Jesus denied being God

[civic]

Is your point that any time someone says "I am" it's a claim to deity?

Nope only the Son.

 

[Runningman]

You have the same problem as another poster

How can an impersonal thing

have an attitude of humility?

Exist in the form of God?

Consider?

take another form?

You're conflating some literal things with personification of a word. Words aren't ever actually a person.

Philippians 2:3–7 (NASB 2020) — 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.

How is this version?

Philippians 2
5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
7but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

BTW there is no "it" in the Greek text

Yes there is. "Ὃ" functions similar to that or which in English. The words refers to things.

Um Thomas not Jesus is speaking

And he says to Jesus my lord and my God

Jesus never taught anyone he is their god.

Not according to the Granville sharp rule of grammar

The Granville Sharp Rule states, “When the copulative kai connects two nouns of the same case, [viz. nouns (either substantive or adjective, or participles) of personal description, respecting office, dignity, affinity, or connexion, and attributes, properties, or qualities, good or ill], if the article ho, or any of its cases, precedes the first of the said nouns or participles, and is not repeated before the second noun or participle, the latter always relates to the same person that is expressed or described by the first noun orparticiple”

That isn't a rule in English grammar. It's not even a real rule.

That does nothing at all to contradict trinitarian theology

Trinitarians always differentiate between the Father and the son

The question here is the deity of Christ

Tit 2:13 grammatically affirms that belief

Contextually God and Jesus aren't the same person in Titus. There is no reason why suddenly that would change.

Except in Heb it addresses Jesus Christ the ultimate referent who is the brightnes of his glory the express image of his person

Hebrews 1:1–10 (KJV 1900) — 1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

This proves that Jesus isn't God because it's partially quoted from Psalm 45:6-7 where the one God anointed isn't God. It doesn't transfer from Psalm 45 that they are talking about Jesus as God. You are reading a dogmatic translation that contradicts the actual Biblical context.

does sound like an impersonal it you referred to earlier?





And?

Not in his pure divinity

No it doesn't. There is not a denial in the KJV

The KJV teaches Jesus isn't God in many places.

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

Romans 9:5 (LSB) — 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Romans 9:5 (NIV) — 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

The KJV is not the only translation

Romans 9 (KJV)
5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Romans 9 (RSV)
5 to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen.

Romans 9 (Mofatt)
5 the patriarchs are theirs, and theirs too (so far as natural descent goes) is the Christ. (Blessed for evermore be the God who is over all! Amen.)

 

[Runningman]

Nope only the Son.

How about when Jesus isn't the I AM such as in Acts 3:13 and Exodus 3:14-15? How do you address that?

 

[TomL]

“In the beginning.” There are elements of John 1:1 and other phrases in the introduction of John that remind us of God’s original creation while referring to the work of restoration done by Jesus Christ in the new administration and the new creation. Genesis 1 refers to God’s original creation; John 1 refers to the Restoration, not the original creation. Noted Bible commentator F.F. Bruce argues for this interpretation:

It is not by accident that the Gospel begins with the same phrase as the book of Genesis. In Genesis 1:1, ‘In the beginning’ introduces the story of the old creation; here it introduces the story of the new creation. In both works of creation the agent is the Word of God.a

I have that work and this is what Bruce states

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It is not by accident that the Gospel begins with the same phrase as the book of Genesis. In Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning” introduces the story of the old creation; here it introduces the story of the new creation. In both works of creation the agent is the Word of God. “In the beginning,” then, when the universe was brought into existence, the divine Word by which it was brought into existence was already there............. And the language which follows shows that our Evangelist has no mere literary personification in mind. The personal status which he ascribes to the Word is a matter of real existence. The relation which the Word bears to God is a personal relation: “the Word was with God.” This statement has profound theological implications, but these implications are not involved in the choice of the Greek preposition pros to denote “with.” True, in literary Greek this is not a common sense of pros, but pros in this sense can be paralleled within the fourfold Gospel in the most ordinary and everyday context. When the Nazarenes say of Jesus in Mark 6:3, “are not his sisters here with us?,” the Greek word translated “with” is pros. The Word of God is distinguished from God himself, and yet exists in a close personal relation with him. Moreover, the Word shares the very nature of God, for “the Word was God.”

Bruce, F.F.. The Gospel of John: A Verse-by-Verse Exposition (pp. 45-48). Kingsley Books. Kindle Edition.

 

[civic]

How about when Jesus isn't the I AM such as in Acts 3:13 and Exodus 3:14-15? How do you address that?

He is the I Am

 

[TomL]

You're conflating some literal things with personification of a word. Words aren't ever actually a person.

