I have no problem with the translation "Jesus, being in the form of God..." I agree with you that most translations render it as such. So what exactly did Paul mean when he said Jesus was in the "form of God?"
Please share your thoughts on that.
The Greek for our English word "form" is
morphe, which is a pretty cool word when you think about it. It reminds me of the transformers my kids use to play with. They start out as a robot and can become a race car. The form changes, but the component parts are exactly the same.
So Jesus is in the morphe of God.
We know that, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the
exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Heb. 1:3)
Jesus is in the
morphe of God. He is the
exact representation of His being. What does this mean?
I have no problem with translations which use the word "grasped." I agree with you that the word also means sieze. What I have a problem with is what YOU claim Paul is saying. You've completely twisted Paul's words, making it sound as if Jesus wouldn't dare try to grasp hold of equality with God.
Let's look at the passage in context.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,
and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
First and foremost, this is a message about being humble. Paul said Jesus existed in the
morphe of God. Then he says Jesus didn't consider equality with God something to be siezed or grasped. When you sieze or grasp something, you hold onto it, so hold onto may not be the preferred translation, but it is still acceptable. The next point Paul makes clarifies everything. He says Jesus chose to empty Himself. Empty Himself of what? Referring back to verse 6, Jesus chose to empty Himself of that which he chose to not grasp, sieze or hold onto, that is, equality with God. He chose instead take on the
morphe of a bond-servant, made in the likeness of men.
Jesus is creator of
ALL things in heaven and on earth. That would include the angels. Jesus is before
ALL things.
Can we at least agree that ALL things means ALL things?
Col. 1:16-17
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Jesus, no doubt, created the angels before He created the earth. That harmonizes with the Col. passase above, which says Jesus created all things in heaven, and that He is before all things.
Job 38
4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
6What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
7as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?