Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

get our words “dynamite” and “dynamic.” When used in the Locative of Sphere, you get a
“dunamis sphere” or “dynasphere.” We are commanded in many passages to live inside this
sphere of power, this dynasphere, as much as possible. Spiritual growth is only possible when we
are residing and functioning inside this sphere of divine power. Therefore, an entire system of
theology can and has been developed on how we reside (get in and stay in) and function (live in
and apply what we learn) inside this delegated power sphere – what has traditionally been called
“experiential sanctification.” When you come across this term in my writing, you can choose to
like it, or substitute “sphere of power” or a similar equivalent. It is meant to communicate
important concepts to the listener. It works for me, but if it doesn’t work for you, find something
else that communicates to you and move on!
REVELANT OPINIONS
Paul did not desire to be seen to have any righteousness that would be the result of law-keeping. He
was done with that. He wanted men to see in his life, the righteousness which the Holy Spirit would
produce, the faith which is furnished to the believer by God and with which he appropriates the
blessings of grace ... Personal righteousness in the life is referred to here rather than justifying
righteousness. (K. Wuest) Legalism is ½ of polarized fragmentation, the other ½ being
antinomianism. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.) The knowledge in verse 8 is the highest degree of faith, the
reflection of faith in our reason, illumination, the stage reached by the complete initiate into the
Christian mystery. It is knowledge of Christ, the Anointed One, in His exalted power and glory. To
know Christ is to have the key which will unlock all the secrets of existence. (J. Robertson) We have
customarily read this passage as though it was speaking about “our” faith in Jesus Christ. But this is
an instrumental dative and is to be rendered “by means of.” The rest of the phrase is correctly
rendered, “the faithfulness of the Son of God.” (A. Custance)
He knows that his supreme goal can be realized only if he is continuously and progressively living in
Him during this mortal existence. (P. O’Brien) Another line of evidence that supports the conclusion
that Paul’s term, “the works of the law,” represents an all-out rebellion against God is the
unmistakable meaning of the word “law” in Philippians 3:8-9. In the Jewish parlance of that day, the
phrase “own works,” which closely resembles “own righteousness,” was used to represent rebellion
against God. Paul, in Philippians 3:8-9 speaks of the law as having an active role in man’s rebellion
against God, and this is not difficult to understand from his concept of how the law provides sin with
the best opportunity to become utterly sinful. We conclude, therefore, that Paul used not only the
term “works of the law” but also, on occasion, simply the term “law” to describe how it played a
vital role in bringing sin to full fruition. (D. Fuller)
See Galatians 3:22 - "That the promise through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ might be given to
them that believe." See Galatians 2:16 - "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ ... that we might be justified by means of the
faithfulness of Christ." See Galatians 2:20 - "I live by the faith (doctrine) of the Son of God." It is
very comforting to know that even when our faith does fail us, His faithfulness stands firm. (A.
Custance) Paul no longer has aspirations to be a self-reliant person who has his own goodness to
offer to God ... but desires to be presented in Christ before God. (G.F. Hawthorne) There is a