American Standard Version
Philippians 2:6
6who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Philippians 2:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
- New International Version (NIV)Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
- English Standard Version (ESV)who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
- New King James Version (NKJV)who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Context of Philippians 2:6
4not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. 5Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
Read all of Philippians 2Philippians 2:6 word by word
ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ,Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Philippians 2:6
- Isaiah 7:14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
- Isaiah 8:8and it shall sweep onward into Judah; it shall overflow and pass through; it shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of its wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
- Isaiah 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Jeremiah 23:6In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness.
- Micah 5:2But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
- Matthew 1:23Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.
- John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 17:5And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
- Romans 9:5whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.
- Colossians 1:15who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
- 1 Timothy 1:17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 3:16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
- Hebrews 1:3who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
- Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever.
- Genesis 32:24And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Commentaries on Philippians 2:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Who, 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Who, being in the form of God - There is scarcely any passage in the New Testament which has given rise to more discussion than this. The importance of the passage on the question of the divinity of the Saviour will be perceived at once, and no small part of the point of the appeal by the apostle depends, as will be seen, in the fact that Paul regarded the Redeemer as equal with God. If he was truly divine, then his consenting to become a man was the most…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 5-11 The example of our Lord Jesus Christ is set before us. We must resemble him in his life, if we would have the benefit of his death. Notice the two natures of Christ; his Divine nature, and human nature. Who being in the form of God, partaking the Divine nature, as the eternal and only-begotten Son of God, Joh 1:1, had not thought it a robbery to be equal with God, and to receive Divine worship from men. His human nature; herein he became like…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6existing in the form of God: Jesus has the same nature as God and has existed with him from the beginning (see John 1:1–3; 17:5; Colossians 1:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. 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' (Php 2:7)…Read the comment
Topics related to Philippians 2:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Philippians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries