Philippians 3:21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Original Language Analysis
ὃς
Who
G3739
ὃς
Who
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
1 of 28
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
μετασχηματίσει
shall change
G3345
μετασχηματίσει
shall change
Strong's:
G3345
Word #:
2 of 28
to transfigure or disguise; figuratively, to apply (by accommodation)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σώματι
body
G4983
σώματι
body
Strong's:
G4983
Word #:
4 of 28
the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
εἰς
that
G1519
εἰς
that
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
8 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γενέσθαι
it may be
G1096
γενέσθαι
it may be
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
10 of 28
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
αὐτὸν
his
G846
αὐτὸν
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
11 of 28
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
σύμμορφον
fashioned like unto
G4832
σύμμορφον
fashioned like unto
Strong's:
G4832
Word #:
12 of 28
jointly formed, i.e., (figuratively) similar
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σώματι
body
G4983
σώματι
body
Strong's:
G4983
Word #:
14 of 28
the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δόξης
glorious
G1391
δόξης
glorious
Strong's:
G1391
Word #:
16 of 28
glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective)
αὐτὸν
his
G846
αὐτὸν
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
17 of 28
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
κατὰ
according to
G2596
κατὰ
according to
Strong's:
G2596
Word #:
18 of 28
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτὸν
his
G846
αὐτὸν
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
23 of 28
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
even
G2532
καὶ
even
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
24 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἑαὐτῷ
unto himself
G1438
ἑαὐτῷ
unto himself
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
26 of 28
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
Cross References
Colossians 3:4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.1 John 3:2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.Isaiah 26:19Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.Romans 8:29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Matthew 17:2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.Matthew 28:18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.Revelation 1:8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.Isaiah 25:8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.Matthew 22:29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.Hosea 13:14I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
Historical Context
Greek philosophy denigrated body, seeking escape to immaterial soul-existence. Paul's bodily resurrection-hope is Jewish (Dan 12:2) and Christian (1 Cor 15). Christ's resurrection-body is prototype (1 Cor 15:49; 1 John 3:2); believers will have glorified, imperishable bodies. This undergirds Christian ethics: bodies matter (1 Cor 6:19-20), holiness includes physicality, redemption is cosmic (Rom 8:18-23). The power subduing all things (including death, 1 Cor 15:25-26) guarantees believers' transformation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does hope of bodily glorification ('conformed to His glorious body') affect present bodily stewardship?
- What is the relationship between Christ's cosmic authority ('subdue all things') and believers' transformation?
- How does bodily resurrection-hope distinguish Christianity from Gnostic escape-from-body spiritualities?
Analysis & Commentary
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself (ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τοῦ δύνασθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ὑποτάξαι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα, hos metaschēmatisei to sōma tēs tapeinōseōs hēmōn symmorphon tō sōmati tēs doxēs autou kata tēn energeian tou dynasthai auton kai hypotaxai autō ta panta)—Metaschēmatisei ("will transform")—radical change, not mere improvement. To sōma tēs tapeinōseōs ("body of humiliation")—present lowly, mortal bodies. Symmorphon tō sōmati tēs doxēs ("conformed to the body of glory")—future glorified bodies matching Christ's resurrection body. Kata tēn energeian ("according to the power")—divine enabling. Hypotaxai autō ta panta ("subdue all things to Himself")—cosmic lordship. The same power subduing all creation transforms believers' bodies. This concludes ch. 3: righteousness by faith (vv. 9-11), Christ-pursuit (vv. 12-16), heavenly citizenship (v. 20), bodily glorification (v. 21). Gospel encompasses justification, sanctification, glorification.