“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.”
My Notes
What Does Philippians 3:21 Mean?
Paul declares the ultimate transformation: 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.
Who shall change (metaschematizo — to transform, to refashion, to reconfigure the form of) our vile body (to soma tes tapeinoseos — literally 'the body of our humiliation') — the current body is described as a body of humiliation — lowly, subjected to weakness, decay, disease, and death. Vile does not mean evil. It means humble — the body in its current degraded condition, bearing the marks of the fall.
That it may be fashioned like (summorphos — conformed to, sharing the same form as) unto his glorious body (to soma tes doxes autou — the body of his glory) — the body of humiliation will be reconfigured to match the body of glory. Christ's resurrection body — the glorified, imperishable, powerful body he currently possesses — is the template. Our bodies will be refashioned to share his form. The transformation is not a different body. It is this body — remade, reconfigured, glorified to match Christ's.
According to the working (energeia — the effective operation, the active power) whereby (kata) he is able (dunamai) — the transformation is powered by the same energy that operates across the universe. The working is Christ's — the energy he currently exerts in governing all things.
Even to subdue all things unto himself — the power that transforms the body is the same power that subdues (hupotasso — to place under authority, to bring into submission) all things. The all things is comprehensive: everything in the universe is subject to Christ's authority. The same authority that governs galaxies will reconfigure your body. The transformation of the resurrection body is not a different power from the power that runs the cosmos. It is the same power — applied personally, specifically, to you.
The verse connects resurrection hope to present christology: the Christ who currently subdues all things will personally change your body. The power is not future. It is present — currently active, currently subduing — and one day it will be directed at the humiliated bodies of believers and transform them into the likeness of Christ's glorious body.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does 'the body of our humiliation' describe about the current condition of the human body — and how is 'vile' different from 'evil'?
- 2.What does being 'fashioned like unto his glorious body' promise about the template for the resurrection — Christ's own body?
- 3.How does the same power that 'subdues all things' guarantee the transformation of your body?
- 4.How does knowing your current body is not your final form change the way you relate to its limitations and aging?
Devotional
Who shall change our vile body. This body — the one that gets tired, gets sick, gets old, and dies. The body of humiliation — not evil, but degraded. Bearing the marks of the fall in every ache, every wrinkle, every limitation. This body — not discarded. Changed. Transformed. Reconfigured from the inside out.
That it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. The template is Christ's body — the resurrection body, the glorified body, the body he appeared in after Easter morning. Imperishable. Powerful. Glorious. Your humiliated body will be fashioned to match his glorious body. Not a different body. This body — remade to look like his.
According to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. The power behind the transformation is the same power that currently governs the universe. The energy that holds galaxies together, that maintains the laws of physics, that subdues every force in creation — that energy will be directed at your body. The transformation is not a stretch for God. It is the application of power he is already exercising — the same working that subdues all things, now applied to you.
Subdue all things. All things — every molecule, every force, every power in existence bows to Christ's authority. And the Christ who subdues all things will subdue the mortality in your body — replacing humiliation with glory, weakness with power, death with life. The transformation is as certain as Christ's authority over all things. If he can subdue the universe, he can change your body.
The body you live in is not your final form. It is the body of humiliation — the temporary housing for the person you are becoming. The glorious body is coming — fashioned like Christ's, powered by the energy that runs the cosmos, as certain as the authority that subdues all things. You are looking at the caterpillar. The butterfly is what Christ's power will produce.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Who shall change our vile body - compare the notes at 1 Cor. 15: The original words, which are rendered here as “vile…
Who shall change our vile body - Ὁς μετασχηματισει το σωμα της ταπεινωσες ἡμων· Who will refashion, or alter the…
He closes the chapter with warnings and exhortations.
I. He warns them against following the examples of seducers and…
change The Greek verb is cognate to the word schêma, on which see second note on Php 2:8. It occurs also 2Co 11:13-15,…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture