A commenter on my previous post on Philippians 2:6 has brought up some good points and moved me to look into the question of its meaning more deeply. While I still think the key is translating the second part as a verbal phrase (”that he was equal with God” / “for him to be equal with God”) rather than a nominal phrase (”equality with God”), I can see how “robbery” may not be the best translation.

“Who, being in the form of God, regarded the fact that he was equal with God not something to be clung to.” This could also work, perhaps. Even “something to be snatched/grasped” could be used assuming the rest is translated aptly, but I’m not ready to write off “robbery” yet completely.

Thanks for the lively discussion and for making me come to better knowledge of this passage.

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