[Paul’s Changing Perspective on the
Resurrection]
In seeking to answer the questions proposed by the
Canadian reader concerning statements by Paul, I have been seeking to
show how they cannot be understood apart from fitting them into the
Master plan given by the FIRST and the LAST (Rev. 1:11). Where any
statement by Paul seems to be in contradiction, then a closer look at
what Paul has said must be taken and evaluated accordingly. We have
already assessed the fact that Paul understood only "in part;" he
did not have the complete picture of God's end time plan. Now I want to
proceed further and deal with two other matters. First, there was a
progression in Paul's understanding as seen in His earlier epistles as
compared to later ones. Second, in certain passage when Paul uses such
personal pronouns as "we" "us” or "our," we must realize that Paul
was referring to himself and to those in his own category.
It is generally
agreed by Biblical scholars that I & II Thessalonians were the
earliest of Paul's epistles. It also seems evident that when writing
these epistles, Paul believed that he would be alive at the time of the
Lord's second coming. This is why he states in I Thess. 4:17 that, "We who are alive and remain will be caught up to
meet the Lord." I and II Corinthians were also written early in Paul's
ministry. And in similar fashion Paul spoke of the coming of the Lord
and declared "we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed" (I
Cor. 15:51).
However, when we
consider the Philippian epistle, which was written later, as Paul was
imprisoned in Rome, he expresses
no thought of being alive at the Lord's coming. Instead, he is
looking forward to attaining to what he calls an "out-resurrection out from among the
dead" (literal rendering of the Greek of Phil. 3:11). As one who knew
God's plan for a future resurrection of ALL—the just and the unjust
(Acts 24:16), based on Jesus words in John 5:29—Paul also knew that
there was nothing he needed to do to eventually experience a
resurrection of his physical body. The resurrection was a SURE THING!
What Paul was hoping to attain to, as expressed in Phil. 3:11, was
something special and exclusive, for he
says, "IF by any means I might attain." Paul knew at this time that he was not
going to live until the Lord's coming, and he wanted to be sure that he
would be among those qualified to
participate in a resurrection BEFORE other resurrections, and also to a
HIGHER plane—glorified life.
As Paul expressed
his hope in Phil. 3:11, he used the Greek preposition ek two times, which means "out from" or "out
from among." It is first used as a prefix to the Greek word anastasia, meaning "resurrection," and should
be translated "OUT-resurrection." It is then used again just before the
Greek word nekcron, meaning "dead," and
together they should be translated "out from the dead." The latter
expression implies the resurrection of some
while others are left behind; that is, a special resurrection, which is called in Rev.
20:5, the FIRST resurrection, and which obviously must be followed by
one or more later resurrections. The "OUT-resurrection" expression
(ek-anastasis), I believe, indicates NOT a resurrection back to this
earth, but rather OUT FROM this earth into the glorified
life.
The entire
context of Phil. 3:1-21 is extremely important and affirms that which is
clearly established in the teachings of Jesus that there are different categories of Christians. As you read of Paul's
desire and willingness to go "all out" to WIN a certain "prize," it
becomes obvious that he is aspiring to something more than just
believing in Jesus (the 30-fold) or even being "born again" (the
60-fold). It is the UP-ward call (3:12-14) to the "summit" that
Paul seeks to "lay hold of." This is the 100-fold who will be called UP
to inherit the heavenly Kingdom and glory as co-heirs with Christ in His
coming Kingdom.
It is in the above context that Paul states in
Phil. 3:20 that "our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also
eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus, who will transform our
lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body." In such
passages as this, as well as numerous others in Paul's epistles, when he
uses such personal pronouns as "we" "us" and "our," he is referring to himself and
those in his own category. After reading the entire context of Phil.
3:1-21, if you can honestly say that you have "this mind" of the mature
(3:15) and are going "all out" as Paul was to "attain" the prize
(3:11-14), then perhaps you can include yourself in the "our" and the
"we" of Phil. 3:20 (the "heavenly citizenship").
We do not have to
appeal to epistles to determine that not all believers will be
glorified when Jesus comes. That is established by the FIRST and
the LAST. But epistles, rightly read, will not contradict the basics
from Jesus words. Perhaps you have never read II Thess. 1:10 where Paul
speaks of Jesus: "when He comes, in that day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe." Note the distinction; saints
(separated ones) will be glorified; believers will admire. Or, consider
Col.
3:4, "when Christ who is our life appears, then you
also will appear with Him in Glory." Is Jesus your very life? Does
everything in your life revolve around Him? Has His love become a
"consuming fire" in you, increasingly refining every thought, motive and
desire? Then perhaps this promise of "appearing with Him in glory" can
apply to you. As you read such promises, and many others, note the
qualifying conditions given before you hastily include
yourself.
[NEXT: PART
VI ]