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THE DIETY OF JESUS CHRIST
AND HOW HE HUMBLED
HIMSELF TO BECOME A MAN
I) INTRODUCTION
The main purpose of this passage is to exhort the believer to emulate the humility and servitude of our Lord as exemplified by His humbling Himself by setting aside the exercising of His essence as God in order to function as a Perfect Man so that He could then pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world:
A) [Phil 2:5-8]:
(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
(Phil 2:6 NKJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
(Phil 2:6 NASB) Who, although He existed [subsisted] in [the] form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
(Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
(Phil 2:7 NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men.
(Phil 2:7 NASB) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men.
(Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as [a] man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross."
Objectors to Phil 2:5-8 being a proof text of the diety of Christ maintain that all this passage says is that Christians should not be motivated by self will but to be meek and obedient like Christ; Who although existing in the form of a god like Almighty God was not ambitious to become equal to his Father. Scripture clearly refutes this statement. Let's examine this passage in the light of Who it says Jesus Christ really is.
II) Phil 2:5-6a) THE GREEK PHRASE "HOS EN MORPHE THEOU HUPARCHON" RENDERED "WHO BEING / EXISTED / SUBSISTED IN THE FORM OF GOD" REFERS TO THE CONTINUAL EXISTENCE OF CHRIST JESUS AS GOD - ALMIGHTY, ETERNAL, IMMUTABLE AND HOLY - AN ETERNAL EXISTENCE THAT CANNOT CEASE OR DIE FOR THE SINS OF MANKIND, AS SOME CONTEND, OR CHANGE IN ANY WAY SINCE GOD IS IMMUTABLE
(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Phil 2:6 NKJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:6 NASB) Who, although He existed [subsisted] in [the] form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:7 NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:7 NASB) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as [a] man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross." =
(Phil 2:6 NASB) "Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
(Phil 2:6 Greek) "hos ....en .........morphE ....Theou .huparchOn
............................"Who ..in ..........form ..........of God subsisted
ouch harpagmon hEgEsato ...to
not ...robbery ......esteemed it.the
einai isa ....TheO
to be equal with God
The word rendered "Who" in Phil 2:6 above refers to Christ Jesus, (v. 5). The name Christ Jesus in Phil 2:5 stresses the title "Christ"- referring to the Son of God Who is God, Almighty, Eternal, Holy - and Immutable, (cf. Jn 1:1-3; Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6). And it was Christ Jesus Who freely, voluntarily and graciously emptied Himself in the sense of voluntarily setting aside / deferring His expression as God through the Humanity He added to Himself in the form and expression of Perfect Humanity, (Phil 2:7; cf. Jn 1:14). So He exclusively expressed His Humanity during His Humanity's ministry on earth from the conception / birth of His Humanity, (Mt 1:18, Lk 1:30-35), until His Humanity's death on the cross, (Phil 2:8) - with the exception of His transfiguration, (Mt 17:2-9). The Perfect Humanity of Christ is referred to by the name "Jesus," (Jn 1:25-34). And when the Christ, the Son of God, took upon Himself the form and expression of Perfect Humanity, He did it in order to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world, (Phil 2:8; cf. 1 Jn 2:1-2). Only the form and expression of Christ Jesus' Humanity could have participated in His sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. For God's Holiness cannot be tainted with the guilt of humanity, (Refs. Ex 15:11; Lev 11:44; 19:2; Ps 18:30; 92:15; 22:3; Lk 18:19; 1 Jn 1:5); nor can Christ Jesus' Essence as God die or change in any way, because God is immutable, (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6).
A) [Compare 1 Jn 1:5]:
(1 Jn 1:5 NKJV) "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness [no sin] at all."
The Greek word "huparchon" in Phil 2:6 above is rendered "being," (NKJV, KJV), "existed," (NASB), "subsisted" (CBL Interlinear). It is a present participle of the verb "huparcho" which denotes to be / to be in existence / to subsist. The participle form "huparchon" in Phil 2:6 designates an ongoing existence as God, especially because of the words rendered "equal /equality with God." This existence of God was ongoing previous to adding to Himself Humanity, and continuing as both God and Man afterwards forever - with no separation, even at His Humanity's death on the cross, (Isa 9:6-7). So the Greek phrase "hos en morphE theou huparchon" rendered "who being [or who existed / subsisted] in the form of God" refers to the continual existence of Christ Jesus as God - Almighty, Eternal, Immutable and Holy - an eternal existence that cannot cease or die for the sins of mankind or change in any way, as some contend, since God is immutable, (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6).
