There are at least three ways to determine the meaning of the word ‘being’ in Philippians 2:6. The best and most accurate way would be to compare this Greek present tense participle with its other uses in the Greek New Covenant. Another way is to use what some may consider scholarly sources to prove the proper use of the word ‘being’ in Philippians 2:6.
This study uses two lexicons and three Greek grammars.
The Holy Spirit should be asked for the truth before starting! Typically, the Holy Spirit tells me the truth before He gives me the supporting verses.
Scriptures
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” Philippians 2:6
Php 2:6ος Who 3739 R-NSM εν in 1722 PREP μορφη the form 3444 N-DSF θεου of God 2316 N-GSM υπαρχων being 5225 V-PAP-NSM Present, Nominative, Singular, Masculine, Participle ουχ it not 3756 PRT-N αρπαγμον robbery 725 N-ASM ηγησατο thought 2233 V-ADI-3S 3rd Person, Singular, 1 Aorist, Indicative το 3588 T-ASN ειναι to be 1511 V-PXN Present, Infinitive ισα equal 2470 A-NPN θεω with God. 2316 N-DSM“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,” Acts 7:55
Please notice that in Philippians 2:6 ‘υπαρχων‘ is the same word as in Acts 7:55, did Stephen always have the Holy Ghost? No. At some point Stephen became Holy Ghost baptized. The word ‘being’ in Greek does not mean’ being forever - eternally’. Meaning – ‘υπαρχων’ cannot be used to show the eternal sonship of Jesus. Jesus at his conception was God in flesh. Obviously, Jesus as the Son of God (humanity) did not exist until His conception. God’s name in the Old Covenant is ‘Jehovah’. God’s name in the New Covenant is ‘Jesus’. God is eternal; Jesus’ sonship is not eternal.
Act 7:55 υπαρχων he being 5225 V-PAP-NSM δε But 1161 CONJ πληρης full 4134 A-NSM πνευματος Ghost 4151 N-GSN αγιου of the Holy 40 A-GSN ατενισας looked up steadfastly 816 V-AAP-NSM εις into 1519 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM ουρανον heaven 3772 N-ASM ειδεν and saw 1492 V-2AAI-3S δοξαν the glory 1391 N-ASF θεου of God 2316 N-GSM και and 2532 CONJ ιησουν Jesus 2424 N-ASM εστωτα standing 2476 V-RAP-ASM εκ on 1537 PREP δεξιων the right hand 1188 A-GPM του . 3588 T-GSM θεου of God 2316 N-GSM
“For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.” 2 Corinthians 8:17 At what point did he become ‘forward’?
Greek Lexicons
ὑπάρχω huparchō
Thayer Definition:
1) to begin below, to make a beginning1a) to begin2) to come forth, hence to be there, be ready, be at hand3) to bePart of Speech: verbA Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G5259 and G756G5225 ὑπάρχω huparchō
Strong’s Definition:
hoop-ar'-kho From G5259 and G756; to begin under (quietly), that is, come into existence (be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an adjective, participle, adverb or preposition, or as auxilliary to principal verb): - after behave, live.
Greek Grammars
‘The present participle indicates action which is contemporaneous with the action of the main verb.”Essentials of New Testament Greek, Ray Summers, p. 90
“The tense of the participle is relative to the time of the leading verb. The present participle, therefore, is used if the action denoted by the participle is represented as taking place at the same time as the action denoted by the leading verb, no matter whether the action denoted by the leading verb is past, present, or future.”New Testament Greek for Beginners, J. Gresham Machen, P. 105-106
“There is no time significance to a participle;” P. 245
“Most grammars use the term ‘present’ participle because this participle is built on the present tense stem of the verb. This nomenclature is helpful in learning the form of the participle. However, it tends to do a serious disservice because the student may infer that the present participle describes an action occurring in the present time, which it may not. It describes a continuous action. Because the participle is not in the indicative, there is no time significance to the participle. We suggest adopting the terminology ‘continuous participle’ because it rightly emphasizes the true significance of the participle that is built on the present tense stem: its aspect.” P.247
“Relative Time. There is an important distinction between absolute and relative time. An indicative verb indicates absolute time. For example, if a indicative verb is present tense, then it usually indicates an action occurring in the present. If the Greek participle indicated absolute time, then the present participle would indicate an action occurring in the present.However, the Greek participle does not indicate absolute time. It indicates relative time. This means that the time of the participle is relative to the time of the main verb. The present participle describes an action occurring at the same time as the main verb.” P. 255
Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar, William D. Mounce
Boldness is added.
The grammars are teaching the following:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” Philippians 2:6Php 2:6ος Who 3739 R-NSM εν in 1722 PREP μορφη the form 3444 N-DSF θεου of God 2316 N-GSMυπαρχων being 5225 V-PAP-NSM Present, Nominative, Singular, Masculine, Participle ουχ it not 3756 PRT-N αρπαγμον robbery 725 N-ASMηγησατο thought 2233 V-ADI-3S 3rd Person, Singular, 1 Aorist, Indicative το 3588 T-ASN ειναι to be 1511 V-PXN Present, Infinitive ισα equal 2470 A-NPN θεω with God. 2316 N-DSMSince ‘ηγησατο’ is the main verb, one must base the time structure on its tense. It is a 1st Aorist verb. So, at a certain point in the past ‘Christ Jesus … thought it not robbery to be equal with God’.
Eternal sonship is not taught in this verse. Anyone can come along and try to prove the doctrine of the trinity or eternal sonship using this verse, but they would obviously be wrong. Jesus the Christ equals God, clearly here in Scripture! Jesus is God!
Conclusion
The word ‘being’ must be understood based on the Greek structures of the verse not a doctrine. The context of Philippians 2:6 is Jesus thinking since His time in the flesh, not before. Eternal sonship is definitely not taught here. The Biblical truth is Jesus’ physical sonship started at His conception. The fact is Jesus is God! More could be written!
In Jesus,
BroBruce
