In his very nature he was God. Jesus was equal with God. But Jesus didn’t take advantage of that fact.

他本有神的形像，不以自己与神同等为强夺的；

他本有上帝的形像，却不坚持自己与上帝同等；

他本有神的形像，却不坚持自己与神同等；

祂虽然本质上是上帝，却没有紧紧抓住自己与上帝平等的地位不放，

他本来有神的形象，却不坚持自己与神平等的地位，

虽然他就是神本体的存在，却不把与神同等看做是一件要强抓不放的事，

他本有神的形像，不以自己與神同等為強奪的；

他本有上帝的形像，卻不堅持自己與上帝同等；

他本有神的形像，卻不堅持自己與神同等；

祂雖然本質上是上帝，卻沒有緊緊抓住自己與上帝平等的地位不放，

他本來有神的形象，卻不堅持自己與神平等的地位，

他形質上本是屬神的，卻不以自己與上帝平等為應當把持不捨的，

雖然他就是神本體的存在，卻不把與神同等看做是一件要強抓不放的事，

彼原有上帝之狀、不以匹上帝自居、

彼具體上帝、即匹上帝、不為僭、

彼具天主之體、即配天主不以為僭、

夫彼神也、與天主等齊而不居焉、

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,

who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

For this reason the Jewish leaders tried even harder to kill him. According to them, Jesus was not only breaking the law of the Sabbath day. He was even calling God his own Father. He was making himself equal with God.

The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They can’t see the light of the good news that makes Christ’s glory clear. Christ is the likeness of God.

The Son is the shining brightness of God’s glory. He is the exact likeness of God’s being. He uses his powerful word to hold all things together. He provided the way for people to be made pure from sin. Then he sat down at the right hand of the King, the Majesty in heaven.

So now, Father, give glory to me in heaven where your throne is. Give me the glory I had with you before the world began.

He said to me,“ It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water to anyone who is thirsty. The water will come from the spring of the water of life. It doesn’t cost anything!

I and the Father are one.”

The Son is the exact likeness of God, who can’t be seen. The Son is first, and he is over all creation.All things were created in him. He created everything in heaven and on earth. He created everything that can be seen and everything that can’t be seen. He created kings, powers, rulers and authorities. All things have been created by him and for him.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

“ We are not throwing stones at you for any good work,” they replied.“ We are stoning you for saying a very evil thing. You are only a man. But you claim to be God.”

A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever and Prince Who Brings Peace.

“ What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered.“ Before Abraham was born, I am!”When he said this, they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself. He slipped away from the temple area.

The founders of our nation belong to them. The Messiah comes from their family line. He is God over all. May he always be praised! Amen.

The Lord says,“ Bethlehem Ephrathah, you might not be an important town in the nation of Judah. But out of you will come for me a ruler over Israel. His family line goes back to the early years of your nation. It goes all the way back to days of long ago.”

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. Then he put his right hand on me and said,“ Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.I am the Living One. I was dead. But now look! I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell.

But what if I do them? Even if you don’t believe me, believe these works. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him. The man was holding a sword. He was ready for battle. Joshua went up to him. He asked,“ Are you on our side? Or are you on the side of our enemies?”“ I am not on either side,” he replied.“ I have come as the commander of the Lord’ s army.” Then Joshua fell with his face to the ground. He asked the man,“ What message does my Lord have for me?”The commander of the Lord’ s army replied,“ Take off your sandals. The place you are standing on is holy ground.” So Joshua took them off.

Thomas said to him,“ My Lord and my God!”

God’s first and only Son is over all things. When God brings him into the world, he says,“ Let all God’s angels worship him.”( Deuteronomy 32:43)

The Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And he will be called Immanuel.

That’s how we should live as we wait for the blessed hope God has given us. We are waiting for Jesus Christ to appear in his glory. He is our great God and Savior.

There is no doubt that true godliness comes from this great mystery. Jesus came as a human being. The Holy Spirit proved that he was the Son of God. He was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations. People in the world believed in him. He was taken up to heaven in glory.

In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was with God in the beginning.

“ The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And he will be called Immanuel.”( Isaiah 7:14) The name Immanuel means“ God with us.”

Even before Jacob was born, he was holding on to his brother’s heel. When he became a man, he struggled with God.At Peniel he struggled with the angel and won. Jacob wept and begged for his blessing. God also met with him at Bethel. He talked with him there.He is the Lord God who rules over all. His name is the Lord.

But here is what he says about the Son.“ You are God. Your throne will last for ever and ever. Your kingdom will be ruled by justice.

I looked up and saw a figure that appeared to be human. From his waist down he looked like fire. From his waist up he looked as bright as glowing metal.He reached out what appeared to be a hand. He took hold of me by the hair of my head. The Spirit of the Lord lifted me up between earth and heaven. In visions God gave me, the Spirit took me to Jerusalem. He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the inner courtyard. The statue of a god was standing there. It made God very angry.There in front of me was the glory of the God of Israel. It looked just as it did in the vision I had seen on the plain.Then the Lord said to me,“ Son of man, look toward the north.” So I did. I saw a statue that made God angry. It was in the entrance of the gate north of the altar.He said to me,“ Son of man, do you see what the Israelites are doing here? They are doing things I hate very much. Those things will cause me to go far away from my temple. But you will see things I hate even more.”

Then all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

No one has ever seen God. But the One and Only is God and is at the Father’s side. The one at the Father’s side has shown us what God is like.

In his days Judah will be saved. Israel will live in safety. And the Branch will be called The Lord Who Makes Us Right With Himself.

They will sweep on into Judah like a flood. They will pass through Judah and reach all the way to Jerusalem. Immanuel, they will attack your land like an eagle. Their wings will spread out and cover it.”

Jesus answered,“ Don’t you know me, Philip? I have been among you such a long time! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say,‘ Show us the Father’?

“ My sword, wake up! Attack my shepherd! Attack the man who is close to me,” announces the Lord who rules over all.“ Strike down the shepherd. Then the sheep will be scattered. And I will turn my hand against their little ones.

Then Israel gave Joseph his blessing. He said,“ May God bless these boys. He is the God of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. They walked faithfully with him. He is the God who has been my shepherd all my life right up to this day.He is the Angel who has saved me from all harm. May he bless these boys. May they be called by my name. May they also be called by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. And may the number of them greatly increase on the earth.”

“ You heard me say,‘ I am going away. And I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad I am going to the Father. The Father is greater than I am.

The eternal King will never die. He can’t be seen. He is the only God. Give him honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

So Jacob was left alone. A man wrestled with him until morning.The man saw that he couldn’t win. So he touched the inside of Jacob’s hip. As Jacob wrestled with the man, Jacob’s hip was twisted.Then the man said,“ Let me go. It is morning.” But Jacob replied,“ I won’t let you go unless you bless me.”The man asked him,“ What is your name?”“ Jacob,” he answered.Then the man said,“ Your name will not be Jacob anymore. Instead, it will be Israel. You have wrestled with God and with people. And you have won.”Jacob said,“ Please tell me your name.” But he replied,“ Why do you want to know my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.So Jacob named the place Peniel. He said,“ I saw God face to face. But I’m still alive!”