The Letter to the Philippians (Pillar New Testament Commentary) by G. Walter Hansen

Author:G. Walter Hansen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-01-13T08:16:00+00:00

VI. DISCLOSURES OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE (3:1-21)

Paul turns inward in this chapter and reveals intimate aspects of his personal journey. His autobiographical sketch of his conversion to Christ discloses a dramatic contrast between his previous persecution of the church as a Pharisee and his present quest to know Christ. The Christ-centered focus of the entire letter is passionately expressed as Paul tells of his strong desire to gain Christ, be found in Christ, pursue Christ, and ultimately be totally transformed by Christ. This deeply personal tone fills the passage with highly charged emotions: passionate longing to know Christ and painful tears for those who are enemies of the cross of Christ.

Paul weaves theological reflections into his personal disclosure. He contrasts his accomplishment of righteousness based on the law with the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith; he describes how he presses on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called him heavenward in Christ Jesus; he expresses his eager anticipation of the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. In other words, Paul explains the whole process of salvation - justification, sanctification, and glorification - in terms of his own personal experience. All of his experience is centered in Christ. Christ is the center of Paul's theology.

These personal and theological features make this chapter a gold mine for all who are interested in Paul and his theology. Other features fill this chapter with landmines of controversies: Who are the opponents - those dogs and enemies of the cross of Christ? Is this chapter an interpolated fragment? How could Paul view himself as faultless? Does the phrase faith in Christ mean the faithfulness of Christ or the faith of believers in Christ? These and many other perplexing questions challenge us as we read through the chapter.

A. Boasting in Privileges (3:1-6)

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