form

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2:6-11 (NABRE) contains a well-known and powerful description of Jesus. In the opening of this passage, Paul describes Jesus as being in the “form” of God. What does that say about Jesus?

The Greek word for form, μορφή (morphe), describes and refers to outward appearance. It’s held in Greek philosophy as distinct from substance or what something actually is. This concept still is applied in Catholic teaching about the Eucharist. The sacrament retains the form or appearance of bread and wine, but its substance changes into the body and blood of Christ.

It’s odd that Paul describes Jesus as being in the form of God. We tend to make the opposite interpretation that he was in the form of a human but had the substance or underlying essence of God.

What do you think this passage is saying about Jesus? What do you think God looks like? Would you know him if you saw him?

related topic: Letter to the Philippians

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