Philippians 2:5-8 Three translations and Christ's deity

 

Here we come to another hotly contested battlefield. This passage in addition to being theologically important also has translation significance in play. Let’s consider the passages from these translations:

KJV

2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

NASB

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

RSV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

 

 Translators will tell us that the Greek translated “robbery” in the KJV and “a thing to be grasped” in the NASB and RSV would carry the 2 possible meanings expressed in these bible versions. One idea is that Jesus did not consider equality with God to be robbery as in the KJV, meaning it was not seizing or taking something that was not his; a usurpation. In other words Christ Jesus considered himself equal with God.

 The newer translations (NASB, RSV) render it using the other meaning- that Jesus did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped or clutched onto or retained as a prize. They would say that the context demands that it mean he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped or held onto but rather he gave it up temporarily as an act of humility since humbling ourselves is the context. They would contend that the KJV reading indicates Jesus asserts his right as equal with God which would not be conducive to the text teaching humility.

 Some problems with the newer translations are that Jesus did not give up equality with God when he became a man (Jn.5:18, 3:13); he only lived as a man in the flesh dependent upon the Father as his God and not utilizing his divinity. The KJV here does not conflict with the context anymore than John 13 where Christ declares that he is superior to the disciples as their Lord and Master yet he washes their feet as their servant (Jn.13:3-17). The deniers of Christ’s deity prefer the newer translations because it assists them in denying Christ’s deity. They can claim that Jesus was content with the glory he had as God’s first creature and did not prize God’s glory or equality with God as a prideful usurper such as Lucifer who coveted or grasped for God’s glory (Isa.14). They would say that Jesus did not grasp for equality with God because he was humble and content with his position in creation in contrast to Lucifer or Adam (ye shall be as gods). The KJV is the superior translation here contextually (compare with John 13) and in exalting Christ.