Fellowship of His sufferings. Participation in Christ’s sufferings. See Matt. xx. 22, 23; and on Col.i. 24. Compare 2 Cor. i. 5; 1 Pet. iv. 13. Faith makes a believer one with a suffering Christ.
Being made conformable (cuppopgufopuevos). Explaining the previous clause: by my becoming conformed, ete. Rev., becoming conformed. Compare 2 Cor. iv. 10; Rom. vi. 5. For conformed see on Matt. xvii. 2, and on form, ch. ii.6. The most radical conformity is thus indicated: not merely under- going physical death like Christ, but conformity to the spirit and temper, the meekness and submissiveness of Christ; to His unselfish love and devotion, and His anguish over human sin.
11. If by any means (ei ws). For the form of expression compare Rom. i. 10; xi. 14. Not an expression of doubt, but of humility.
I might attain (catavrncw). See on Acts xxvi. 7.
The resurrection of the dead (rip eEavdoracw ti ék veK- pov). Rev., more correctly, from the dead. Lit., the resurrec- tron, that, namely, from the dead. Compare Acts iv. 2. This compound noun for resurrection is found only here, and ex- presses the rising from or from among (é£), which is further emphasized by the repetition of the preposition é« (from).
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The kindred compound verb occurs Mark xii. 19; Luke xx. 28; Acts xv. 5, but in neither passage of raising the dead. The word here does not differ in meaning from dvdoraots, com- monly used, except that the idea is more vividly conceived as a rising from the earth. See Matt. xxii. 31; Luke xx. 35. The phrase resurrection of or from the dead does not often occur in the Gospels, and resurrection é« from the dead only twice in the New Testament, Acts iv. 2; 1 Pet. i. 3. For the phrase, see on Luke xvi. 31. Resurrection of the dead is a generic phrase, denoting the general resurrection of the dead, bad and good. Lvesurrection from the dead, in the only two passages where it occurs, signifies resurrection unto life. In 1 Pet. i. 3, it is ap- plied to Christ.
12. Not as though (ovy dr). Lit., not that, as Rev. By this I do not mean to say that. For similar usage, see John vii. 22; 2 Cor. i. 24; Philip. iv. 17.
Had attained—were perfect (€\a8ov—rereredwpar ). Rev., have attained, am made perfect. There is a change of tenses which may be intentional; the aorist attained pointing to the definite period of his conversion, the perfect, am made perfect, referring to his present state. Neither when I became Christ’s did I attain, nor, up to this time, have I been perfected. With attained supply the prize from ver.14. Rev., am made perfect, is preferable, as preserving the passive form of the verb.
I follow after (du@xw). Rev., better, press on. The A. V. gives the sense of chasing ; whereas the apostle’s meaning is the pressing toward a fixed point. The continuous present would be better, J am pressing.
May apprehend (xata\aBw). American Rev., lay hold on. Neither A. V. nor Rev. give the force of xal also ; if I may also apprehend as well as pursue. For the verb, see on John 1.5:
For which also |am apprehended. Rev., correctly, was apprehended. American Rev., lazd hold on. Paul’s meaning is, “I would grasp that for which Christ grasped me. Paul’s conversion was literally of the nature of a sezzwre. That for
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450 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. coir, Tat
which Christ laid hold of him was indeed his mission to the Gentiles, but it was also his personal salvation, and it is of this that the context treats. Some render, seeing that also I was apprehended. Rev., in margin.
13. Myself. As others count themselves.
14. One thing. JZ do is supplied. Some supply I count, which is less appropriate, since what follows is concerned with action rather than with thinking or reckoning.