III) Phil 2:6) THE GREEK WORD "MORPHE" RENDERED "FORM" IN PHIL 2:6 IN THE PHRASE "HOS EN MORPHE THEOU HUPARCHON" RENDERED "WHO BEING / EXISTED / SUBSISTED IN THE FORM OF GOD" REFERS TO THE EXTERNAL FORM / APPEARANCE BY WHICH A PERSON OR THING STRIKES THE VISION - AN EXTERNAL FORM BUT WHICH IS INTRINSICALLY INDICATIVE OF THE INNER NATURE FROM WHICH IT SPRINGS - A CONTINUAL / ETERNAL EXISTENCE OF CHRIST JESUS AS GOD - ALMIGHTY, ETERNAL. IMMUTABLE AND HOLY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE WORDS RENDERED "EQUAL / EQUALITY WITH GOD" IN VERSE 6. (NOTE THAT CHRIST JESUS' ADDITION TO HIMSELF OF PERFECT HUMANITY WHICH WILL CONTINUE FOREVER IS IN VIEW IN THE NEXT TWO VERSES)
(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Phil 2:6 NKJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:6 NASB) Who, although He existed [subsisted] in [the] form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:7 NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:7 NASB) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as [a] man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross." =
(Phil 2:6 Greek) "hos ....en .........morphE ....Theou .huparchOn
............................"Who ..in ..........form ..........of God subsisted
ouch harpagmon hEgEsato ...to
not ...robbery ......esteemed it.the
einai isa ....TheO
to be equal with God
The Greek word "morphE" rendered "form" in Phil 2:6 in the Greek phrase "hos en morphE Theou huparchOn" rendered "Who being / existed / subsisted in the form of God" has no definite article. Since the word does not have the definite article, it therefore is stressing the essence / the quality of God which is in Christ Jesus. (Note that His addition to Himself of Perfect Humanity which will continue forever from its inception is in view in the next two verses, ref. Phil 2:7-8). Although the word "form" in English can refer to the internal and/or the external - even convey a superficial shell of a form of something, it cannot be restricted in Phil 2:6 to a superficial outer shell that can be discarded or a form of a god, as some contend. For the Greek word "morphE" in Phil 2:6 & 7 has a greater sense than that because of the words "equal / equality with God" in verse 6. So the internal and external quality of the nature of Christ Jesus as wholly equal to God is in view - Almighty, Eternal, Immutable and Holy God, (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6).
Since the Greek word, "morphE" in Phil 2:6 indicates the internal and external nature - the Essence of Almighty, Eternal, Immutable, Holy God subsisting in Christ Jesus from eternity, then nothing in this passage teaches that Christ Jesus emptied Himself of either His divine nature or His divine attributes. Therefore the phrase "emptied Himself" in Phil 2:6 indicates that He emptied Himself in the sense of voluntarily setting aside / deferring His expression as God through the Humanity He added to Himself in the form and expression of Perfect Humanity, (Phil 2:7; cf. Jn 1:14). So He exclusively expressed His Humanity during His Humanity's ministry on earth from the conception / birth of His Humanity, (Mt 1:18, Lk 1:30-35), until His Humanity's death on the cross, (Phil 2:8) - with the exception of His transfiguration, (Mt 17:2-9). The Perfect Humanity of Christ is referred to by the name "Jesus," (Jn 1:25-34). And when the Christ, the Son of God, took upon Himself the form and expression of Perfect Humanity, He did it in order to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world, (Phil 2:8; cf. 1 Jn 2:1-2). Only the form and expression of Christ Jesus' Humanity could have participated in His sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. For God's Holiness cannot be tainted with the guilt of humanity, (Refs. Ex 15:11; Lev 11:44; 19:2; Ps 18:30; 92:15; 22:3; Lk 18:19; 1 Jn 1:5); nor can Christ Jesus' Essence as God die or change in any way, because God is immutable, (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6).
