Playlist: morphe (#G3444) (topic)
In The Likeness of Men!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIn Philippians 2:6-8, the apostle Paul uses the Greek word *morphe* (G3444) to describe the nature of Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate state and His incarnation. In verse 6, Paul writes that Jesus was in the *morphe* of God, indicating that He possessed the very nature and inward character of God, as well as the outward …
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Greek term morphe denotes outward appearance or external form rather than internal nature or substance. In Philippians 2:6-7 Paul states that Christ, being inherently in the morphe of God, emptied Himself and took the morphe of a slave. This usage is illustrated elsewhere: in Mark 16:12 Jesus appeared in another morphe to …
Preternatural, Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)In Philippians 2:6-7, Paul's phrase "in the form of God" uses morphe , which the Greeks distinguished from schema . Both are translated "form" because English lacks an exact equivalent, but morphe denotes the essential form that never changes, much like hyparchon , the word for "being," which describes what a person is in …
Philippians (Part Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIn Philippians 2:6, morphe ("form") means outward appearance that corresponds exactly to inward essence, so it is the opposite of a mask, as when an evil person puts on a good face. Christ, being in the morphe of God, was God through and through, inside and out, in both nature and form, as a spirit being motivated by love. …
John (Part Twenty-One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe Greek term morphe appears in the exposition of Philippians 2:7, where Paul describes Christ as having "made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant." The verb translated "made Himself" is drawn from a root meaning "to pour," conveying that Christ poured Himself out. This image is illustrated by comparing …
Philippians (Part Ten)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIn Philippians 3:21, Paul brings together two significant Greek words— schema and morphe —that had already appeared in chapter 2, now applying them to the believer's future transformation at Christ's return. Paul writes that the Savior "will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body." The …
Philippians (Part Nine)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe discussion of morphe (G3444) arises in connection with Philippians 3:21, where Paul speaks of Christ transforming the lowly body so that it may be conformed to His glorious body. This verse is noted as purposefully echoing the same pair of words Paul used earlier in Philippians 2:7, where Christ "made Himself of no …