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.
Study Note
Study Note
Paul's description of Christ as the one 'who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself' grounds bodily resurrection in Christ's cosmic authority rather than human potential. The word 'transform' (metaschematizo) carries the sense of altering the outer form while preserving substance — the body is not discarded but transfigured. The connection to 'his glorious body' applies to the resurrection body the category of glory (doxa) that Paul elsewhere attributes to the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:43; 2 Corinthians 4:6). The verse forms the eschatological foundation of the citizenship language in verse 20: the heavenly commonwealth from which the Savior comes is the same reality into which believers will be fully incorporated at the parousia.
Other Translations
who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.
who shall transform the body of our humiliation to its becoming conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working of his power, even to subject to himself the all things.
By whom this poor body of ours will be changed into the image of the body of his glory, in the measure of the working by which he is able to put all things under himself.
Cross References
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and …
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in …
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will …
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the …
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice …
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, …
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?