Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 2:6

"who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped," — Philippians 2:6 (ASV)

Christ’s preincarnate status is then stated. Two assertions are made: He was “in very nature God” (lit., “in the form [GK 3671] of God”), and he did not regard his existing in a manner of “equality with God” as a prize “to be grasped” or held onto. The word “form” denotes the outward manifestation that corresponds to the essence (in contrast to the noun “appearance” [GK 3386; v.8], which refers to what is outward and perhaps temporary).

The participle “being” (in the sense of “existing”) is in the present tense and states Christ’s continuing condition. By saying that he was existing in the essential metaphysical form of God is tantamount to saying that he possessed the nature of God. The phrase is elaborated on by the words “equality with God.” This does not mean the same as “the form of God,” for one’s essential nature can remain unchanged, though the manner in which that nature is expressed can vary greatly through changing times and circumstances.

The expression “something to be grasped” (GK 772) has been variously interpreted. Does it mean something that has been seized or something to be seized? This uncertainty has led to three possibilities:

(1) The preincarnate Christ already possessed equality with the Father and resolved not to cling to it;

(2) Christ had no need to grasp at equality with God, for he already possessed it;

(3) Christ did not reach for his crowning prematurely, as Adam had, but was willing to wait till after his suffering.

That the preexistent state is in view seems evident from the movement of the passage (see also 2 Corinthians 8:9). Inasmuch as Christ already existed in “the form of God,” the mode of his existence as equal with God was hardly something totally future but must rather be something he divested himself of. Hence, view 3 above does not fit the context so well as view 1. View 2, though expressing a truth, does not provide an adequate basis for the statements that follow.