"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but emptied Himself, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:5-8.
The idea conveyed in the term translated "robbery" may be more clearly discerned by noting the different translations.
The "Emphatic Diaglott" remarks that the original - "harpagmon - being a word of very rare occurrence, a great variety of translations have been given,"
and cites as examples:
"Did not think it a matter to be earnestly desired. " - Clarke.
"Did not earnestly affect. " - Cyprian.
"Did not think of eagerly retaining." - Wakefield.
"Did not regard - as an object of solicitous desire. " - Stuart. "Thought it not a thing to be seized." - Sharpe.
"Did not earnestly grasp. " - Kneeland.
"Did not violently strive." - Dickinson.
"Did not meditate a usurpation." - Trumbull.
To these may be added: "Counted it not a prize." - R. V., with margin, "or a thing to be grasped." "Deemed it no trespass. " - Murdock's Syriac.
In the "Emphatic Diaglott" itself the translation is the same as Trumbull's: "Who [Christ Jesus] being in God's form, yet did not meditate a usurpation to be like God." And this, it will be seen, more nearly expresses the intended thought of the Scripture than any other; as where the idea of government is involved a robber of government is a usurper.
The thought, therefore, which is conveyed in the text is this: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God thought it NOT a thing to be seized upon, to be violently striven for, and eagerly retained, - thought it not a usurpation to be meditated - to be equal with God." This is Christianity. "
A.T. Jones
Philippians 2:5-8.
The idea conveyed in the term translated "robbery" may be more clearly discerned by noting the different translations.
The "Emphatic Diaglott" remarks that the original - "harpagmon - being a word of very rare occurrence, a great variety of translations have been given,"
and cites as examples:
"Did not think it a matter to be earnestly desired. " - Clarke.
"Did not earnestly affect. " - Cyprian.
"Did not think of eagerly retaining." - Wakefield.
"Did not regard - as an object of solicitous desire. " - Stuart. "Thought it not a thing to be seized." - Sharpe.
"Did not earnestly grasp. " - Kneeland.
"Did not violently strive." - Dickinson.
"Did not meditate a usurpation." - Trumbull.
To these may be added: "Counted it not a prize." - R. V., with margin, "or a thing to be grasped." "Deemed it no trespass. " - Murdock's Syriac.
In the "Emphatic Diaglott" itself the translation is the same as Trumbull's: "Who [Christ Jesus] being in God's form, yet did not meditate a usurpation to be like God." And this, it will be seen, more nearly expresses the intended thought of the Scripture than any other; as where the idea of government is involved a robber of government is a usurper.
The thought, therefore, which is conveyed in the text is this: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God thought it NOT a thing to be seized upon, to be violently striven for, and eagerly retained, - thought it not a usurpation to be meditated - to be equal with God." This is Christianity. "
A.T. Jones
