Paul used the participle γενόμενος twice in the Christ poem (2:7, 2:8). Based on Greek Lexicons, i discovered that all of the definitions of γινομαι have a unifying sense of "coming from X to Y" that can be categorised into two types:
(1) coming into existence" ( in this sense the thing/person/event has come from non-existence to existence) e.g. to happen, to occur, to beget
(2) coming to a new state/kind of existence" (in this sense the thing/person/ event has a prior existence) e.g. to become, to transform, to be born
Since the context tells us that Jesus already existed ''in the form of God'' (ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ) (v.6), the Greek word γενόμενος (an aorist participle) should refer to Jesus ''coming to a new state of existence'' (i.e. to become). γενόμενος as an aorist participle: ''had become''
Paul used the phrase ''in the likeness'' (ἐν ὁμοιώματι) twice in Romans (1:23, 8:3). The meaning of the phrase points to similarity only, not equality or being identical:
- Romans 1:23: ἐν ὁμοιώματι εἰκόνος φθαρτοῦ ἀνθρώπου (Literally, ''in the likeness of the image of mortal man''). The ''image of man'' (φθαρτοῦ ἀνθρώπου) refers to the visible appearance of a man himself (i.e. bodily, in the flesh). The ''likeness of the image of man'' refers to the ''image that is like a man'' (i.e. not referring to the man's body itself, but to its likeness, engraved in a wood or stone).
- Romans 8:3: ἐν ὁμοιώματι σαρκὸς ἁμαρτίας (Literally, ''in the likeness of flesh of sin''). The ''flesh of sin'' (σαρκὸς ἁμαρτίας) refers to the ''flesh'' (σαρκί) where ''nothing good lives'' (οὐκ οἰκεῖ...ἀγαθόν), the flesh that makes one ''cannot do what is good'' (τὸ καλὸν οὔ) even if ''one wanted'' (θέλειν παράκειταί μοι,) to: ''I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.'' (Romans 7:18 NET). Jesu Christ (God's ''own Son'' Grk. ἰδίου υἱοῦ, Romans 8:32) was not sent ''in the flesh of sin'', but rather, he was only sent ''in the likeness'' (ἐν ὁμοιώματι) of it. Jesus was sent like one who had a flesh of sin (one who had nothing good dwelling in his flesh and one who cannot do good even if he wanted to). Jesus resemble the flesh of those people who had a flesh of sin but it actually was different in the sense that it no qualities that a flesh of sin had. This means that Jesus had good dwelling in his flesh and he could do good as he willed. In terms of mortality, Jesus did have the same mortal body as others (Romans 5:6: "Christ died" Grk. Χριστὸς... ἀπέθανεν).
Paul did not say ''became a man''. Paul did not say ''became in the likeness of a man''. Paul said ''became in the likeness of men'' (ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος). That is, became like the humans (ἀνθρώπων is plural, referring to humans in general).
How did Jesus become like the humans? Jesus became like the humans by being born as a mortal.
Jesus wanted to become like the humans. These humans experience both birth and death.
- Jesus became like the humans by being born of a woman (Galatians 4:4). Paul used γενόμενον in Galatians 4:4 to refer to the 'birth' of Jesus: having come from a woman, which implies Jesus' birth. Paul used a similar idea in ὁ ἀνὴρ διὰ τῆς γυναικός (man came from the woman) (1 Corinthians 11:12)
- Jesus also become like the humans by experiencing death on a cross (Philippiansq 2:8).
Only those with a mortal body can experience death. Immortals do not possess a mortal body. The bible tells us that an immortal can become mortal (Philippians 2:6-7) and that a mortal can become immortal. Jesus himself spoke of mortals who will ''never taste death'' (John 8:51-53).
''51 Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?” (John 8:51-53 NRSV)
It is by becoming in the likeness of men (i.e. by being born as a mortal) is how Jesus took the form of a slave. ''the form of a slave'' (μορφὴν δούλου) -- the likeness of one who serves others. Mark 10:45 tells us that Jesus ''came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many'' the latter which refers to his death on a cross. This is logical because without becoming mortal, he would not be able to give his life on the cross. When Christ is ''found as a man'' (εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος), that's the time he experienced ''death on a cross'' (θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ).
