Jesus is God - grasping equality

[Wootah]

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... ersion=ESV

Philippians 2:5-11
English Standard Version
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is a clear: fully God, fully man situation.

However, depending on your Christian persuasion, there are some questions for you:

How can Jesus be in the form of God but not be God?

How can Jesus be in the form of a man but not a man?

If Jesus is not God, are you really going to bow down to a not God creature?

But mainly question 2. If Jesus cannot grab equality with God why would it phrase it as if He could grab it? So could Jesus have grasped equality with God or not?

if Jesus could have grasped equality with God then he is equal to God. Which dialect of Christianity is going to argue that Jesus could have been equal to God but chose not to but He is not God?

Let's put it this way. Suppose there was Thor's hammer and only the ones who are worthy can pick it up. That means everyone that can pick it up, regardless of whether they do pick it up are equally worthy of holding the hammer.

If Jesus could not have grasped equality then why is that statement in the Bible?

It sure seems like the statement is there in the Bible to show that Jesus could have been equal to God but chose not to.

[JehovahsWitness]

Actually you should be outraged that a not God creature can give other not God creatures the right to forgive sins.

Are you suggesting God can only delegate authority to someone of equal age, power, rank AND AUTHORITY as himself ? So one has to have the authority of Almighty God in order to receive authority from Almighty God? This is like saying: " I would never lend my car to anyone that didn't already own my car?"

The whole point of delegation is you give someone the authority they did not previously have.

[1213]

Actually you should be outraged that a not God creature can give other not God creatures the right to forgive sins.

Why? Aren't you making yourself a God creature, if you can determine who can forgive and who can't?

Q: Who is Jesus that he can forgive sins and delegate forgiving sins to others?

Bible tells Jesus is a son of God, mediator between men and God, to whom God has given that authority.

[onewithhim]

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... ersion=ESV

Philippians 2:5-11
English Standard Version
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is a clear: fully God, fully man situation.

However, depending on your Christian persuasion, there are some questions for you:

How can Jesus be in the form of God but not be God?

How can Jesus be in the form of a man but not a man?

Jesus was in the form of God because he was a spirit person, being in heaven with God, just as God is a spirit. So are all the angels, but they are not God.

Jesus was a perfect man when he was on Earth. The Scriptures bear this out, if you would read the New Testament.

[onewithhim]

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... ersion=ESV

Philippians 2:5-11
English Standard Version
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is a clear: fully God, fully man situation.

However, depending on your Christian persuasion, there are some questions for you:

How can Jesus be in the form of God but not be God?

How can Jesus be in the form of a man but not a man?

If Jesus is not God, are you really going to bow down to a not God creature?

But mainly question 2. If Jesus cannot grab equality with God why would it phrase it as if He could grab it? So could Jesus have grasped equality with God or not?

if Jesus could have grasped equality with God then he is equal to God. Which dialect of Christianity is going to argue that Jesus could have been equal to God but chose not to but He is not God?

No one "bows down" to Jesus as God. He is "worshipped" as one deserving respect, just as men of high position are "worshipped." It is not as God that they are worshipped. God alone is worshipped as the only true God.

The verse in Philippians did not indicate that Jesus could grab equality to God. It was referring to Jesus' mind-set and attitude. Would he WANT to be equal to God? The verse indicates "NO."

He could NOT have gained a position as equal to God, even if he wanted to, which he did not.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #54]

More can be said about Jesus' ability to become equal to God (which he did not give any consideration to). The original Greek word for "grasp" is harpagmos. Associated with this word is the noun harpage, and is used for (1) seizure, robbery, rape; (2) booty, prey; (3) greediness. A similar word, harpagma, means booty, or, prey. Other words from the root word are: robber, greedily, rapacious, thievish, stolen, ravished, violently, and bird of prey. Every one of these related words has to do with seizing something not yet one's own. I have to ask...does this sound like Jesus? Some of the versions indicate that Jesus would not even give the idea a thought, as in the NASB: "Although he existed in the form of God [spirit], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped." He wouldn't wish at all to go against the Father in such a way as to steal or ravish violently. Wouldn't you agree? Look at the surrounding verses. Paul's point was that instead of wishing to snatch something away from his Father, he was humble, "becoming obedient to the point of death."