Catholic Commentary on Philippians 3

"I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11)

The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ

Paul warns against those who mutilate the flesh, the circumcision party. He could place confidence in the flesh if anyone could: circumcised on the eighth day, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, faultless in keeping the Law. But whatever was profit to him he now considers loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, he considers everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord, for whose sake he has lost all things and considers them garbage, that he may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of his own from the Law but that which is through faith in Christ. I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. The Catechism identifies participation in Christ's sufferings as the most intimate form of union with him available in this life: sharing in his Passion is sharing in his life (CCC 1505).

Pressing On

Not that Paul has already obtained all this or been made perfect, but he presses on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of him. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, he presses on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called him heavenward in Christ Jesus. His citizenship is in heaven. He eagerly awaits a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform his lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, what is on your balance sheet of achievements? Paul had an impressive one: tribal purity, legal faultlessness, religious zeal. He called it all garbage. Not because those things were bad but because they were competing with Christ for the place that only Christ can occupy. What is on your balance sheet that is functioning as a rival to the surpassing worth of knowing him?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, let everything else be loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing you. Give us Paul's desire: to know you, to know the power of your resurrection and the fellowship of your sufferings, to be conformed to your death, and so to attain the resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

3
Righteousness through Faith in Christ
(Romans 3:21–31)
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
 
2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself could have such confidence.
 
If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
 
7 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ,* 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of Christ the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
 
10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing on toward the Goal
 
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
 
15 All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well. 16 Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.
Citizenship in Heaven
 
17 Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. 18 For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
 
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

*3:9 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of Christ

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