Philippians 3:11– The resurrection out from among the dead

… and the fellowship of His sufferings, conforming to His death, if somehow I should be attaining to the resurrection that is out from among the dead.

Paul has only one aim: to get to know Christ better. This knowledge is not available separately. “The power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings” are inseparable from this. This suffering can go far, but Paul is willing even to be conformed to Christ’s death and die a martyr . Later, in another letter, he reports (in 2 Tim. 4:6) that the moment of his departure has come and that he will be poured out as a drink offering.

Although the route to it is unknown to Paul, it is clear to him that he will rise from the dead on occasion. Or, as he formulates it here: the resurrection, namely from the dead. Striking is the double use of the preposition ‘out’. Similar to terms like “ to cut out from among the people” (Acts 3:23) and “ to go out from Egypt” (Heb.3:16).

As believers, we are not waiting for the resurrection of the dead after the thousand years (Rev.20:5), but for the resurrection from among the dead . While the rest of the dead remain in the graves, we will rise and meet the Lord in the air (1Thes.4:15-17)!

Delen: