Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Our Lord and the Faith › Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The question

What does "though He was in the form of God He did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at" (Philippians 2:5,6) mean?

The answer

These verses mean that if the Lord Jesus Christ appeared equal to God, it would not be strange, or out of the way; because in reality, He is truly so. Yet, in spite of His being equal to the Father; when He became incarnate, He emptied Himself of His glory taking the form of a servant, coming into the likeness of man and obeying to the point of death - even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

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Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 497 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.