And when His Humanity died, His Human spirit and soul left His dead physical Human body - remaining with God until His Humanity was resurrected in a glorified body. At all times His divine attributes could have been exercised freely according to His will. Although there were preincarnate appearances of the Son of God in the past, (refs Gen 22:15-18; 31:11-13; Ex 1:25-28; 3:4; 16:9), there is nothing 'accidental' or separable, such as particular modes of manifestation which may have at one time been part of Christ Jesus' Eternal, Almighty, Immutable Essence as God and His existance as Perfect Humanity born of the Holy Spirit in woman, and then at another time separated from it, as some contend.
So in Phil 2:7, the phrase rendered, "[Christ Jesus] taking the form ["morphE"] of a bondservant," must have the same meaning of "morphE" in the expression "being [existed / subsisted] in the form ["morphE"] of God" in Phil 2:6 of a continual, eternal and inseparable existence. For the two phrases are directly antithetical, i.e., intended to be a parallel contrast to one another. So "[Christ Jesus] taking the form ["morphE"] of a bondservant" in Phil 2:7 indicates that His Humanity will persist forever from it's inception - the conception / birth of His Humanity, (Mt 1:18, Lk 1:30-35) until His Humanity's death on the cross, (Phil 2:8) - and even continue forever through His resurrection on into eternity - with no separation from His Diety, (Isa 9:6-7). When Christ Jesus took on the form of a bond servent - made in the likeness of men, He did not separate Himself from His Eternal form as God, but added to Himself the Perfect form of Humanity. Hence from that time on He subsists as both God and Man forever!
A) [Compare Mt 1:18, Lk 1:30-35]:
(Mt 1:18 NASB) "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit."
(Lk 1:30 NASB) "The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
(Lk 1:31 NASB) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
(Lk 1:32 NASB) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
(Lk 1:33 NASB) and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.'
(Lk 1:34 NASB) Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?'
(Lk 1:35 NASB) The angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.' "
So the Holy Spirit caused a woman to be with child to give birth to a Human Son she named Jesus Who is the Son of God, the Christ - implying a permanent existence of the Christ / the Son of God and Jesus together forever - the GodMan - never to come apart, as some contend!
IV) Phil 2:6-8) CHRIST JESUS BEING / EXISTED / SUBSISTED IN [THE] FORM OF GOD - ALMIGHTY, ETERNAL IMMUTABLE AND HOLY DID NOT CONSIDER IT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD IN THE SENSE OF REGARDING IT AS A THING TO BE GRASPED / HELD ONTO. HE WILLINGLY EMPTIED HIMSELF OF THE OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF HIS DIETY MAKING HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION BY TAKING THE FORM OF A BONDSERVANT, I.E., BY COMING IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN, IN THE SENSE OF VOLUNTARILY SETTING ASIDE / DEFERRING HIS EXPRESSION AS GOD THROUGH THE HUMANITY HE ADDED TO HIMSELF IN THE FORM AND EXPRESSION OF PERFECT HUMANITY. SO HE EXCLUSIVELY EXPRESSED HIS HUMANITY DURING HIS HUMANITY'S MINISTRY ON EARTH FROM THE CONCEPTION / BIRTH OF HIS HUMANITY, UNTIL HIS HUMANITY'S DEATH ON THE CROSS - WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HIS TRANSFIGURATION. THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF CHRIST IS REFERRED TO BY THE NAME "JESUS." AND WHEN THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE FORM AND EXPRESSION OF PERFECT HUMANITY, HE DID IT IN ORDER TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD. ONLY THE FORM AND EXPRESSION OF CHRIST JESUS' HUMANITY COULD HAVE PARTICIPATED IN HIS SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD. FOR GOD'S HOLINESS CANNOT BE TAINTED WITH THE GUILT OF HUMANITY; NOR CAN CHRIST JESUS' ESSENCE AS GOD DIE OR CHANGE IN ANY WAY, BECAUSE GOD IS IMMUTABLE.
