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A WORD FOR TODAY





FORM

When this word is used as a noun in the NT, the Greek word morphe appears in the text. Morphe is a Greek philosophical term which refers to the outward expression one gives of himself, that outward expression from and being truly representative of one's inward character and nature. The word 'form' in the sentence "The tennis-player's form was excellent," means that the outward expression he gave of his inward ability to play tennis, was excellent. The verb is morphoomai, which word refers to the act of a person giving outward expression of his true inward character, that outward expression proceeding from and truly representing his inward nature. Morphe is used in Phil. 2:6,7 in the expressions, "Who being in the FORM of God," and "took upon Him the FORM of a servant." The first refers to our Lord being in that state of being in which He gives outward expression of His inner intrinsic [belonging to the constitution, nature, or essence of a thing; essential, inherent.] essence [that in being which underlies all manifestations (outward) and is permanent and unchangeable], that of deity, that outward expression proceeding from and truly representing His essential nature, that of deity. The second refers to Him in the period of His humiliation when He gave outward expression of His innermost nature, that expression proceeding from and being truly representative of His innermost nature. Both outward expressions came from His innermost nature as God. The one had to be temporarily laid aside in order that the other could be manifested. The other place where morphe is found is in Mk. 16:12 where it is said that Jesus "appeared in another form." This was the occurrence on the road to Emmaus. The word "another" is from heterus meaning 'another of a different kind' That is, our Lord's outward expressions of Himself at that time was of a nature different from the one by which these disciples would have ordinarily known Him, this outward expression proceeding from and being truly representative of His inner nature. It was the glorified Christ clothed with the enswathment of glory that is native to His glorified body.

The verb morphoomai is used in Gal 4:19 in the phrase "until Christ be FORMED in you." Using our definition of morphe, we could translate, "Until Christ be outwardly expressed in you, that outward expression proceeding from and truly representative of Him." The Galation saints had ceased to depend upon the Holy Spirit to express the Lord Jesus in their lives, and were depending upon self-effort to obey the Mosaic Law. Thus Christ Jesus was not being outwardly expressed in their lives.

The word morphpsis, having the same root as morphe, is found in Rom 2:20. and II Tim. 3:5. In Rom. the religious but unsaved Jew had the form of knowledge and truth, in that the outward expression of both in his life and teaching is the mere outward expression of an intellectual but not a heart grasp of the same. Thus we would speak of it as a mere form. an empty pretense lacking reality so far as the saving work of God is concerned. In II Tim 3:5, these having the FORM of godliness, exhibit in their lives an outward expression of godliness which proceeds from and is truly representative of the inner state of godliness, but a godliness that is not the genuine godliness associated with salvation, but of an imitation, one that denies [to declare not to be true; contradict, to refuse to grant, gratify, or yield to] the power of God to save.

Wuest Word Studies pg. 50, 51

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