This is my first scripture mapping studies. This study is coming from one of my favorite scriptures to quote, that I may know him which is the title of this entire blog of my bible studies. I want to do a scripture study on this verse and break this scripture down and dissect it. I use the King James Version of the bible, but I do like to study along with the Amplified Bible and The Message translations.
Philippians 3:10-12 (KJV)
that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death: if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 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.
Different Translation:
Philippians 3:10-12 Amplified Bible (AMP)
And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.
Philippians 3:10-12 The Message(MSG)
I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
The focus of this scripture is Paul's desire to know Jesus more personally and is willingness to give up everything to accomplish knowing Jesus personally. Paul did not have the same opportunity to follow Jesus in person for 3 1/2 years as the other Apostles. He is determined to be more "like Jesus" dying out to this world of sin and its temptations, to be transformed and renewed in our minds like Christ and he wants the same for his fellow believers in Phillippi. There are 3 aspects in which Paul mentions that he wants to KNOW Him more: 1. His Resurrection 2. His sufferings 3. His death
Who wrote Philippians 3?
Apostle Paul is the writer of this third chapter (Epistle/Letter) We know this by the opening statement of Phil 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Phillippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Paul who was known originally as Saul of Tauras from Acts 9:11 God spoke to Ananias and told him to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. "He called him out of darkness into his marvelous light, set him on a straight street and got him going right".
Paul was a Pharisee before his conversion on the road to Damascus. He was from the tribe of Benjamin.
When? It is believed to be written in the mid-50s or early 60s CE. This was time-framed to be when Paul was imprisoned in Rome.
Who was it written for? The Christians in Philippi. Paul and his co-laborers (Silas, Timothy, and Luke) founded the church in Phillippi on his second missionary journey due to a vision given to him by God (Acts 16:9-40) The vision was of a man from Macedonia asking Paul to come and help them and they went. Acts 16 tells of the conversion of Lydia and her household and the casting out of the spirit from a fortune-teller woman who had been following Paul around taunting after him and he turned around and cast out the demons which is why they were thrown into prison and the jailer was converted.
Why? Context: Paul is writing to the Christians of his early life and how he gave it up to follow after Jesus Christ after Jesus converted him on the road to Damus. Being a Pharisee Saul (Paul) was a religious teacher, but he did not have a personal relationship with God until his encounter with Jesus. He realized that up until that point it was all for nothing. Having that personal relationship with Jesus who or what would there be to turn back to? Nothing!! He is expressing this to the Christians to build their personal relationship with Jesus themselves just as he had done to move forward toward a closer walk with Jesus. Jesus is the only way to become righteous which like Paul experience is a life changing.
God's View:
God wants nothing more than a close personal relationship with you. He paid the ultimate price for your soul out of pure unconditional love. He fulfilled a plan that was from the beginning to reconcile Himself back with mankind. He died but he did not stay in the grave. He did this all for each one of us. If we are willing to commit to him, he can take anyone and change them into what He formed, us to be. We can do this by putting our trust in him and follow after him just as his disciples did.
Man's View:
Paul has learned a principle that he is sharing with his fellow Christians by a letter he wrote from prison. No matter the circumstance or whatever situation you find yourself in, when you are following close to Jesus Christ you can rejoice in the Lord. How often? At all times. It is the Lord who will work out ALL things for the good to them that love him and keeps his commandments. Phil 4:13.
Observation & Reflection:
Paul wrote the letters to the church of Philippi during a time they were all suffering persecution. Paul wrote these letters while in prison. Paul cannot be there in flesh, but he can still give instructions on that we can rejoice in knowing as a Christian the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus keeps us on the path no matter the circumstances or trials that comes our way there is still joy in our hardships as we press on towards our prize. Do not look back as there is nothing to go back to.
"That" is a purpose clause - This is stating Paul's life purpose. In Acts 3:8 just a few scriptures before Paul says, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
When you study the four gospels you learn who Jesus was. His character, his reactions, his ways, his emotions, and not just the miraculous things he did. Once you really study Him you can begin to understand not only what the death, burial, and resurrection means to us, but why He did it. This is how we learn to be partakers in His death, burial, and resurrection ourselves. Acts 2:38 Repent (Death), Be Baptized in the NAME of Jesus Christ (Burial) and Filled with the Holy Ghost and Fire just as John the Baptist stated when Jesus was approaching him to be baptized himself (Resurrected). We died to our earthy man old things passed away as we were all born into sin. We get buried in a watery grave to wash us clean but lay this old earthy body down once and for all. Then we are endued from Power from on High that Resurrection Power is our new beginning we become new. Old things are passed away and ALL things become new. We are reborn as a spiritual being and must learn to walk in the spirit daily. Paul says he dies daily. Does that mean literally? NO, but spiritually every day is a brand-new day to get a fresh start. If you don't like what happens today, then praise God first thing in the morning for a brand-new day! New promises! We go through the blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth as His blood is the only blood I know that can a black heart full of sin was it with red blood and it comes out white as snow. He conquered death, hell, and the grave and so can we as we begin our newborn spiritual life for all eternity. We become joint heirs into the kingdom of God.
Application:
I want to be a workman approved by God. There is no end to knowing about the greatness of Jesus! Be followers together by as by Paul's example. No matter what his situation he rejoiced and was comforting his fellow believers to keep searching Jesus deeper and continually.
My Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the peace and joy that I am able to experience because of your unconditional love. Thank you for the knowledge and understanding of who you are and why you lowered yourself into the form of the Second Spiritual Adam as the bridge that was torn down in the garden when by one man sin changed your relationship with us. I appreciate the elders and the shepherd you have set over me in my life to keep reminding us to Rejoice and to Trust in you no matter what we might face day to day in our suffering with you. To keep our eyes on the prize to keep moving forward and not looking back. There is nothing but death to look back too. I give you all the Glory, Honor, and Praise! In Jesus Name. AMEN.
First, there is prophetic meaning in the number twelve all throughout the bible. It symbolizes God's power and authority and perfect governmental foundation. It may also symbolize God's completeness. God made a covenant with Father Abraham that he would have seeds that no man can number like the stars in the heaven and like the sand on the seashore. Abraham's grandson that was naturally born named Jacob, and later renamed by God, Israel who had twelve sons, each son would come to represent a tribe of Israel that were God's Chosen People. Exodus 24:4) says, "And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Moses constructed the twelve pillars of stone at the foot of the Mount Sinai as a memorial to God. The stones represented the twelve tribes of Israel and signifies a new generation committing to a covenant as they establish t...
I have friends who have been waiting on me to finish some of my studies. I don't have them all done but I do have quite of few ready to go. I have also went through and added the link at the bottom of each study so all you have to do is click the link to the next one study on the list. I hope you enjoy studying God's word as much as I do. Several of you have helped me along on this journey as you ask questions I became familiar with God telling me to search it and see what I might learn and share with others. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions you may have come to mind. I am always adding to my studies as God reveals more about them at different times. So I always say they are a work in progress. God Bless each of you.
Psalms 57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. We have often heard this phrase at one time in our lives, but it's not actually found in the Bible. So, where did it come from. I found that most Jews attribute this phrase to an ancient "folkloric" parable about King Solomon: One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah Ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, “Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot which gives you six months to find it.” “If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty,” replied Benaiah, “I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?” “It has magic powers,” answered the king. “If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy.” Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but h...
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