Unbound: Freedom in a Digital Worldنموونە

I think Philippians 3:10-11 might be the most significant single statement Paul makes in all of his writings. Read it a few times slowly,

“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.”

There is so much to unpack in these twenty-six Greek words, but I’ll keep the notes as short as possible. First, we are mistaken if we think “know” refers exclusively to cognitive knowledge. The word "ginosko,” which is translated as “know” is a broad and common term that refers to relational intimacy. Paul wants to “know” Christ intimately and personally.

Second, our translations are a bit soft when it comes to how Paul will “know Christ.” He understands that intimacy with Christ is attained through participation with Christ in his sufferings and transformation with Christ into his death. We so often talk about God transforming us, but so seldom do we recognize that for Paul, this transformation is a transformation into death. To be like Christ is to be formed by his crucifixion.

Third, it is easy to think that when Paul says he strives to attain to the resurrection, he is talking about a future reality, an end-of-life resurrection. Yet, if we understand that his striving to know Christ is a daily occurrence of suffering and death to self, we also realize that Paul is attaining to the resurrection of the dead in his daily life as well. Joining with Christ in his crucifixion and resurrection is not a distant, future reality. Instead, knowing Christ in his death and resurrection is a present reality we strive daily to realize.

Practice this passage today by just reading it slowly three or four times. Switch translations, which is so easy to do on our phones. Hear it in a different way. Let your heart feel the same longing as Paul's.