But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Made himself of no reputation, and ... and, х heauton (G1438) ekenoosen (G2758) morfeen (G3444) doulou (G1401) laboon (G2983): genomenos (G1096)] - 'emptied Himself, taking upon Him the form of a servant, (by) being made in the likeness of men.' The two latter clauses (there being no "and ... and" in the Greek) express in what Christ's 'emptying of Himself' consists-namely, in 'taking the form of a servant' (note, Hebrews 10:5: cf Exodus 21:5-6; Psalms 40:6, proving that it was at the time when he assumed a body he took "the form of a servant"); and in order to explain how He took "the form of a servant," there is added, by 'being made in the likeness of men' (an appropriate phrase: though perfect man, He was not mere man, but the Word made flesh). His subjection to the law (Luke 2:21; Galatians 4:4) and to His parents (Luke 2:51); His low state as a carpenter, and carpenter's reputed son (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3); His betrayal for the price of a bond-servant (Exodus 21:32), and slave-like death, to relieve us from the slavery of sin and death; finally, His servant-like dependence as man on God, while His divinity was not outwardly manifested (Isaiah 49:3; Isaiah 49:7) - all show His "form as a servant." This proves --
(1) He was in the form of a servant as soon as He was made man.
(2) He was "In the form of God" before He was in "the form of a servant." (3) He did as really subsist "in the form of God," or the self-manifested divine nature, as in "the form of a servant," or in the nature of man.
For he was so in the form of God as 'to be on an equality with God:' He therefore could have been none other than God; for God saith, "To whom will ye liken me and make me equal?" (Isaiah 46:5) (Dr. Pearson.) His emptying Himself presupposes His previous plenitude of Godhead (John 1:14; Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9). He remained full of this, yet he bore Himself as if He were empty.