Devine Scripture

Philippians 3:10

What does Philippians 3:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Philippians 3:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Philippians 3:10 means

Paul longs to know Christ in a living way: to experience the power that raised Him and to share in His sufferings, being conformed to His death. Resurrection power energizes obedience and hope in weakness. Fellowship with Christ’s sufferings means identifying with Him, accepting loss, rejection, or hardship for His sake, and letting such trials shape us into His likeness. Conformity to His death is dying to self-will and embracing the cross-patterned life. This is not morbid; it is the path to life. Knowing Christ is comprehensive: it includes joy in His victory and participation in His costly road, producing a character marked by His humility and love.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

That I may have knowledge of him, and of the power of his coming back from the dead, and a part with him in his pains, becoming like him in his death;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

to know him, and the power of his rising again, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings: being made conformable to his death,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,

Context

Having established righteousness by faith in verse 9, verse 10 describes the experiential goal that flows from that standing. It balances triumph (“power of his resurrection”) with endurance (“fellowship of his sufferings”). This sets the stage for verse 11, where Paul expresses hope of attaining the resurrection from the dead. The flow helps readers avoid distortions: Christian life is neither mere suffering nor mere triumphalism, but union with Christ in both. Verses 12–14 will then emphasize that Paul has not arrived; he presses on toward the finish.

v.9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:

v.10This passage

v.11if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 John 2:5

    but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:

  • Romans 8:17

    and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:10

    who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;

  • Ephesians 1:19

    and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might

  • Colossians 3:1

    If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

  • John 11:25

    Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Philippians 3

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Philippians 3.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Philippians 3:10.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary