it is partially true. My argument is not based only on that anomaly. Not only on the effect contrast between the docetic theme and the crude reality of the final verse. But, as the my first quote specified, even in the passages relatives to the docetic theme, there is the anomaly of the repetition of the docetic theme, really with some interest to point out already there the humanity of Jesus:Ben C. Smith wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2020 7:41 amIt is possible; but it seems less likely than the interpretation I have laid out. Overall, your point seems to depend exclusively on the repetition of the word death itself, but I have shown you that this repetition may bear multiple meanings. But the entire context, as well as the cultural meaning of crucifixion in antiquity overall, supports my case over yours.You don't see a contrast between the docetic theme of the previous passages and the crude reality of death of the last passages.
A more important issue is whether or not a more realistic meaning should be given them. The expressions "in the likeness", "in appearance, found as" lend themselves to a docetic interpretation, and were undoubtedly exploited a such. They do not necessarily imply, however, that Jesus' humanity was not real. On the contrary, since his divine form was real, so should his human form be. Otherwise what becomes of kenosis ?
In other terms, the author concedes the docetism, but only to claim the reality of the humanity before, the reality of the death after.
A progressive insistence on the reality is in view here, against an initial concession to docetic hearsay.
You can't ignore that progression.