Deputy Dog,
Lets leave Jesus out of the equation (since you say he's not God) for a moment. What is the "form of GOD"? Describe for us how God's "form" strikes your vision. Describe the "appearance" of the invisible God. How does one look like an invisible God?
Isn't your question simply a denial of the Bible? The Bible plainly says Jesus is the "image" of God. Obviously that doesn't mean physically as you seem to be insisting. If the Bible says he is God's "image," who are you or I or anyone else to say he is not God's image?
Many bond-servants were not forced into slavery beyond their own will. In fact it was very common for people to willingly do this in that day. This was known as debt-slavery. Many willingly stayed with their masters after the year of jubilee.
You have got to be kidding! Where is your evidence that "it was very common for people to willingly" become slaves? The yearning of every normal person is to be free and independent. People give their lives that others may have that freedom. So who are you trying to kid with a statement like that? As for "debt-slavery," think about it for a moment: Is slavery to pay off debts something that persons entered into because they preferred slavery over freedom? Debt-slavery was entered into as an obligation, not as a desirable choice. Jesus had no debts to pay. Unlike us, he was free of sin and "slavery to corruption," and he enjoyed "the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:21)
Seems to me God the Father had the correct understanding of servant H5650 when He discribes Him In Isaiah 53:11
The mention of "servant" in Isaiah 53:11 has nothing to do with "bond-servant" in Philippians 5:6. Concerning the Hebrew word 'ebed translated "servant," note what is stated in the New International Version Study Bible footnote at Isaiah 41:8, 9: "A significant term in chs. 41-53, referring sometimes to the nation of Israel and other times to an individual. In these passages the title refers to one who occupies a special position in God's royal administration of his kingdom, as in 'my servant Moses' (Ex 14:31; Nu 12:7), 'my servant David' (2 Sa 3:18; 7:5,8), 'my servants the prophets' (2 Ki 17:13; Jer 7:25)."
Also note the footnote at Exodus 14:31: "his servant ... refers to one who has the status of a high official in the Lord's kingly administration."
Also note the footnote at Isaiah 42:1: "In the royal terminology of the ancient Near East 'servant' meant something like 'trusted envoy' or 'confidential representative.'" [The bold faced underlining is mine, and in each example the word "servant" is from the Hebrew word 'ebed, the same word that appears in Isaiah 53:11.]
So, you are greatly mistaken to suggest that the Hebrew 'ebed ("servant") is the same as the Greek doulos ("bond-servant").
So you think he was just putting on a show?
If you got that idea from what I wrote about Jesus being the "image" of God, that must also be the way you interpret those Bible verses that say Jesus is such. Jesus is the reflection of God's very being just as God intends each Christian to be the reflection of Christ: "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." -- Romans 8:29, 30.
I nerver said He was. I'm saying the parable does not apply, it has nothing to do with what we are talking about.
It has everything to do with what we're discussing. It clearly shows that Jesus is not a doulos, no matter what you want to believe. Despite your feelings, the Bible makes it clear again and again that Jesus was never Almighty God or a doulos. He was simply in the image or "form" of God and in the image or "form" of a doulos.
fjtoth