ABSTRACT
Not only did those meeting him consider him to be who he appeared to be – since his divine nature was hidden to all – but [Paul] calls his human nature “the form of a slave,” that is to say, the nature of a slave, for human nature is servile. So, just as what he says about being in the form of God is being said of the divine nature, so too when he speaks about “the form of a slave,” [he is speaking about what] was common to human beings, beasts of burden and angels, for they are forms of “slaves,” seeing that they have been created. [Paul] also adds, (218) “made in the likeness of a man,” intending thereby to make known that, when he speaks of “the form of a slave,” he is referring to what is proper to [Christ’s human] nature. [Paul] chose [the term] “made” to indicate how [Christ] was being considered when he said “in the likeness of a human being,” meaning by this [that he is] “in a human state.” For [to be in] the likeness of a human being is to be a human being. Then [Paul] combines all these together, affirming of the Word of God that “He was regarded in his outward appearance or looks as a human being,” employing [the terms] an “outward appearance” and “looks,” since they convey [the idea] that [the divine] nature cannot be regarded as having any outward looks and appearance. He chose [the words] “outward appearance” and “looks” to assert that the invisible [Word], who lacks all visual aspects, wanted to be seen as being present in the human being.