(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Phil 2:6 NKJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:6 NASB) Who, although He existed [subsisted] in [the] form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:7 NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:7 NASB) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as [a] man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross." =
(Phil 2:6 Greek) "hos ....en .........morphE ....Theou .huparchOn
............................"Who ..in ..........form ..........of God subsisted
ouch harpagmon hEgEsato ...to
not ...robbery ......esteemed it.the
einai isa ....TheO
to be equal with God
The Greek word "harpagmon" rendered "robbery" in the context of Phil 2:6 NKJV and KJV refers to a treasure which Christ Jesus did not think it robbery to hold onto. It is in a noun form which can have one of two basic meanings within the context of Phil 2:6:
An active meaning = Christ Jesus did not think it robbery in the sense of His taking something that doesn't belong to Him - taking possession of His being equal with God,
and
a passive meaning = Christ Jesus did not think it robbery in the sense of His having what He rightfully possesses but which is robbed from him - His equality with God, being God Himself.
So in Phil 2:6, the phrase underlined and italicized and rendered in the NKJV & KJV, "Who, being / existed / subsisted in [the] form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God," indicates that in eternity past Christ Jesus always subsisted / existed as equal to God, hence He is God. So He could not be in an active position of robbing something He already possessed as an immutable, eternal possession - that of being God. His Essence as God cannot be taken away, because God is immutable and cannot lose His essence in any way, (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6). Rather, the passive meaning of "harpagmon" must apply: that of Christ Jesus not thinking it robbery of having the expression of His Diety taken away - compare Phil 2:6 NASB: "Who, although He existed [subsisted] in [the] form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped," i.e., held on to in the sense of deferring it freely, voluntarily and graciously Himself in order to exclusively express His Humanity during His Humanity's ministry on earth until His Humanity's death on the cross for the sins of all mankind, (1 Jn 2:2). Thereafter, His Humanity will continue for the rest of eternity as an inseparable part of the essence of God, (Isa 9:6-7).
V) (Phil 2:7-8a) PHIL 2:7b STATES THAT CHRIST JESUS TOOK ON THE EXTERNAL / INTERNAL FORM OF A BONDSERVANT - HUMANITY; PHIL 2:7c STATES THAT HE CAME IN THE LIKENESS [THE EXTERNAL] FORM OF MEN = GREEK "HOMOIOMATI" OF A BONDSERVANT [I.E., HUMANITY], AND PHIL 2:8a STATES CHRIST JESUS WAS FOUND IN THE APPEARANCE - THE OUTWARD FORM (GREEK = SCHEMATI") - OF MAN. SINCE CHRIST JESUS IS GOD, AND SINCE HIS INTERNAL NATURE IN HIS HUMANITY CANNOT BE LIKE THAT OF SINFUL MAN, THEN HIS HUMANITY MUST BE PERFECT, WITHOUT A SIN NATURE. SO ALTHOUGH HE CAME IN THE LIKENESS, I.E., WAS FOUND IN THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF A MAN, HE COULD NOT TAKE UPON HIMSELF THE INTERNAL CONTAMINATED FORM OF MAN, BUT THE INTERNAL FORM OF A PERFECT MAN
(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Phil 2:6 NKJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:6 NASB) Who, although He existed [subsisted] in [the] form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:7 NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:7 NASB) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as [a] man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross." =
(Phil 2:7 NASB) "but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men."
"and being made in the likeness of men" =
"being made" ="genomenos" = [Lit.] "having become"
"in [the] likeness of men" = "en homoiOmati anthropon" = the external form of man
(Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as [a] man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross." =
"And being found in appearance as [a] man. =
"kai .schemati euretheis ................os ..........anthropos.."
"and in figure having been found as [of a] man "
"schemati" = dative, singular, neuter, nominative of "schema" meaning fashion, form, external show = the outward form of man
Phil 2:8a states that Christ Jesus took on the outward form (= "schemati") of man - the external appearance. It says the same thing in Phil 2:7c with the word "homoiOmati" = external form, shape, figure: He came / was made in the outward appearance, the outward form of man, but without a sin nature. He did not have the internal contaminated form of man. Internally His Humanity was Perfect, (ref. 2 Cor 5:21; Ro 3:24-26; Heb 1:1-3; 4:15; 7:24-26), having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, (ref. Mt 1:18, Lk 1:30-35).
