From: Kyle Dillon (spiffy@learningstar.com)
Date: Mon Oct 26 1998 - 18:27:43 EST
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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>What exactly is the meaning of Philippians 2:6?
The Greek text reads:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>hOS EN MORFHi QEOU hUPARCWN OUC hARPAGMON
hHGHSATO </FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>TO EINAI ISA QEWi</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The KJV translates hUPARCWN as a causal participle (although
it seems much more likely that it functions as a concessive participle in the
context), and therefore hARPAGMON is translated "robbery." But this
doesn't seem to be in line with the definition of hARPAGMOS. hARPAGMA, a related
form, is defined as "prey," or "that which has been siezed"
(which is in line with the derivative hARPAZW, "to sieze"). Some have
suggested that the ending -MOS, as opposed to -MA, refers to the act rather than
the result (that is, hARPAGMOS would mean, as the NWT has, "siezure"
or "that which is to be siezed"). But I have heard of a reference to a
work of Plutarch, where hARPAGMOS is used in reference to the conquests of
Alexander the Great and carries the meaning of "booty," "spoil of
war," or "something that is exploited or abused." Does anyone
know of this reference, or even any extra-biblical reference to hARPAGMOS that
could determine the exact meaning of this word?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The NIV translates MORFHi as "nature" instead of the
traditional "form." What exactly does MORFH mean? It would seem that
the best translation of this verse is "Who, although existing in God's
form, did not consider equality with God something to be siezed (or
"exploited," depending on the meaning of hARPAGMON)." Does this
translation accurately convey the meaning of the text?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Kyle Dillon</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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