Philippians Week 7

Philippians 3:12-21

Commentary Give Away

Read Passage and make observational notes

Share one observations or ask one question

Pray

Recap

Recap 1:1-26

We have the letter set up and then we see Paul encourage the discouraged Philippians, that all is not lost, but the Gospel is going forth and despite the whole situation, he is unshaken!

Then we saw the motivation for why Paul responded this way; the why he’s thinking about his imprisonment this way.

Recap 1:27-2:30

This is the second major section of the letter and here we see the famous Christ Hymn (2:5-11), but first the imperative in 1:27. With this, think about what the point of putting the Christ Hymn in is. We see that this the hymn is putting toward Christian unity (read 2:2-5).

In this next section we are going to see how this plays out. In this, we are going to see Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus as example of people working toward Christian unity. Especially in light of 2:12 (which along with 1:27-2:4) is supposed to be the response to the Christ Hymn.

After this, we get a charge on what to do with this, and then giving two examples of those who are humble for the sake of Unity

Recap 3:1-11

Paul now turns to address those who do the opposite of working for unity in humility, but chides those who put confidence in the flesh, especially for salvation. Paul not only shows them that he has more reason to have confidence in the flesh, but putting confidence in the flesh is damaging/a loss and worthless in the face of a supremely valuable Savior. He then explains confidence in the Savior, and how this took place.

Verse by Verse Exposition

Philippians 3:12-21

If the book of Philippians was a symphony this section would be a wall of sound with so much texture and so many unique parts that you are forced to simply sit back and take it in.

This section, verse 12, starts with continuing on the resolution of 3:1-11. Meaning, this section continues on what 3:1-11 was leading to, which is verse 12, future glorification.

When Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect.” This is saying that Paul has not been resurrected. When we finally share with Christ in resurrection, this is when we will be made perfect. However, we are people who are made new now though. That is, we have been washed with the blood, regenerating us, giving us a new heart, and with the red blood of the Savior our dirty darkened souls have been purified, washed white as snow. Our souls are made perfect, though we still walk in perdition, thus we wait for our bodies to be made perfect too.

Notice how Paul is saying this too, he uses “grasp, seize, and receive” all as illustrative language.

Paul here, in verse 12, is pursuing the resurrection, the completion/finishing/making perfect, not for the sake of the resurrection, but a completed relationship with his Savior. This is his pursuit, however, and in the vein of NT theology, is pursued even though it is certain. We see this with the ending, “upon which I was grasped by Christ.” This in a sense is saying that Paul is pursuing what Christ has grasped for Him. This is noted with the passive voice. However, it is also saying that this is what Christ “grasped” him for, that he would have an “ultimate apprehension of Him.” Again, however, this apprehension of Christ is guaranteed though, and this is the playing out of 1:6.

Verse 13, is communicating two realities. First, that it is not by what Paul has done that has him considering to have grasped this reality. Second, that he does not consider this a reality yet grasped because he is not perfect. With this in mind, verse 13 is combining and synthesizing what Paul has just said in verse 12 and what he said in verse 8. Pastorally, we must think of this as part of the new life in Christ. Christians are made new in Christ, leaving behind the old, and pressing on to the new which is promised to them.

Verse 14’s goal that is pursued is the resurrection leading to the full apprehension of Christ. We know this because of what is seen in v8-11. The upward call is the same thing. Notice too, that this is being pursued, this is not realized. Also notice that this parallels verse 12.

Verse 15 is the start of the call to be sympathetic with Paul in this straining. Keep in mind though that what Paul is calling us to is a cruciform life. If the goal is being with Christ in an ultimate sense (resurrection) then we need to share with Christ in His sufferings. This is one of the main textures of the book displaying itself. We must share in Christ’s suffering to share in His exaltation. With that, in verse 15, we must embrace the worldview Paul is giving us, his words are, “think this way/think thusly.” If you think in another way, at the eschaton it will be made known to you. Guthrie puts this well, “the apostle embodies an all-consuming drive toward life’s true goal and ultimate prize and this serves as a fit model for how the Philippians should think and live… Paul knows that the spiritually mature will ‘get it,’ while others will have to grow into a Christocentric posture.” Notice how Guthrie ended that, this is a Christocentric posture/worldview/mindest. Commonly, we call this Gospel-centered. Here Paul is drawing out that the aim of His life is Christ, and Christ absolutely, as he has relinquished and forgotten what lies behind to pursue nothing more than the Savior absolutely.

Verse 16 finishes this pericope/paragraph with the pithy saying, “Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” Not only is this a call to be spiritually honest with ourselves. Here we hear a similar tune to that of 1 John 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” That is to say, if the goal is the full apprehension of Christ, then if we say or even act like we have this, then we are in a seriously spiritually concerning state. In our language, this is realizing that we have not arrived and being honest with ourselves that we have not arrived.

Perhaps the application of this verse spans wide, as we often act like we are right and we think all the right things. Here however, we see quite the opposite. As Paul warmly tells us, “be honest about the world you live in and that YOU still live in it.”

Verse 17 seems to be an application of 3:11-16, as in essence Paul is saying, “Have this same mindset too!” More than that though, but to walk with him as he does this. There is much to be gleaned here, and perhaps a call to discipleship that looks like this is a helpful way to go. Textually, this is comprehensive, meaning, Paul is calling them to a cruciform/Christ-centered life as he is living one. Not only is he calling them to follow him comprehensively (imitate me), Paul is calling them to look for those who walk like him too.

One helpful way to read verse 18 is to ask why of verse 17. That would look like this, “Why should you imitate me and those like me? Because they are enemies of your very identity, the cross, and their end is destruction.” One thing that Paul is also drawing out here is

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