What is the meaning of the expression τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ when set within its original context? In this article it is argued that in Philippians 2.6b Paul asserts that Christ did not consider it an advantage to be regarded as equal to a god (or to God). This argument is developed by way of an examination of the structure of the hymn of Philippians 2.6–11, a philological analysis of v. 6, and a contextualisation of the Christ-hymn addressed to Christians living in Philippi, a Roman colony which was like a Rome in miniature.
