JACQUES GAUVIN, RELIGION

Settling The Controversy of Philippians 2:6 and 7

Should we seek equality with God the Father or remain humble like Jesus and not consider it, as was his consistent example?

Consider the NIV' s 1984 version of Philippians 2:6, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped" and the NKJV "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God"

The NKJV was translated by a different group of men than the NIV and in this passage is not surprisingly different from the NIV. It is obvious that the NKJV and the NIV do not say the same thing. In the NIV Jesus is not trying or claiming to be equal with God. In the NKJV Jesus thinks that considering Himself equal with God is not wrong. The difference is because of the way the Greek word ἁρπαγμὸν, Strong's number 725, is translated. The translators of this verb must use it either with an active voice or a passive voice and either with a negative or positive implication.

Active or passive voice

"ἁρπαγμὸν," 'arpagmon' either means "robbery or grasping," the active voice, or "something to be robbed or something to be grasped," the passive voice. The NKJV translators chose to use the active voice thus using one word "robbery" whereas the NIV (1984) translators used the wordy passive voice "something to be grasped."

Something in need of even greater consideration in determining the proper meaning is whether ἁρπαγμὸν has a negative or a positive undertone.

Negative or positive implication

"robbery" carries a negative implication, as in to take something that doesn't belong to you, and "grasp" or catch could have either a neutral or positive connotation, as in to hang on to or hold something.

The root word "αρπάζω," 'arpazo,' meaning "to catch or snatch" is found in the negative application in the following two passages:

Matthew 13:19 (NKJV) " ... then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart."
John 10:12 (NKJV) " ... and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them."

In the next two passages a positive tone is depicted:

2 Corinthians 12:4 (NKJV) "... he was caught up into Paradise"
1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NKJV) "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

So you can see that this word can be used to depict something pleasant or disturbing, positive or negative.

Let's look at some context to help us clarify our minds on this matter.

Verses 6 and 7 form a contrast in these translations:

Philippians 2:6–7 (NKJV)
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Strong's number 235 "αλλ" translated here as "but" can also be translated as 'yet' and 'nevertheless.' It can also be translated for emphasis as 'indeed' or 'in fact.' In the NKJV, Paul is basically saying, "Jesus considered himself equal with God but he humbled himself and became a human servant." This would be the negative sense, he was equal to God the Father and became a mere human.

Philippians 2:6–7 (NIV84)
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

In the NIV the contrast is less so. Here Jesus is not portrayed as being the Father's equal but rather a humble subordinate who humbled Himself as a humble servant.

In a positive sense Paul may have intended to convey that "Jesus did not try to be equal with God in fact He became a humble servant." This explanation has better balance and harmony and continuity of thought. The contrast is not as pronounced and has a positive tone.

Jesus said in John 10:30 (NKJV) "I and My Father are one.” and in John 14:7 (NKJV) “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” These passages clearly show that Jesus did regard himself as being in complete agreement and harmony with God the Father and that He resembled him in character and appearance and was of the same spiritual family and that He also represented His Father's authority. The NKJV rendition of Philippians 2:6-7 seems to distort the implications Jesus was making in these passages. It is certainly not evident to me that Jesus was stating that He was equal to God but rather that He was in full agreement with the Father.

There is no doubt that Jesus and His Father are of the God kind, the God family. They were both creators and worked as a team or unit, as one. One plan, one goal, one purpose, one work is what they did, together. Like a lawyer and his secretary, Batman and Robin, a surveyor and his draftsman, Abbot and Costello, husband and wife, father and son, a doctor and his nurse, an inventor and a manufacturer, an architect and a builder and many other partners in any number of undertakings, they are not equals.

Satan tried to make himself not only equal to but superior to God and was cast down. Jesus did not cast him down, Jesus witnessed it. Jesus never resorted to Satan's type of foolishness. He always accepted and respected the authority and superiority of His Father. He was obedient and set us an example to follow.

The Word fulfilled a subordinate and supporting role to God the Father. Jesus is the Son and heir of the Highest, His Father.

Here are some of the Supporting verses:

1) Jesus was the Word of God, the spokesman.

John 1:14 (NKJV)
And the Word became flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

2) The Father is greater than Jesus.