****** EXCERPT FROM JOHN CHAPTER ONE ******
(Jn 1:14) THE WORD - ETERNAL, CREATOR, THE LIFE, THE LIGHT OF MEN - GOD ADDED TO HIS ESSENCE PERFECT HUMANITY AND DWELT AMONG MEN SO THAT ALL MEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY, INCLUDING THE FUTURE THROUGH WITNESS ACCOUNTS BEGINNING WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE, KNOW AND BELIEVE IN HIM UNTO AN ETERNAL LIFE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
(Jn 1:1 YLT) "In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Jn 1:2 YLT) He [lit., This One] was in [the] beginning with God; (Jn 1:3 NAS) All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (Jn 1:4 NAS) In Him was life, and the Life was the Light of men. (Jn 1:5 NKJV) And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (Jn 1:6 YLT) There came [into being, (cf. NASB)] a man - having been sent from God - whose name is John. (Jn 1:7 NKJV) This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through Him [the Light of men, the Life, the Word, (Jn 1:1-4)] might believe, (Jn 1:8 YLT) that one was not the Light, but - that he might testify about the Light. (Jn 1:9 NIV) The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world; (Jn 1:10 YLT) in the world He was, and the world through Him was made, and the world did not know Him: (Jn 1:11 NKJV) He came to His own [neuter, plural, i.e., He came to all things of His own, being Creator = all things of the world, both inanimate and animate, including mankind], and His own [mascline, plural = those animate objects who have the capacity to receive (i.e., believe in) Him, i.e., His own particular people, specifically the people of Israel] did not receive Him. (Jn 1:12 YLT) But as many [individuals of His own creation, (Jn 1:11a)] as did receive Him to them He gave authority to become sons [lit., children] of God - to those believing in His name: (Jn 1:13 YLT) who - not of blood nor of a will of flesh, nor of a will of man but - of God were begotten [born]. (Jn 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the [One and only from] the Father, full of grace and truth." =
(Jn 1:14 Greek) "Kai .hO Logos sarx .egeneto kai .eskenOsen ..en .........hEmin
............................"And the Word flesh became and tabernacled among .us
"sarx" = flesh, human, mortal nature, physical life.
kai .etheasametha tEn doxan autou doxan .hOs monogenous ........para .patros"
and we beheld ......the .glory ..His ....glory ..as ....of a one and only with. Father"
"para" = beside, by, with, at, from
pleres charitos .kai .alEtheias."
full
....of grace .and
truth."
[The Greek verb rendered "became"] "egeneto" is the aorist tense form of the Greek infinitive verb, ginomai, which means, in the context of Jn 1:14, to come into being, or to become. So it is best rendered "[The Word] became [flesh]"... Note that the Greek word "sarx" which literally means "flesh," is not referring to "sinful flesh in the Greek phrase "kao hO Logos sarx egeneto" rendered "and the Word became flesh" in the NKJV. It refers to perfect sinless Humanity, (as was originally created by the Word, {Jn 1:3}), becoming an essence of the Word because of Who He is: perfect, sinless, eternal, Creator, God, the Life, the Light of men. This implies that the Word, did not previously have a permanent essence of Humanity. Furthermore, the absence of the definite article with "sarx" stresses the quality of Humanity to be added to the Word as opposed to being changed/transformed from Creator, eternal God to finite, created man. So the Word becoming flesh is not the same as a caterpillar becoming, i.e., being transformed into a butterfly where it no longer is a caterpillar. Since God is eternal, and the Word is God, then the Word cannot cease to exist as God. So the verb form "egeneto" conveys the concept that the Word became flesh in the sense of newly adding the quality of Humanity to Himself. For example, just as an individual can become a police officer as an additional expression of his being without losing being a civilian wherein sometimes he expresses himself as a civilian (off duty) and at other times as an officer of the Law (on duty); so the Word became flesh (Human), as an additional expression of His being without losing being eternal, uncreated, preexistent God wherein at times He chooses to express Himself in His finite Humanity and at other times as eternal, uncreated, preexistent God.
