Philippians Bible Studies

Consider is the same word used in 3c when Paul said we should consider others above ourselves. It reflects this mindset, attitude and way of thinking that Paul had been commanding.

Equality with God means equality with God. There is no denying or getting around this simple, straightforward statement. Paul wrote that Jesus was and is the same as God the Father in His deity. Again, we see clear evidence of the deity of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity.

But even though Jesus is equal with God, He did not think that this was something to be grasped. This phrase something to be grasped is an attempt to translate the one word which Paul used. This can be a confusing topic, and there are a variety of views. It can mean the act of grabbing and holding on to something (sometimes violently). It can also refer to something that is taken, such as plunder. And it can refer to something precious, which is held onto tightly.
I think a helpful way to illustrate and understand how Paul used this word is to notice that the Old King James bible translated this word as robbery - He thought it not robbery to be equal with God. That might make it more confusing at first, but bear with the explanation.
If you sneak into someone's house while they are away, and steal their stuff, that is burglary, not robbery. But if you go up to someone, grab their stuff and take it away from them, that is robbery. So, we can imagine the cliche of a purse snatcher: Some little old lady is minding her own business, when a bad guy grabs her purse and tries to run away. The bad guy is grabbing on to her purse, holding it tightly, and thinking Mine! That is robbery. However, imagine that the old lady is feisty and she sees the bad guy coming. She will hold on to her purse and not let go. She would hold it tightly and be thinking Mine! That is also robbery according to the Old English definition. And the word Paul used could mean the bad guy illegitimately grabbing and holding on to something that was not rightfully his. But it could also mean the lady grasping and holding on to something that legitimately was hers.
So here, Paul said that even though equality with God, and all its outward manifestations and honor, rightly belonged to Jesus, He did not selfishly insist on Mine! Mine! for things that were rightfully His. Rather, He gave them up.
Jesus, as God, had a right not to suffer, to not be treated unjustly. He had a legitimate, inherent right not to be crucified. And for our sake, He did not selfishly hold on to that privilege, even though He legitimately had every right to do so. At the transfiguration (see Matt. 17:1-9) part of Jesus's true glory, which was usually hidden, was revealed. Imagine if He had walked around like that all the time, with His full glory shining. People would have fallen on their face and worshipped Him. They would have recognized Him as God and treated Him as God. They would have hung on His every word and immediately obeyed His every command. But they would not have arrested and crucified Him. And that is what He came for. Back in Genesis (see Gen. 3:4-5), the first temptation included the false promise that you will be like God. And when Jesus was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness (see Matt. 4:1-11), the devil said, in essence, just use your divine powers to avoid suffering, and show yourself to be marvelous, and take rulership of all the kingdoms of the world, but do it in a way that avoids the cross. The desire to be treated as a god is a constant temptation for all of us. And Jesus rejected that temptation, not only in the wilderness, but throughout His earthly life. Because His mission was to go to the cross and not avoid it. His character is to give and help, and His nature is gracious, loving, and giving. So, Jesus never did think equality with God was something to be selfishly held on to, to the exclusion of His greater mission and purpose.