The question was how can this be attributed to an impersonal thing

Philippians 2:5–8 (NIV) — 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5–7 (NASB 2020) — 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.



have an attitude or mindset?

Exist in the form or nature of God?

Consider?

empty himself or make himself nothing

repeating your beliefs does not address it



Philippians 2:6–8 (NIV) — 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

 

[synergy]

How about when Jesus isn't the I AM such as in Acts 3:13 and Exodus 3:14-15? How do you address that?

He is the I Am

The "I Am" of John 8:58 = the "I Am" of Ex 3:14.

This is way above the comprehension of him who says wacky statements like:

I said I believe something I don’t believe in.

 

[TomL]

The "I Am" of John 8:58 = the "I Am" of Ex 3:14.

THE I AM’S OF JESUS (ego eimi)

John 8:24; 28; 58; 13:19; 18:5, 6



THE I AM’S OF JEHOVAH

Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 41:4; 43:10; 45:18; 46:4



The Hebrew reads anu hu the Greek read ego eimi

 

[Peterlag]

I have that work and this is what Bruce states

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It is not by accident that the Gospel begins with the same phrase as the book of Genesis. In Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning” introduces the story of the old creation; here it introduces the story of the new creation. In both works of creation the agent is the Word of God. “In the beginning,” then, when the universe was brought into existence, the divine Word by which it was brought into existence was already there............. And the language which follows shows that our Evangelist has no mere literary personification in mind. The personal status which he ascribes to the Word is a matter of real existence. The relation which the Word bears to God is a personal relation: “the Word was with God.” This statement has profound theological implications, but these implications are not involved in the choice of the Greek preposition pros to denote “with.” True, in literary Greek this is not a common sense of pros, but pros in this sense can be paralleled within the fourfold Gospel in the most ordinary and everyday context. When the Nazarenes say of Jesus in Mark 6:3, “are not his sisters here with us?,” the Greek word translated “with” is pros. The Word of God is distinguished from God himself, and yet exists in a close personal relation with him. Moreover, the Word shares the very nature of God, for “the Word was God.”

Bruce, F.F.. The Gospel of John: A Verse-by-Verse Exposition (pp. 45-48). Kingsley Books. Kindle Edition.

While we agree with the Catechism that the meaning of “beginning” in John 1:1 refers to the beginning of the Gospel and the restoration of mankind, we also need to point out that the word “beginning” was deliberately chosen by God to remind us of the original creation, and to set the stage for the sequence of events that follow; for example, the conflict between light and darkness. In the context of the Restoration, then, “the Word” is the plan or purpose according to which God is restoring His creation.

So using “In the beginning” takes us both back to the beginning in Genesis 1:1, and sets us up for the “beginning” of the work of Christ and the Restoration of mankind.

Genesis 1. THE CREATION

• In the beginning—The creation
• Chaos and darkness
• God hovering over the water
• God spoke light, and more, into being
• Light overcoming the darkness
• God preparing a Garden of Delight for people and living among them
• THE FALL (then God lived in a tent (the “tabernacle”) and people gazed at its glory)

John 1. THE RESTORATION

• In the beginning—the plan
• All things were made in accordance with the plan
• In the plan was light and life
• The darkness could not understand or overcome it
• The plan became flesh and lived in a tent among us, and we gazed at its glory.

 

[civic]

While we agree with the Catechism that the meaning of “beginning” in John 1:1 refers to the beginning of the Gospel and the restoration of mankind, we also need to point out that the word “beginning” was deliberately chosen by God to remind us of the original creation, and to set the stage for the sequence of events that follow; for example, the conflict between light and darkness. In the context of the Restoration, then, “the Word” is the plan or purpose according to which God is restoring His creation.

So using “In the beginning” takes us both back to the beginning in Genesis 1:1, and sets us up for the “beginning” of the work of Christ and the Restoration of mankind.

Genesis 1. THE CREATION

• In the beginning—The creation
• Chaos and darkness
• God hovering over the water
• God spoke light, and more, into being
• Light overcoming the darkness
• God preparing a Garden of Delight for people and living among them
• THE FALL (then God lived in a tent (the “tabernacle”) and people gazed at its glory)

John 1. THE RESTORATION

• In the beginning—the plan
• All things were made in accordance with the plan
• In the plan was light and life
• The darkness could not understand or overcome it
• The plan became flesh and lived in a tent among us, and we gazed at its glory.

John 1:1 is not the beginning of the gospel but creation account just like Genesis 1:1

 

[Peterlag]

Um how did anything you state deny the deity of Christ?