****** END OF EXCERPT FROM JOHN CHAPTER ONE ******
VI) Phil 2:7-8) CHRIST JESUS WILLINGLY EMPTIED HIMSELF OF THE EXPRESSION OF HIS DIETY MAKING HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION BY TAKING THE FORM OF A BONDSERVANT, I.E., BY COMING IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN, IN THE SENSE OF VOLUNTARILY SETTING ASIDE / DEFERRING HIS EXPRESSION AS GOD THROUGH THE HUMANITY HE ADDED TO HIMSELF IN THE FORM AND EXPRESSION OF PERFECT HUMANITY. SO HE EXCLUSIVELY EXPRESSED HIS HUMANITY DURING HIS HUMANITY'S MINISTRY ON EARTH FROM THE CONCEPTION / BIRTH OF HIS HUMANITY, UNTIL HIS HUMANITY'S DEATH ON THE CROSS - WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HIS TRANSFIGURATION. THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF CHRIST IS REFERRED TO BY THE NAME "JESUS." AND WHEN THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE FORM AND EXPRESSION OF PERFECT HUMANITY, HE DID IT IN ORDER TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD. ONLY THE FORM AND EXPRESSION OF CHRIST JESUS' HUMANITY COULD HAVE PARTICIPATED IN HIS SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD. FOR GOD'S HOLINESS CANNOT BE TAINTED WITH THE GUILT OF HUMANITY; NOR CAN CHRIST JESUS' ESSENCE AS GOD DIE OR CHANGE IN ANY WAY, BECAUSE GOD IS IMMUTABLE.
(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Phil 2:6 NKJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:6 NASB) Who, although He existed [subsisted] in [the] form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:7 NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:7 NASB) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as [a] man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross." =
The phrase rendered "but emptied Himself" in Phil 2:7 indicates that Christ Jesus emptied Himself - made Himself of no reputation - taking on "the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men." Whereupon Phil 2:8 gives further answer to the question of what Christ Jesus emptied Himself into and why:
(Phil 2:8 NKJV) "And being found in appearance as [a] man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross."
Since the part of Christ Jesus' Essence which is equal to God, (ref. Phil 2:6; Jn 1:1) is immutable - He cannot change, (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6); then He could not have emptied Himself of His Divine Attributes - His Divine Essence. But He did empty Himself in the sense of voluntarily setting aside / deferring His expression as God through the Perfect Humanity He added to Himself, (Phil 2:7; cf. Jn 1:14). So He exclusively expressed His Humanity throughout His Humanity's ministry on earth from the conception / birth of His Humanity, (Mt 1:18, Lk 1:30-35), until His Humanity's death on the cross, (Phil 2:8) - with the exception of His transfiguration, (Mt 17:2-9). The Perfect Humanity of Christ is referred to by the name "Jesus," (Jn 1:25-34). And when the Christ, the Son of God, took upon Himself Perfect Humanity, He did it in order to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world operating exclusively through that Humanity, (Phil 2:8; cf. 1 Jn 2:1-2).
Even when Christ Jesus in His Humanity performed miracles, He did them via the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit within His Human spirit, and not through the power of His Diety, (Isa 61:1-2; Lk 4:1, 14-19; Acts 10:38-39; Jn 3:34; 1 Pet 3:18). The indwelling Holy Spirit was received from above by Christ Jesus as visualized as a dove when He was baptized by John the Baptist, (refs. Mt 3:16; Mk 1:9; Lk 3:21; Jn 1:32).
Although God appeared in preincarnate appearances as the Angel of the LORD - Gen 16:7-16; 18:1-33; Judges 6:11-40; 13:3-25; Zech 3:1-2; 2 Kgs 19:35; Joshua 5:14; Christ Jesus' appearance in His Humanity as Jesus of Nazareth began from the conception / birth of His Humanity to be continued as part of His essence even unto His Humanity's death and resurrection into a glorified Human body. And His Humanity will continue, forever part of the Christ, the Son of God - both God and Man:
A) [Compare Isa 9:6-7]:
(Isa 9:6 NASB) "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isa 9:7 NASB) There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this."
Just as it is plausible to state that a human ruler might empty himself of his ruling power in the sense of deferring the exercise of his ruling power to humble himself in order to take on the form, likeness, appearance and expression - a disguise as a servant - a common man, making himself of no reputation, in order to accomplish one thing or another such as what Israel's king Saul did in order to find out what the Philistines were about to do, (ref. 1 Sam 8:1-25); and Josiah's disguising himself in order to conduct war, (2 Chr 35:20-27); so all the more it is plausible with Christ Jesus to empty Himself of the expression of His Diety to exclusively express Himself in His Humanity in order to endure the punishment for the sins of the whole world to propitiate humanity and give man an opportunity to be saved by grace through a moment of faith alone in His propitiation alone, (Phil 3:8-11; 1 Jn 5:1; Eph 2:8-9).
