Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Translate, 'Who subsisting [or existing-namely, originally: huparchoon (G5225), not oon (G5607)] in the form of God (God's essence is not meant, but His external self-manifesting characteristics, the form shining forth from His glorious essence. God had infinite beauty in Himself, even without any creature contemplating that beauty: that beauty was "the form of God." As "the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7), which is in contrasted opposition to it, takes for granted the existence of His human nature. so "the form of God" takes for granted His divine nature (Bengel). Compare John 5:37; John 17:5; Colossians 1:15, "Who is the IMAGE of the invisible God," at a time before "every creature," 2 Corinthians 4:4), esteemed (the same Greek х heegeesato (G2233)] as in Philippians 2:3) His being on an equality with God х to (G3588) einai (G1511) isa (G2470) Theoo (G2316)] no (act of) robbery' or self-arrogation; claiming to one's self what does not belong to him.
Ellicott, etc., translate, 'a thing to be grasped at,' which would require harpagma, whereas harpagmos (G725) means the act of seizing. So harpagmos means in the only passage where else it occurs (Plutarch, 'De Educations Puerorum,' 120). The same objection lies against Alford, 'He regarded not as self-enrichment
(i:e., an opportunity for self-exaltation) His equality with God.' His argument is, that the antithesis (Philippians 2:7) requires 'He used His equality with God as an opportunity, not for self-exaltation, but for self- abasement.' But the antithesis is not between His being on an equality with God, and His emptying Himself; for He never emptied Himself of the fullness of His Godhead, or His 'BEING on an eq uality with God;' but between His being "in the FORM (i:e., the glorious self-manifestation) of God," and His 'taking on Him the form of a servant,' whereby He in a great measure emptied Himself of His precedent "form" as God. Not 'looking on His own things' (Philippians 2:4), He, though existing in the form of God, esteemed it no robbery to be on an equality with God, yet made Himself of no reputation. 'Being on an equality with God' is not identical with 'subsisting in the form of God:' the latter expresses the sell-manifesting characteristics, majesty and beauty of Deity, which 'He emptied himself of' to assume "the form of a servant;" the former, 'His BEING,' His ESSENTIAL EQUALITY IN ALL RESPECTS with God the Father. A glimpse of Him "in the form of God," previous to His incarnation, was given to Moses (Exodus 24:10-11), Aaron, etc.