Philippians 3:10-11 10in order to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to the likeness of his death, 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
These verses express Paul’s long-term goal in giving up his old way of life. This statement completes the earlier two-part purpose clause in verses 8 and 9. He counted all things as loss 1) to gain Christ, 2) to be found in him, and 3) to know him. This third purpose is more complex with multiple objects to the verb know. First, Paul elaborates on what it means to know Christ mentioned in verse 8. Christ came so that we might know him. First John 5:20 states, “For we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, in order that we may know him who is true; and we are in the true one, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” The greatest goal we can have in this life is to come to know Christ more. This knowledge is more than intellectual. It is experiential through the presence of the Holy Spirit, who has been sent by God to help us in our pilgrimage of fellowship. This knowledge transforms our thinking and worldview, leading to a change of behavior and response to others through unconditional love.
Second, Paul wants to know the power of Christ’s resurrection. This resurrection power is available to those who have died to the old way of life (Romans 6:5). There is no resurrection without death. There is no knowledge of Christ without the new life he provides. This is not mystical emotionalism but deeply personal experience. The new life that Christ brings power to overcome temptation and sin because its trust is in Christ’s atonement and it obeys the leading of the Holy Spirit. This new life has available the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. This is a present force that gives now; it is not something we have to wait for when we die physically and experience bodily resurrection. Spiritual resurrection can happen now.
Third, Paul wants to experience the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. This refers to the cross-style life called for by the gospel. For Paul, the way of the cross meant much physical suffering. This is not true for everyone, but all believers will face the need to “count the cost” of following Jesus (Luke 9:23; 14:25-33). We cannot expect to know the full power of resurrection unless we suffer. But suffering is not the end of the story because Christ gives grace and strength to help us through this suffering. Suffering offers opportunity for our faith to grow stronger and our character to develop. Paul writes much about suffering in his letters. Many of the early believers faced suffering and persecution. Paul’s words here would encourage the Philippians to consider the greater gain they would receive by keeping true to the gospel.
The key to this deep relationship with Christ is being conformed to the likeness of his death. The participle used here (symmorphizomenos) is passive, indicating that this is God’s work. Our part is to submit in faith to God and let God do his work in us. To die with Christ means we must die to the old self. The cross for Paul meant the cessation of sin’s control and the new opportunity provided through the grace of God in Christ. The old life of struggle under pride, flesh, and self-destruction is replaced by the new life of faith and dependence upon God. Each of these three objects are lated and refer to the same experience of “newness of life” (Romans 6:4) and “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The way of the cross is the way to life. This new life is the cross-shaped life in the likeness of his death. Christ’s own journey mentioned in 2:5-11 is our example: humility, total trust in the Father, obedience, and self-emptying. The more we share in Christ’s sufferings and death, the more we are conformed to his likeness. The more we are shaped into his likeness, the more we will experience the ongoing power of his resurrection.
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