Only the form and expression of Christ Jesus' Humanity could have participated in His sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. For God's Holiness cannot be tainted with the guilt of humanity, (Refs. Ex 15:11; Lev 11:44; 19:2; Ps 18:30; 92:15; 22:3; Lk 18:19; 1 Jn 1:5); nor can Christ Jesus' Essence as God die or change in any way, because God is immutable, (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6).
Christ Jesus' Diety remained and will always remain Diety - immutable, without change, (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6). For God not only created the universe, He sustains it by the very power of His being. If God were to die, the universe would pass out of existence, because nothing can exist apart from the sustaining power of God. Hence God could not have perished on the cross:
B) [Compare Col 1:15-17]:
(Col 1:15 NASB) "He [Jesus Christ, the Son of God, vv. 13-14] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
(Col 1:16 NASB) For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him.
(Col 1:17 NASB) He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
VII) Phil 2:8) JESUS CHRIST IN HIS HUMANITY ON THE CROSS WAS FORSAKEN BY GOD AND PAID FOR THE SINS OF ALL MANKIND. SINCE CHRIST JESUS IS GOD AND MAN, AND SINCE HIS DIETY IS IMMUTABLE AND CANNOT DIE, THEN ONLY HIS HUMANITY DIED ON THE CROSS - CORROBORATING THAT HE EXCLUSIVELY EXPRESSED HIS HUMANITY DURING HIS HUMANITY'S MINISTRY ON EARTH FROM THE CONCEPTION / BIRTH OF HIS HUMANITY THROUGHOUT HIS HUMANITY'S DEATH ON THE CROSS - WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HIS TRANSFIGURATION. THEN CHRIST JESUS' HUMAN BODY WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD TOGETHER WITH HIS HUMAN SOUL AND HUMAN SPIRIT INTO A GLORIFIED BODY BY GOD - FOREVER AN ESSENCE OF THE SON OF GOD
(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Phil 2:6 NKJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:6 NASB) Who, although He existed [subsisted] in [the] form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in [the] form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:7 NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:7 NASB) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as [a] man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross." =
Christ Jesus in His Humanity was forsaken by God in the sense of having a broken spiritual connection with God - in His Humanity for three hours before His Humanity died on the cross. When He was forsaken - it was His mentality: His Soul, His Human spirit that was completely out of fellowship with God during which time He paid for the sins of the whole world, (1 Jn 2:2). So Christ Jesus in His Humanity endured the punishment for the sins of the whole world for all of eternity compressed into 3 hours while on the cross, (Mt 27:45-46; Mk 15:33-34; Lk 23:44-46). Further explanation of how this was accomplished by the Almighty Creator God through the Humanity of Christ Jesus is not provided in Scripture.
Since Christ Jesus is God and Man, His Diety could not die. So the many prophecies and accounts in Scripture of Christ Jesus dying on the cross can only have His Humanity in view - His Human Body, Human Soul and Human spirit, (refs., Isa 53:5-11; Ro 5:6-9, 18-19; 1 Jn 2:1-2). This corroborates that He set aside the expression of His Diety throughout His Humanity's ministry on earth culminating in His propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.
So when Christ Jesus in His Humanity died spiritually - His Humanity was separated from fellowship with God - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Then just before He physically died, His Human soul and Human spirit were spiritually restored to fellowship with God - which occurred when He committed His Human spirit to the Father just before His Human body would physically die. Notice that He continued to set aside the expression of His Diety throughout the entire time on the cross even while suffering for the sins of the whole world.
And then His Humanity died physically upon the cross. His physical body ceased to function. It became inactive, not non-existent as some contend - as does any human physical body that dies. After physically dying, His Human soul and spirit continued to function outside of His physical body as happens to all humans when they physically die. And His soul and Human spirit like those human souls and spirits who are children of God, born of God, continued to be present with God, in fellowship with Him. As it is with all those who are children of God, born of God; so it is with the Firstborn of all creation, (ref. Ro 8:29; 2 Cor 5:1-8).
