2:6

This passage is often called a Christ hymn, and it may have been an early Christian hymn or poem, used in the early church. Paul then used it at this point because it was appropriate to his message. Or Paul may have composed it himself when he wrote this letter to the Philippians. Try to translate these verses not as a prose description but as a hymn or as a poem. Some of the English versions print these verses in lines like a poem (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation). If you have a special way of printing poetry in your language, you could use it here.

2:6a

existing in the form of God: This could be literally translated as “being in the form of God.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as form is morphē. It refers to a form that accurately reflects the essential qualities of someone or something. Christ has always had the same nature as God (see the Good News Translation).

2:6b

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped: There are two main ways to understand this clause. The difference is in the interpretation of the rare Greek word harpagmos that the Berean Standard Bible translates as something to be grasped.

(1) The word harpagmos refers to a person holding on to something he already has. This would mean that, before he was born as a human, Christ was equal with God. But in order to become man, he did not try to hold on to the privileges that came with being equal with God. He was willing to give them up. This is probably the most common interpretation of 2:6b. (Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)

(2) The word harpagmos refers to a person snatching or taking by force something he does not yet have. This interpretation would mean that Jesus as a man was not equal with God, but he did not use force to try and become equal with God while he was a man.

Most English translations, like the Berean Standard Bible, are ambiguous, though they most likely follow the first interpretation. The context of 2:6 is Christ’s preparation for becoming man. So interpretation (1) fits better with this context.

In some languages it may be necessary to use a direct quote here. For example:

He didn’t say, “I must hold on to my equal status with God.”

Try to make it clear in your translation that this was the attitude that Jesus Christ had.

equality with God: This means “being equal with God” or “having the same power and privileges that God has.” It probably refers to outward status and the display of greatness. When he became man, Christ remained truly God, but he gave up the outward display of his power and glory.

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