Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

is referring to some particular kind or aspect of the resurrection - entering into rest, and with that
great company of the metachoi, inheritance of the kingdom. It might suggest a “resurrection out
from among the resurrected ones” in contrast to a mere “resurrection from among the dead.” In other
words, a special category or class of resurrected saints is referred to in this verse. (J. Dillow) The
presence of the preposition “ek” argues against an equivalence to “anastasis.” (P. O’Brien)
The "out-resurrection" from among the "dead ones" is not an eschatological term, but an experiential
term. Mature believers shall (should) be resurrected out from among the reversionists. This is why
Paul is "longing and endeavoring to attain" this resurrection/separation. There is a reward for it both
in life and in eternity. Merely to be a Christian should as little satisfy a man as to have bread without
eating it or to possess a mine without working it. We "have" Him, but we must also "know" Him.
(R.B. Thieme, Jr.) This expression could refer to the rapture. (S.L. Johnson) We share His
humiliation by living in mortal bodies. We will share His exaltation when we shed this carcass. If we
cannot get "beyond" or "away from" the Cross and the Crown, we will have an unprogressive
experience, a going around the circle without growing in grace. (W.B. Harrison) Perhaps he was
using this word to refer to the Rapture, thus expressing the hope that the Lord would return during
his lifetime. (R. Lightner)
The emphasis here is on a physical resurrection. The term literally translates “out resurrection.”
When Christ returns, only living believers will be translated and dead Christians will be raised. The
unsaved will be resurrected later. (R. Gromacki) Growth and transformation are not to be had
without pain. Paul speaks of his goal to experience a share in the sufferings of Christ and to be
formed after the manner of Christ’s death ... It is mentioned here as the culmination of his spiritual
pilgrimage. (M. Silva) All Christians will obtain the resurrection, but only some will be worthy of it.
To be worthy of the resurrection (Luke 20:35) and to “attain to the out-resurrection” appear to be
parallel concepts and explain one another. This interpretation fits very well with the following verses
and would explain why Paul selected this word instead of his usual word for resurrection, anastasis.
(J. Dillow) When someone tells me that he does not believe in the Rapture, I wonder about his
relationship to the Person of Christ. Paul is saying, “My ambition, the thing I’m moving toward, is
not only that I might know Him but that I might have a meaningful, joyous part in the outresurrection,
which is the rapture of the church.” (J. McGee)
Having discussed the resurrection of Christ in 3:10, Paul turns his attention in verse 11 to the
resurrection of the Church, the concluding event of the Church Age. The power that raised Jesus
Christ from the dead is the same power that will resurrect the royal family of God. The exitresurrection
is a reference to the Rapture of the Church. Two enclitic particles in the Greek,
translated “if by any means,” indicate that Paul did not doubt the fact of the Rapture but was
wondering about the manner in which he will participate. Two possibilities existed: Paul would be
either physically dead or physically alive at the moment of resurrection. He would be either among
“the dead in Christ” who “shall rise first” or among those “who are living, who remain” on earth at
the time of the Rapture, who “shall be caught up (Latin: rapto) together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4;16-17). God the
Father will be the agent of the resurrection for “the dead in Christ,” those Church Age believers who