Bible Strands
Philippians 3:21
who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Philippian believers, contrasting their heavenly citizenship with earthly existence as he anticipates Christ's return. He addresses the church at the moment of hopeful expectation, looking toward the Savior who will complete their redemption.
The words — The Greek verb μετασχηματίσει (metaschēmatisei) literally means "will change the form," applied directly to τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν (the body of our humiliation). The text explicitly states this change is powered by Christ's ability to subject all things to Himself.
The thread — This promise of bodily renewal at Christ's appearing runs through 1 Corinthians 15:42, 1 John 3:2, and Colossians 3:4. The passages collectively trace the same eschatological trajectory from perishable earthly existence to imperishable glory.
Why it lands — The text asserts that physical limitation is temporary and will be altered by divine power rather than human effort. Readers must accept that present bodily decay does not define their final state and must live in light of that certainty.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
- Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
- 1 Corinthians 15:42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
- Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
- John 11:24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
- Isaiah 26:19 Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead.
- Matthew 17:2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
- Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
- Ephesians 1:19 and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
- John 5:25 Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.