PS post your FF Bruce reference

and BTW

Colossians 1:16 (NIV) — 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Hebrews 1:2 (KJV 1900) — 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Ephesians 3:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

you cannot escape the fact all things were made by Him

Okay one verse at a time. I'm replying to many people. The verse below is telling that Jesus created all the things he will need to govern after he returns. They are thrones and powers and authorities. It list them right in the verse. It does not list planets and stars and oceans. God created those things.

Colossians 1:16 (NIV) — 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

 

[TomL]

While we agree with the Catechism that the meaning of “beginning” in John 1:1 refers to the beginning of the Gospel and the restoration of mankind, we also need to point out that the word “beginning” was deliberately chosen by God to remind us of the original creation, and to set the stage for the sequence of events that follow; for example, the conflict between light and darkness. In the context of the Restoration, then, “the Word” is the plan or purpose according to which God is restoring His creation.

So using “In the beginning” takes us both back to the beginning in Genesis 1:1, and sets us up for the “beginning” of the work of Christ and the Restoration of mankind.

Genesis 1. THE CREATION

• In the beginning—The creation
• Chaos and darkness
• God hovering over the water
• God spoke light, and more, into being
• Light overcoming the darkness
• God preparing a Garden of Delight for people and living among them
• THE FALL (then God lived in a tent (the “tabernacle”) and people gazed at its glory)

John 1. THE RESTORATION

• In the beginning—the plan
• All things were made in accordance with the plan
• In the plan was light and life
• The darkness could not understand or overcome it
• The plan became flesh and lived in a tent among us, and we gazed at its glory.

No we do not agree

and a plan is not consistent with this

The question was how can this be attributed to an impersonal thing

Philippians 2:5–8 (NIV) — 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5–7 (NASB 2020) — 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.



have an attitude or mindset?

Exist in the form or nature of God?

Consider?

empty himself or make himself nothing

repeating your beliefs does not address it

and I am still waiting for you or your peers to address it

 

[Peterlag]

No we do not agree

and a plan is not consistent with this

The question was how can this be attributed to an impersonal thing

Philippians 2:5–8 (NIV) — 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5–7 (NASB 2020) — 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.



have an attitude or mindset?

Exist in the form or nature of God?

Consider?

empty himself or make himself nothing

repeating your beliefs does not address it

and I am still waiting for you or your peers to address it

“considered equality with God not something to be grasped at.” After saying that Christ was in the form of God, Philippians 2:6 goes on to say that Christ “considered being equal with God not something to be grasped at.” Translated that way, the phrase is a powerful argument against the Trinity. If Jesus were God, then it would make no sense at all to say that he did not “grasp” at equality with God because no one grasps at equality with himself. It only makes sense to compliment someone for not seeking equality when he is not equal. Some Trinitarians say, “Well, he was not grasping for equality with the Father.” That is not what the verse says. It says Christ did not grasp at equality with God, which makes the verse nonsense if he were God.

 

[Peterlag]

These are self-explanatory​

​

John 14:6-9 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Isaiah 9:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Hebrews 1:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Titus 2:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Jude 1:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

John 4:25-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Matthew 1:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

John 14:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

John 10:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

Do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

John 1:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Matthew 14:33 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Philippians 2:5-8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

​

John 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 1:1-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Matthew 28:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful​

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

“considered equality with God not something to be grasped at.” After saying that Christ was in the form of God, Philippians 2:6 goes on to say that Christ “considered being equal with God not something to be grasped at.” Translated that way, the phrase is a powerful argument against the Trinity. If Jesus were God, then it would make no sense at all to say that he did not “grasp” at equality with God because no one grasps at equality with himself. It only makes sense to compliment someone for not seeking equality when he is not equal. Some Trinitarians say, “Well, he was not grasping for equality with the Father.” That is not what the verse says. It says Christ did not grasp at equality with God, which makes the verse nonsense if he were God.

 

[TomL]

“considered equality with God not something to be grasped at.” After saying that Christ was in the form of God, Philippians 2:6 goes on to say that Christ “considered being equal with God not something to be grasped at.” Translated that way, the phrase is a powerful argument against the Trinity. If Jesus were God, then it would make no sense at all to say that he did not “grasp” at equality with God because no one grasps at equality with himself. It only makes sense to compliment someone for not seeking equality when he is not equal. Some Trinitarians say, “Well, he was not grasping for equality with the Father.” That is not what the verse says. It says Christ did not grasp at equality with God, which makes the verse nonsense if he were God.

Remember you stated the word was an impersonal plan

How does a plan

exist in the form of God?

consider ?

make himself nothing?

you are not addressing the issue

 

[Peterlag]

Remember you stated the word was an impersonal plan

How does a plan

exist in the form of God?

consider ?

make himself nothing?

you are not addressing the issue

I'm starting to think I'm being accused often on here for not addressing the issue because you can't get me in your box. You guys come up with some pretty far out statements. You... not me. Think Jesus is in the form. Then you use your thinking and say I'm not responding when you can't twist me into believing like you. God's form is spirit. Jesus was born a man.

