Philippians 2:6

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 Living Translation (NLT)Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Context of Philippians 2:6

4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:6 word by word

ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• beingὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the formμορφήmorphē · formG3444
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• thought itἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• notοὐou · noG3756
• robberyἁρπαγμόςharpagmos · something to graspG725
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• equalἴσοςisos · equalG2470

Cross-references for Philippians 2:6

• Isaiah 7:14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
• Isaiah 8:8He will pass through Judah, He will overflow and pass over, He will reach up to the neck; And the stretching out of his wings Will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.
• Isaiah 9:6For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Jeremiah 23:6In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• Micah 5:2“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
• Matthew 1:23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “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, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
• Romans 9:5of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
• 2 Corinthians 4:4whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
• Colossians 1:15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
• 1 Timothy 1:17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
• 1 Timothy 3:16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
• Hebrews 1:3who 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 at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
• Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
• Genesis 32:24Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of 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

• Commandments
• Example
• Humility
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• God
• Apostle
• Companion
• Covenant
• Disputing
• Humility
• Kingly office of Christ
• Lowliness
• Nigh
• Philippians, Epistle to

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