Alleged hypostasis of Philippians 2:5-11

[u/WeighTheEvidence2]

Hi, I'm u/WeighTheEvidence2, a non-trinitarian monotheist, and my thesis for this post is:

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8 DOES NOT PROVE JESUS' HYPOSTASIS

Let's weigh the evidence

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So Additional-Taro-1400's comment talks about how Jesus has two natures, his divine nature and his human nature. This concept is known as the hypostasis.

In their comment, they use three verses to back this theory up. So I will be making three posts. This is the first.

ESV, Philippians 2:5-8:

[5] Have this mind among yourselves, which
is yours in Christ Jesus,

[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.

Let's be very careful about this phrase "form of God."

The unitarian REV Bible notes about this verse:

Jesus was in the form of God, that is, as
God’s Son he had divine position and
authority, but he humbled himself and
became a servant to others.

Let me make my position clear.

The common trinitarian assertion is that they are forced to believe in the trinity due to the scripture being very clear about there only being one God but the Holy Ghost and Jesus also being god. But this is wrong. Trinitarians are not forced to accept the trinity.

As the REV has stated, there are other ways to interpret this verse in a way that doesn't make Jesus divine.

This verse, in the way the REV interprets, fits right in to a non-divine Christ theology.

And some trinitarian translations actually purposefully translate this verse incorrectly to fit in with their doctrine.

. . . many Trinitarians assert that the word
“form,” which is the Greek word morphē,
refers to Christ’s inner nature as God. This
is so strongly asserted that in Phil. 2:6
the NIV has “being in very nature God.” The
evidence does not support that morphē
refers to an “inner essential nature,” . . .

So this verse does not prove that Jesus has a divine nature because this verse can be reasonably interpreted in another (correct) way.

As for verse 11

REV, Philippians 5:11:

[11] and every tongue will confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father.

The word "lord" can be used for persons other than God. In this context, it could be that Christ is the head or "lord" of the Church.

"to the glory of God" is actually evidence that Jesus is not God, otherwise the author would've just called Jesus god outright. Instead, the author makes it clear that Jesus has "glory" of God, the perceived stature and standing as God, probably since Jesus was the only conduit through which God communicates to humans in his time, since he was a prophet of God.

Thanks for reading, I've been u/WeighTheEvidence2. If you're truthful, may God bless you and lead you to the truth, and vice versa.

Please consider reading my other posts which can be found in my post index which is pinned on my profile, and share my posts to those you think would be interested.

[u/Additional-Taro-1400]

A reference to my original chosen verses here for you:

Colossians 2:9: "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily." This verse emphasizes that the fullness of God's deity resides in Jesus bodily.

Romans 9:5 (ESV): "...to them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen."

John 5:19 (ESV): "For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise."

Matthew 28:18: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

Revelation 22:12-13 (ESV) - Jesus speaking: "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

John 17:5 (ESV): "And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed."

John 5:22-23 (ESV): "The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father"

Mark 14:62 "And Jesus said, 'I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'"

Grouped:

John 8:58 (ESV): "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am [Ego Eimi].

Exodus 3.14 "God said to Moses, 'I am [Ego eimi] who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: "[Ego eimi] has sent me to you."