not to get in to a debate over the trinity because honestly I’m not even sure what my view is on it. But considering the above “though being in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped..” but instead emptied himself. Oddly he did not consider it “a thing to be grasped” “grasped” there
Strong's Greek: 725. ἁρπαγμός (harpagmos) -- the act of seizing or the thing seized
Equality with God not Seized, nor taken by force BUT instead he humbled himself, emptied himself, obedient unto death, becoming a servant. ‘Lowering himself’ “making himself of no reputation’ as in the verse where as the children took part of flesh and blood…He also took part of the same.
once again, to many verses will be quoted but I’m only trying to share where another perspective may come from (right or wrong). The KJV says He thought it not as robbery to be equal with God. How do we know that isn’t saying “he endure the cross for the joy set before him” considering it not robbery but willingly? How do we know that it doesn’t mean, he didn’t consider it robbery to come to “not my will but
your Will be done Father”? Considering it not robbery in willingly not my will but your Will be done”. Equal ..what is to be equal with …OR to be equally “yoked” together? Is “yoked together” equality? Equal? In the disciple is not above his master: but everyone that is perfect shall be
as his master” Matthew 10:24-25 is “shall be as his master”, equal to? In if God is long- suffering, patient, peace, joy, endurance, faith” is it counted as robbery to be equally yoked with Him, is it to be counted as robbery In crucified in the flesh, Alive unto God “take my
yoke upon you, learn of Me for I am lowly and of a humble spirit” that “They might be called the children of God”?
We can argue or debate all day about ‘equality with God’ but what if it means ‘as He is in the world, so are we’ and that it isn’t robbery …as Paul said he had suffered the loss of all things and counted it as dung (not robbery) to win Christ, As not being robbery to be found in Him having not our own righteousness but the the Righteousness which comes from God …to me that sounds like Paul is suggesting it not robbery for the disciple to be
as His Master. As for His name ‘take joyfully (happily rejoice) (not counting it as robbery); for as He is, so are His children) taking joyfully the spoiling of your goods” knowing you have a better more enduring substance within. Again we can suggest it as a dirty thing or robbery or stealing something, a thing to be grasped in ‘equality with God’ …but is not ‘to be made partakers with Him’ ‘to partake of His Holiness’ or to be ‘yoked with Him’ as “as He suffered for you, arm yourself with the same mind’ as in Hebrews 2:10-11 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. [11]
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for
which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
^which is your reasonable service
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
again how do we know for certain His not considering it robbery to be equal with God ..simply means that the loss was worth the gain in Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Because Ezekiel 33:17 says the children of the people say, The way of the Lord is not equal (like the lame whose legs are not equal) but as for them,
their way is not equal.
So do we claim within God there is not equality? When He seems to say our way is not equal?
or Isaiah 46:3-10 “to whom Will you liken me, and make me equal,
and compare me, that we may be like?” John 14:8-9 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. [9] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Isaiah goes on to speak of to create a god who “when one cry unto him, yet can he not answer,
nor save him out of trouble.’ … “for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me” who as the children took part of flesh and blood, He also took part of the same THAT they may take part of His Likeness, not as robbery …for Isaiah 40:25-26, and also Isaiah 40:29-31.
Is it robbery to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, rather than to divide the spoil with the proud. (He didn’t consider) equality with God as a thing to be grasped, seized, or taken by force? But instead emptied himself… Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
lastly, why I question our definition of equality or ‘equal to’ in regards to a disciple is not above his master but
will be as his master…is what is the equality or equal to (not considering it as robbery) bearing the burden of the heat of the day? Matthew 20:12-15 Saying,
These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. (Robbery?) [13] But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? [14] Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. [15] Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?