Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

die before the Rapture occurs. God the Holy Spirit will be the agent of resurrection for “those who
are alive” at the time of the Rapture … The verb “katantao” means to arrive at something, as one
would reach the destination of a journey. This entire journey will occur in a moment of time, the
moment of resurrection for the completed royal family of God. “Katantao” appears in the
subjunctive mood, which implies a future reference qualified by an element of contingency. The
future event is the Rapture; the element of contingency will exist in every generation as believers do
not know whether they will be resurrected with the dead or with the living. Paul speaks for the entire
royal family as he dramatizes the imminency of the Rapture. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.)
Philp. 3:11 If (protasis, 3rd class condition, “maybe yes,
maybe no”) in some way (enclitic particle; "by any means," by
rapture or special resurrection) I might cross the goal-line
(katanta,w, AASubj.1S, Culminative, Potential; "meet death" or
the rapture after having attained USG) to the exitresurrection
(evxana,stasij, Adv. Acc.; the rapture or a special
resurrection for supergrace believers) out from among the
dead ones (Abl. Separation; separated from unbelievers in
eternity and losers by rank).
WHO Philippians 3:11 ei; pwj katanth,sw eivj th.n evxana,stasin th.n evk nekrw/n
VUL Philippians 3:11 si quo modo occurram ad resurrectionem quae est ex mortuis
LWB Philp. 3:12 Not that I have already obtained [ultra-supergrace status] or have already
reached the objective [the pinnacle of spiritual progress], but I am continuing to pursue so
that I may also obtain that [ultra-supergrace status] for which [purpose] I was also
overtaken [divinely grasped on the Damascus Road] by Christ Jesus [seized and held by
God’s grace].
KW Philp. 3:12 Not that I already made acquisition or that I have now already been brought to
that place of absolute spiritual maturity beyond which there is no progress, but I am pursuing
onward if I may lay hold of that for which I have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
KJV Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I
follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS
Paul gives us two disclaimers on just how far his spiritual life has progressed. He had not yet
obtained (Constative Aorist tense) or reached the objective (Consummative Perfect tense) of
ultra-supergrace status. Some simple math will show that at the time of his writing this epistle,
he had surpassed supergrace A (verse 10) but had not yet obtained ultra-supergrace status –
meaning he was writing in supergrace B status. The important fact, however, is that the ultimate
objective had not been reached by Paul. In fact, the ultimate objective is a direction, a goal, and