Hi Ahanu —
Paul means "in the form of [a] god" in Greek.
As you note, the Greek term
morphe ('form') is the root of much discussion!
According to the lexicon, from Homer on, the
form is that which is seen, the external appearance. A paraphrase of the lexicon explains:
who, although "he bore the form (in which he appeared to the inhabitants of heaven) of God, yet did not think that this equality with God was to be retained, but emptied himself of it so as to assume the
form of a servant, in that he became like unto men and was found in fashion as a man."
Such texts have to be read in context. Here, in the letter, Paul is not offering a doctrine of incarnation
per se, he's exhorting the Philippi congregation to emulate Christ in their dealings with each other – an exhortation to humility – and offering Christ as the supreme exemplar, from the next verse:
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men" (which I read to infer His pre-existence with God).
To a monotheist, someone who bears the outward appearance of God is either God or a blasphemer? Perhaps I'm over-simplifying.
Yet the issue remains, there are a number of ways to interpret the text, and each find the exegesis that sits right with them. Mine is orthodox, obviously, although I acknowledge, as good orthodox theologians do, that the text is 'difficult' – another reason why I favour the reasoned debate of theologians, rather than the dogmatisms of those who insist it can
only mean 'this' or 'that'.