 

[Runningman]

The "I Am" of John 8:58 = the "I Am" of Ex 3:14.

This is way above the comprehension of him who says wacky statements like:

Wrong.

Two persons in Acts 3:13.

Person 1 = The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Person 2 = Servant Jesus

Acts 3​

13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus.​

On the matter of Jesus being a servant, he was chosen by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:

Matthew 12​

18“Here is My Servant,​

whom I have chosen,​

My beloved,​

in whom My soul delights.​

I will put My Spirit on Him,​

and He will proclaim justice to the nations.​

Since Jesus is the chosen servant of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob then this God is his master. Therefore Jesus is not greater than God.

John 13​

16Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.​

Jesus speaks of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the third-person perspective. That isn't how people refer to themselves.

Matthew 22​

32‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”​

Conclusion, Jesus is not the God of Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus isn't YHWH. Jesus isn't God. Jesus isn't the "I AM." These are just some of the many, many, titles that Jesus doesn't share with God. There's about two dozen.

This is who God is. Soundly and scripturally proven to not be Jesus.

Exodus 3​

13Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?”​

14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”​

 

[Runningman]

The question was how can this be attributed to an impersonal thing

Philippians 2:5–8 (NIV) — 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5–7 (NASB 2020) — 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.



have an attitude or mindset?

Exist in the form or nature of God?

Consider?

empty himself or make himself nothing

repeating your beliefs does not address it



Philippians 2:6–8 (NIV) — 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

What Paul told the church of Philippi was to have the same mind of Jesus. What you're proposing would require the members of the church to have the same mind as God. What you're applying to Jesus is what Paul said the church of Philippi should be applied to them. You have a category error which is why what you're proposing isn't possible.

For starters, having the mind of God is not something you or anyone else can attain. You aren't the all-knowing Creator and neither is Jesus or else Paul would have, in effect, telling them to have the same mind as the Creator. That opens a whole 'nother can of worms, I am sure, because you believe Jesus is the Creator when Scripture never says he is. For the record, all instances that refer to Jesus and something that was made or created refer to the instrumentality of Jesus, not Jesus being the Creator. Is the potter the clay or the person? Is the plumber the wrench or the person?

So Paul wasn't say "Hey, have the mind of Jesus and by the way in Jesus' mind he is God for X reasons..." That wasn't what Paul was saying unless you believe Paul taught people they can become God. I am not assuming you don't believe this because there are some sects that do believe Christians become god's of their own realm in the afterlife.

So the bit concerning Jesus being in the "form" of God in Philippians 2:5-8 refers to outward appearances. You did accurately and astutely confirm God does not have an outward appearance, but God can be imitated with outward appearances, i.e., acts of love, righteousness, holiness, the general fruits of the spirit, etc. So that's what the outward appearance of God means. It doesn't mean God looks like a human (some people believe that too)

 

[synergy]

Wrong.

Two persons in Acts 3:13.

Person 1 = The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Person 2 = Servant Jesus

Acts 3​

13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus.​

On the matter of Jesus being a servant, he was chosen by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:

Matthew 12​

18“Here is My Servant,​

whom I have chosen,​

My beloved,​

in whom My soul delights.​

I will put My Spirit on Him,​

and He will proclaim justice to the nations.​

Since Jesus is the chosen servant of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob then this God is his master. Therefore Jesus is not greater than God.

John 13​

16Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.​

Jesus speaks of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the third-person perspective. That isn't how people refer to themselves.

Matthew 22​

32‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”​

Conclusion, Jesus is not the God of Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus isn't YHWH. Jesus isn't God. Jesus isn't the "I AM." These are just some of the many, many, titles that Jesus doesn't share with God. There's about two dozen.

This is who God is. Soundly and scripturally proven to not be Jesus.

Exodus 3​

13Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?”​

14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”​

As the Sacrificial Lamb of God of course Jesus is named Servant. That name is obviously associated with the Cross that saves sinners only because Jesus is God. Only God can save sinners. See Isaiah 43:11.

(Isaiah 43:11) I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no Savior.

 

[Runningman]

As the Sacrificial Lamb of God of course Jesus is named Servant. That name is obviously associated with the Cross that saves sinners only because Jesus is God. Only God can save sinners. See Isaiah 43:11.

A stretch after reading that a servant is not greater than his master.

(Isaiah 43:11) I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no Savior.

That's why John 3 says this

16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and onlye Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.