The problem with Phil. 2:6, 7 (part 3)
Many trinitarians insist that this scripture proves that Jesus was (and is) “equal with God.” But all the real evidence proves just the opposite! Phil. 2:6 is, in reality, proof that Jesus has never been equally God with the Father!
To begin with, the context of Phil. 2:3-8 indicates how Phil. 2:6 should be interpreted. The context stresses the concept of humility and obedience, and Phil. 2:6 itself is clearly meant as the prime example of this for all Christians. The trinitarian The Amplified Bible, for example, translates Phil. 2:3, 5 this way:
“Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself.... Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. - Let Him be your example in humility.”
Then that very example of Jesus' humility (Phil. 2:6-8) is given.
Also see The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 1, p. 547.
Most trinitarian interpretations of Phil. 2:6, however, do not show Jesus as regarding God as “better than and superior to himself” in the beginning (as the context demands for this example)! Most of them, instead, twist that proper example of humility into just the opposite: an example of a person who regards himself already as equal to the Most High, Almighty God.
Such an interpretation destroys the very purpose (Phil. 2:3) of Jesus’ “example in humility” here!
Paul is not telling us to regard ourselves as equal to others. (Whether we obey them or not is very important but is not the main point here.) He is clearly using Jesus as his example to teach that each Christian must, as the trinitarian Amplified Bible above puts it, “regard others as better than and superior to himself”! And yet most trinitarian translations show Jesus doing the very opposite in this “example in humility” for all Christians!
Something, then, is very wrong with the translation of Phil. 2:6 in most trinitarian Bibles!
It would more properly be rendered:
"Although he was existing (or, possibly, "came to be" - huparchon) in the external appearence (morphe) of God (or 'of a god', theou), he did not consider taking by force [harpagmon] equality with God.
Many trinitarians insist that this scripture proves that Jesus was (and is) “equal with God.” But all the real evidence proves just the opposite! Phil. 2:6 is, in reality, proof that Jesus has never been equally God with the Father!
To begin with, the context of Phil. 2:3-8 indicates how Phil. 2:6 should be interpreted. The context stresses the concept of humility and obedience, and Phil. 2:6 itself is clearly meant as the prime example of this for all Christians. The trinitarian The Amplified Bible, for example, translates Phil. 2:3, 5 this way:
“Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself.... Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. - Let Him be your example in humility.”
Then that very example of Jesus' humility (Phil. 2:6-8) is given.
Also see The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 1, p. 547.
Most trinitarian interpretations of Phil. 2:6, however, do not show Jesus as regarding God as “better than and superior to himself” in the beginning (as the context demands for this example)! Most of them, instead, twist that proper example of humility into just the opposite: an example of a person who regards himself already as equal to the Most High, Almighty God.
Such an interpretation destroys the very purpose (Phil. 2:3) of Jesus’ “example in humility” here!
Paul is not telling us to regard ourselves as equal to others. (Whether we obey them or not is very important but is not the main point here.) He is clearly using Jesus as his example to teach that each Christian must, as the trinitarian Amplified Bible above puts it, “regard others as better than and superior to himself”! And yet most trinitarian translations show Jesus doing the very opposite in this “example in humility” for all Christians!
Something, then, is very wrong with the translation of Phil. 2:6 in most trinitarian Bibles!
It would more properly be rendered:
"Although he was existing (or, possibly, "came to be" - huparchon) in the external appearence (morphe) of God (or 'of a god', theou), he did not consider taking by force [harpagmon] equality with God.