6 who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God  *

as something to be exploited.  *

7 Instead he emptied himself  *

by assuming the form of a servant,  *

taking on the likeness of humanity.  *

And when he had come as a man,

8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient

to the point of death —

even to death on a cross.  *