John 14:28 (NKJV)
You have heard Me (Jesus) say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

3) Jesus could do nothing of His own.

John 5:30 (NKJV)
I (Jesus) can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

4) What Jesus sees the Father do He does.

John 5:20 (NKJV)
For the Father loves the Son (Jesus), and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

These first four points apply equally well with the Word as a spirit being who created with the Father during the week of creation as they did to Jesus while He was on earth as a man.

5) Jesus learned and was perfected through suffering, the Father was teaching, guiding, coaching Him.

Hebrews 5:9 (NKJV)
And having been perfected, He (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Hebrews 2:10 (NKJV)
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

6) The Father sent Jesus to do a work, clearly the Father has and had authority over Jesus.

John 5:36 (NKJV)
But I (Jesus) have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

7) The Father put or is putting all things under Jesus' feet.

Matthew 22:44 (NKJV)
‘The LORD (the Father) said to my Lord (Jesus), “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?

It is evident that these two Lords are not equal. Anyone who would claim that they are is an obvious liar. No liar will enter God's Kingdom. Don't fall for phoney baloney religion.

8) The Father is going to give Jesus the Kingdom.

Matthew 11:27 (NKJV)
All things have been delivered to Me (Jesus) by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

9) Creation is for Christ.

Ephesians 1:22 (GNB)
God put all things under Christ’s feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things.

Colossians 1:19–20 (NKJV)
For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

10) The greatest act of love that a Creator Father can show to His Son is to give Him all His creation and all power and majesty over it.

Jude 25 (NKJV)
To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

Matthew 28:18 (NKJV)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

John 3:35 (NKJV)
The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.

John 13:3 (NKJV)
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,

Remember that the last thing to be conquered is death and that has not happened yet so these passages are presently still in a living ongoing state. They are basically promises being fulfilled.

11) Inheritance.

Luke 1:32 (NKJV)
He (Jesus) will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

Notice the tense, will be great and will be called. At that time the process was not completed.

Here we clearly see that Jesus will be called the Son of the Highest. Jesus called himself the Son of God while He was on earth. It is not much of a stretch bearing in mind that as Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV) says, 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.' That the Word who was with the Highest during the week of creation was the Son of God the Father.

12) It is His pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32 (NKJV)
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

13) The Father has authority.

Matthew 20:23 (NKJV)
So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

This sounds to me evidence that the Word was never equal to the Father.

14) Jesus kept His Father's commandments.

John 15:10 (NKJV)
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

15) The anti-Christ is described as:

1 John 2:22–23 (NKJV)
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Conclusion

Jesus made many efforts, if not great efforts, to show that He was a humble, obedient messenger sent by His Father, our God.

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

While keeping in mind the contents of this composition, this verse indicates that Jesus was always the lesser and His Father was always the greater.

James 1:16–17 (NKJV)
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Matthew 10:28 (NKJV)
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

John 5:21 (NKJV)
For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

Galatians 1:1 (NKJV)
Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him (Jesus) from the dead),

The Father is the one who resurrected or, in essence, recreated Jesus in His former glory. The Bible goes to significant measures to show that the Father was the greater God, was, is and will always be.

Mark 14:36 (NKJV)
And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. ... ”

There is great evidence that Jesus, the Word, was always the Son of God the Father. The plan of the Father for His Son is vast imposing evidence of this.

Romans 8:14–17 (NKJV)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

John 12:44–50 (NKJV)
Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Jesus was not speaking under pretence. He was speaking as the Son of God. He was living the reality not acting or playing the part. I propose that the Father was perfecting the Word, now Jesus, and giving Him a greater glory than He had had in His former existence.

I favour the NIV for this passage.

Philippians 2:6 (NIV84)
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

Also I believe this passage to mean that Jesus was the Son of His spiritual Father but did not consider Himself His equal.

Here is how I would translate this passage so as to eliminate confusion.

Philippians 2:6–7 (JG)
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be snatched (or claimed), in fact he made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

John 13:16–17 (NKJV)
Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 7:28–29 (NKJV)
Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

Acts 1:7 (NKJV)
And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

2 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)
“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

2019 Jacques Gauvin (Updated January 20, 2021)

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