Philippians 3:4-14

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:

  • IV.IX.2, V.XIII.4, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180) 

  • Chapter I, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198) 

  • I.6, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)

  • Chapter XIII, On Patience, Tertullian (c. 202) 

  • II.3, On The Apparel of Women, Tertullian (c. 202) 

  • I.3, II.2 (incorrectly identified as "Chapter LI" at the CCEL site), II.7, To His Wife, Tertullian (c. 206) 

  • Chapter XXIII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211) 

  • V.20, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212) 

  • Chapter VI, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217) 

  • II.LXIX, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246) 

  • X.9, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)

  • Part 1, Section 5, Against the Heathen, Athanasius of Alexandria, c. 318.
  • Commentary by St John Chrysostom:

    • Homily XI

      • "Therefore persecutions, and afflictions, and straits, ought not to disturb you, but ought even to make you glad, because through them we are "conformed to His death.""
    • Homily XII
      • "Nothing so renders our real excellences vain and puffs them away, as to be remembering the good deeds we have done; for this produces two evils, it both renders us remiss, and raises us to haughtiness."
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "For we run only as far forth as we are laid hold on by Christ, that is, as God gives us strength, and shows us the way."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "The believer prefers Christ, knowing that it is better for us to be without all worldly riches, than without Christ and his word."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "He that loses all things, not excepting himself, gains Christ, and is gained by Christ. And still there is more; which even St. Paul speaks of his having not yet gained."
  • Christian Perfection (Phil 3:12): Sermon by John Wesley.
    • "No one, then, is so perfect in this life, as to be free from ignorance. Nor, Secondly, from mistake; which indeed is almost an unavoidable consequence of it."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "The realization of the archetype of holiness through Christ contains the pledge that this shall be realized in all who are one with Him by faith, and are become the organs of His Spirit. Its germ is imparted to them in believing although the fruit of a life perfectly conformed to the Redeemer, can only be gradually developed in this life."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "It is faith in Christ acted upon, causing an acceptance and steadfast obedience to Christ, which secures the righteousness (forgiveness) of which Paul speaks."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Philippians 3:4b-14, David E. Fredrickson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "Pursuit and flight are a topos of Greek erotic poetry and iconography from the archaic period onward. It is noteworthy that, within such conventional scenes, the moment of ideal desire on which the vase-painters as well as poets are inclined to focus is not the moment of the coup de foudre, not the moment when the beloved's arms open to the lover, not the moment when the two unite in happiness. What is pictured is the moment when the beloved turns and runs."
  • Philippians 3:4b-14, Proper 20A, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 21, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Without throwing away his own religion Paul, nevertheless, throws away a theology which had made him important and given him great status. In its place he embraces Christ and Christ's way."
  • "Play On!" study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Sports," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2008.
  • Christ and the Church: The Ministry of the Baptized, Wendell R. Debner, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1987.
  • "The Prize," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources.
    • What does it mean to 'know' Christ?
  • Philippians 3:4b-14, Lent 5C, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year C Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Lent 5, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Without throwing away his own religion Paul, nevertheless, throws away a theology which had made him important and given him great status. In its place he embraces Christ and Christ's way."
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Philippians 3:4b-14, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "What social holiness will come from your knowing the power of Christ's resurrection?"
  • "Eyes on the Prize," Expository Essay, Philippians 3:4b-14, Dr. William R. Long.
    • "...let's join Paul in his quest to make Christ his own by renewing our own quest to know him and the power of his resurrection."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Citizens of Heaven. Phil 3:2-21 as a Deutero-Pauline Passage," by Darrel J Doughty. Journal of Higher Criticism, rework from NTS 41 (1995).
    • "...the portrait of the apostle and the understanding of Christian existence for which he serves as an example are deutero-Pauline. The concrete controversies that characterized Paul's own life are no longer in view. The teachings of Paul have been universalized. What we have here represents the testimony of the apostle for believers in all times and places."
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  • Babinsky, Ellen L., "Between Text & Sermon: Philippians 3:7-15," Interpretation, 1995.
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  • Curtis, Carl C. III, "Biblical Analogy and Secondary Allegory in Chaucer's The Knight's Tale," Christianity and Literature, 2008.
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  • Debner, Wendell R., "Christ and the Church: The Ministry of the Baptized," Word & World, 1987. (Pentecost A)
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  • Dormeyer, Detlev, "The Implicit and Explicit Readers and the Genre of Philippians 3:2-4:3, 8-9: Response to the Commentary of Wolfgang Schenk," Semeia, 1989.
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  • Greene, John T., "Paul's Hermeneutic Versus Its Competitors," Journal for Religious Thought, 1985.
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  • Grieb, A. Katherine, "'The One Who Called You...' Vocation and Leadership in the Pauline Literature," Interpretation, 2005.
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  • Harrisville, Roy A., III, "Before PISTIS CHRISTOU: The Objective Genitive as Good Greek," Novum Testamentum, 2006.
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  • Hays, Richard B., "Eyes on the Prize," The Christian Century, 1992.
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  • Klijn, Dr. A.F.J., "Paul's Opponents in Philippians 3," Novum Testamentum, 1965.
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  • Matlock, R. Barry, "Dethologizing the PISTIS XRISTOU Debate: Cautionary Remarks from a Lexical Semantic Perspective," Novum Testamentum, 2000.
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  • Matlock, R. Barry, "'Even the Demons Believe': Paul and pistis Xristou," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2002.
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  • Matlock, R. Barry, "The Rhetoric of PISTIS in Paul: Galatians 2:16, 3:22, Romans 3:22, and Philippians 3:9," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2007.
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  • Neyrey, Jerome H., S.J., "God, Benefactor and Patron: The Major Cultural Model for Interpreting the Deity in Greco-Roman Antiquity," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2005.
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  • Otto, Randall E., "'If Possible I May Attain the Resurrection from the Dead' (Philippians 3:11)," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1995.
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  • Perriman, Andrew C., "The Pattern of Christ's Sufferings: Colossians 1:24 and Philippians 3:10-11," Tyndale Bulletin, 1991.
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  • Udoh, Fabian E., "Paul's Views on the Law: Questions about Origin (Gal. 1:6-2:21; Phil. 3:2-11)," Novum Testamentum, 2000.
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• Reviews:
  • Review: Michael Byrnes, Conformation to the Death of Christ and the Hope of Resurrection: An Exegetico-Theological Study of 2 Corinthians 4,7-15 and Philippians 3,7-11. Pontificia Universite Gregoriana, 2003. Review by Veronica Koperski in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004.
• Sermons:
  • "'I Want to Know Christ,'" Samuel Wells, Faith and Leadership, 2008.
  • "Knowing God," Tony Campolo, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1997.
  • "God and the Religious Resume," John Jewell, 2001.
• With Children:
  • "Guy Fawkes," Talks to Children, Rev. Donald McCorkindale, Dalgety Parish Church, Fife, Scotland.
  • "The Prize," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "The Excellence of the Knowledge of Christ," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
  • "Satisfaction Guaranteed," Erina Caradus, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Philippians 3:8, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Philippians 3:14, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Philippians 3:8, 13. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • "Pressing On," Philippians 3:8-16, scripture texts set to music, Peter L. Haynes, Long Green Valley Church.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Philippians