In Philippians 2:6-8, Paul writes that he was in the form (morphee) of God, but emptied Himself of the glory of that form and took the form (morpheen) of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. In His eternal state, Jesus of Nazareth was in the form of God but assumed the form of a servant. By form, Paul means the mode of existence. In His incarnation, he took the form of a servant, a slave. In becoming identified with the human race (Hebrews 2), he chooses the role of a servant. The mode of his personal existence changed from that of God to that of a slave. As God, he ruled; as God-man, he ministered. This change was a humiliation for one of His stature.
Therefore, Paul addresses what He was, i.e., his eternal deity. Then, he tells us what he became in addition to what he was. Third, we are given his shape as perceived by men. He was found by men as a man. He did not appear any different than a man. He was of the same fashion (Gr.,scheematizoo) or shape as themselves. The same word is used to describe Satan who takes the shape as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Satan does not take on a different form as that would imply an internal change of essence rather than an external change of appearance.
Another example of these words is found in Romans 12:2 where we are told not to shape, conform, or become the same in fashion or outward appearance to this age (aeon, not the kosmos/world), but to be “transformed” (metamorphousthe), that is, changed in essence or form by the renewing of the mind.
Finally, 1 Corinthians 4:6 uses metescheematisa is translated by the Authorized Version incorrectly. It translates, “I have in a figure transferred to myself,” inferring that Paul was blaming himself and Apollos for the divisions among the Corinthians. The verb means “to refashion.” It is used to define Satan fashioning himself, or disguising himself as an angel of light and to explain that Christ would change our body that it resembled the body of His glory. Here, in 1 Corinthians 4, Paul is saying that he is willing to change certain outward appearances for the sake of saints in Corinth. If he was describing his character, we would expect the verb metamorphoo to be used. The use of this word would refer to the inner self. Paul seems to have stood up to Apollos but this dispute was not a good example for Corinth who was constantly disputing and bickering. A dispute may be justified but if it harms others, it may be wise to “change” our ways. Refashioning conduct and our appearance is not a compromise of who we are nor of that for which we stand. It is the wise choice of presentation that prevents the growth of obnoxious strife. We may inadvertently cultivate an environment that breeds resentment, strife, and division.