A) [Compare Mt 27:46-50]:
(Mt 27:46 NASB) "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'
(Mt 27:47 NASB) And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, 'This man is calling for Elijah.'
(Mt 27:48 NASB) Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a Drink.
(Mt 27:49 NASB) But the rest of them said, 'Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.'
(Mt 27:50 NASB) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His [Human] spirit."
B) [Compare Lk 23:44-46]:
(Lk 23:44 NASB) "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour,
(Lk 23:45 NASB) because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
(Lk 23:46 NASB) And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.' Having said this, He breathed His last."
C) [Compare Mk 15:33-37]:
(Mk 15:33 NASB) "When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour.
(Mk 15:34 NASB) At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' which is translated, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'
(Mk 15:35 NASB) When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, 'Behold, He is calling for Elijah.'
(Mk 15:36 NASB) Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a Drink, saying, 'Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'
(Mk 15:37 NASB) And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last."
Then Christ Jesus' Human body was resurrected from the dead together with His Human soul and Human spirit by God into a glorified, eternal Human Body forever a part of the Essence of the Son of God, Who is God:
D) [Rev 1:10-18]:
(Rev 1:13 NASB) "and in the middle of the lampstands I [John v. 9)] saw one like [the] son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
(Rev 1:14 NASB) His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
(Rev 1:15 NASB) His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
(Rev 1:16 NASB) In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
(Rev 1:17 NASB) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
(Rev 1:18 NASB) and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades."
E) [Phil 3:20-21]:
(Phil 3:20 NASB) "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
(Phil 3:21 NASB) who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
F) [Mt 17:2]:
(Mt 17:1 NASB) "Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
(Mt 17:2 NASB) And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
(Mt 17:5 NASB) While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, 'This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!'
(Mt 17:9 NASB) As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, 'Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.' "
Christ Jesus' Humanity is most often on display in Scripture, as opposed to His Diety, although both exist at the same time within Him. Many of the passages which refer to the Humanity of Jesus Christ are used by objectors to refute the doctrine of the Trinity. These objectors maintain that since these particular passages prove out our Lord's Humanity then His Diety is disproved. This is illogical reasoning. Consider that a man's personality as he conducts himself at work is expressed in one manner which one might falsely conclude was the only manner in which he expressed himself. But when that man is at home with his family, he might conduct himself in yet a different manner.
Just as visible light is a composite made up of 7 basic colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet; and if only one of the colors was visible from a particular point, (as our Lord's Humanity was at times), this would not indicate that the other colors did not exist and could be visible at other times. An example of Christ Jesus being referred to in His Humanity is when He was baptized by John the Baptist (Mt 3:16; Mk 1:9; Lk 3:21; Jn 1:32). These passages refer to the time when God the Holy Spirit indwelt the Human spirit of Christ Jesus, visible as a dove to author John; and not when the Son of God temporarily occupied a solely human Jesus, as some contend. For the Son of God, the Christ added to Himself Humanity which Humanity was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a woman, (Mt 1:18, Lk 1:30-35 - evidently a permanent, inseparable addition to His Diety), until His Humanity's death on the cross, (Phil 2:8) - with the exception of His transfiguration, (Mt 17:2-9).
God, being omnipresent, (Ps 139:1-24), means that not only is He present everywhere in the universe, (Job 9:1-35; Ps 29:1-11); and at every point in the universe all of His Attributes are present at infinitely full capacity. God's powers and attributes, in other words, being absolutely infinite cannot be diluted because they are spread out in omnipresence over every single point in the universe. Therefore it is not beyond the capacity of God to become a man / add Humanity to His Essence, (Jn 1:1-14), and have His full capacity in all of His attributes and powers within that single man as God, yet exercise only the powers of His Humanity in His Humanity. Recall that since God gave dominion over the earth to man who lost it to Satan, (Gen 1:28 & Acts 26:18); then God's purpose in adding Humanity to Himself was to live the life of a Perfect Man and thereby be justified as a Man, not God, in paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world, (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Jn 2:2) - thus reconciling Humanity to God by each individual expressing a moment of faith alone in Christ alone as Savior, (Ro 5:1-11).
