That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. This might appear to an outsider as an equation with God, but as we all know, they were merely speaking for God. The same would hold for the NT writers in certain instances. The President's press secretary is not the President, but he speaks for him. Papal legates speak for popes.
Ambassadors speak for the countries they represent.
Again, context is crucial. So, either this is a contradiction, and the Bible contradicts itself, or the equation is only symbolic and representative. Since I have shown that Pope Leo XIII clearly distinguishes himself from God, his strong language at one point can only logically be interpreted as symbolic and representative - which is totally in accord with Scripture, as I have just demonstrated. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily . For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell .