied Himself" despite being in the form of God [7]. This self-emptying led to His further humbling by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross [7]. The concept of Christ being in the "form of God" before His incarnation is also reflected in Old Testament manifestations of God, sometimes referred to as the "Angel of the Lord," which some interpret as Christ's visible form before His incarnation [2].
Sources
- Philippians “Philippians 2:6 (Rotherham) — Who, in form of God, subsisting, not, a thing to be seized, accounted the being equal with God,”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Angel Of The Lord — (Genesis 16:7) etc. (The special form in which God manifested himself to man, and hence Christ's visible form before the incarnation. Compare (Acts 7:30-38) with the corresponding Old-Testament history; and (Genesis 18:1,13,14,33) and Genesis 19:1)”
- Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 2:6: Who being in the form of God,.... The Father; being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. This form is to be understood, not of any shape or figure of him; for as such is not to be seen, it is not to be supposed of him; or any accidental form, for there are no accidents in God, whatever is in God, is God; he is nothing but nature and essence, he is the , the Jehovah, I am what I am; and so is his Son, which is, and was, and is to come, the fountain of all created beings nor does it intend any outward representation and resemblance of hi”
- Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 2:6: 2:6-11 This early Christian hymn is about Christ’s preexistence and divine nature, incarnation and death, exaltation and lordship. 2:6 Though he was God: See John 1:1-3; 17:5; Col 1:15.”
- Philippians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Philippians 2:6: Who, being in the form of God - This verse has been the subject of much criticism, and some controversy. Dr. Whitby has, perhaps, on the whole, spoken best on this point; but his arguments are too diffuse to be admitted here. Dr. Macknight has abridged the words of Dr. Whitby, and properly observes that, "As the apostle is speaking of what Christ was before he took the form of a servant, the form of God, of which he divested himself when he became man, cannot be any thing which he possessed during his incarnation or in his divested state; consequently neither th”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 2:6: Translate, "Who subsisting (or existing, namely, originally: the Greek is not the simple substantive verb, 'to be') in the form of God (the divine essence is not meant: but the external self-manifesting characteristics of God, the form shining forth from His glorious essence). The divine nature had infinite BEAUTY in itself, even without any creature contemplating that beauty: that beauty was 'the form of God'; as 'the form of a servant' (Phi 2:7), which is in contrasted opposition to it, takes for granted the existence of His human nature, so 'the”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 2:8: being found in fashion as a man--being already, by His "emptying Himself," in the form of a servant, or likeness of man (Rom 8:3), "He humbled Himself (still further by) becoming obedient even unto death (not as English Version, 'He humbled Himself and became,'&c.; the Greek has no 'and,' and has the participle, not the verb), and that the death of the cross." "Fashion" expresses that He had the outward guise, speech, and look. In Phi 2:7, in the Greek, the emphasis is on Himself (which stands before the Greek verb), "He emptied Himself," His divin”