My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways. Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained. [New English Translation]
Phil 3:10-16
I found this central part of Philippians a challenge to give due consideration. It is complicated. Paul has many themes and motifs incorporated into this passage. It is a case of keeping them in mind as we unpack the complexity of his thought. What is the difference between a theme and motif? A theme is a recurring central idea integrated throughout a literary work, which is part of the deep structure. But a theme also can be seen at the surface level of the work in the tell tale theme words which reoccur. A motif on the other hand, is a recurring element at the surface level of the text. A motif does not usually carry the theme but can often reinforce it. Motifs are often linked to a theme in order to support it but can stand alone as surface level reoccurring comments or phrases. That is what Paul was doing in this letter to the Philippians. Below is a chart which will help you track the themes.
Mind | Reckoning | Finish Line | Attain | Prize |
---|---|---|---|---|
2:2 – one mind | 2:6 – didn’t count | 1:21 – die is gain | 1:6 – perfect it | 1:6 – Finished Work |
2:5 – same mind | 2:8 – humbled himself | 1:23 – desire to depart | 2:12 – cultivate your salvation | 1:10 – pure & blameless |
2:20 – Timothy like-miinded | 3:7 – gain, loss | 2:16 – not run in vain | 3:11 – attain to | 1:11 – fruit of salvation |
2:25 – Epaphroditus | 3:8 – loss, gain | 3:13 -straining forward | 3:12 – received. lay hold of (3X) | 1:21 – dying is better |
3:15 – like-minded | 3:9 – no longer count | 3:14 – finish line | 3:13 – to lay hold of | 3:11 – resurrection from dead |
4:8 – think about these things | 3:13 – don’t consider | 3:14 – reach the goal | 3:12 – perfection | |
4:9 – follow my example | 3:16 – attain, come up to, make mine | 3:14 – heavenly prize | ||
3:21 – glorious bodies | ||||
4:1 – crown |
Paul interwove these thematic strands throughout this letter. It is like they keep tumbling over themselves. But step back and take in the big picture and you will see that they are all interrelated. They share meaning and add to the overall theme as they are contrasted and juxtaposed. It is really a brilliant piece of writing. Add now to that complexity, the series of motifs which rise to the surface and disappear again, but all of which enhance the overall themes.
- The Day of Jesus Christ:- 1:6, 1:10, 2:16. As well as the more allusory examples – 2:10, 11 and 3:20 (see below)
- Citizens of Heaven:- 1:27, 3:20
- The sporting motif of the Pan Hellenic Games:- 3:12-14
The contrasting values found in:
- dung
- garlands of leaves and flowers
- heavenly prize
I haven’t looked at the motif of suffering and death, humility and sacrifice in this book. I have only looked at the themes and motifs Paul repeats the most. But clearly that is another fruitful strand to investigate. I must confess to being blown away by the way all of these themes and motifs fit together so well. And don’t forget what I looked at in the previous Gem. I drew your attention to the fact that Paul’s reference to mind, mindset, thinking, run through the whole letter. When Paul told us to have this mind that was also in Christ Jesus (2:5) he was not kidding. Of course you remember the way in which he spelled out the humility of Christ and the depth of Christ’s taking on the form of a man. But note also how even that passage fits the whole of the letter. In the process of analysing this letter thoroughly I got thinking about the Lord’s return. The Day of Jesus Christ as that term suggests. Isn’t that the Day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is YHWH, Yaweh, Adonai, LORD or even Ha Shem (The Name). Cast your mind back to the 27 Gems of That Majestic Passage. In particular Gem 1938 to 1940. Use whichever Name is most appropriate for you. That moment is the beginning of the Day of Jesus Christ. The Day He has split the skies and come back to earth once more. Yesterday, I got thinking of how long that Day would be. How long would it take at the Judgement Seat of Christ? Would judging everyone who has ever lived take years and years for God who is timeless? Somehow I don’t think so. In the same way that God the Father, Jesus Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit can hear the prayers of the world simultaneously, perhaps the Day of Judgement will happen instantaneously all at the same moment. I don’t have the last word on all this. I am just allowing the depth of Scripture to teach me how to put the pieces together. Evaluate these things for yourself. Go back and reread the Gems of That Majestic Passage. Ask your own questions to put it all together. Then re-ask them again when you get the next revelation.
In the previous Gem I set Paul’s mind theme in the midst of the sporting motif and the mind of a champion. We could take any one of these themes and pull them apart some more in the light of the whole letter. I considered doing that, but I have decided not to pursue that one to the finish line. Enough is enough. A couple of you are chaffing at the bit and wanting to move on. We still need to look at what exactly the Prize is. Furthermore we need to understand what is involved in attaining or appropriating the Prize and attaining to the resurrection from the dead. But I do confess to have only scratched the surface of this amazing letter. It has always been one of my favourite books of the Bible. I think now it has moved to # 1.
For now. just look at the headings in the table above.
- Mind
- Reckoning
- Finish Line
- Attain
- Prize
Consider how well these five themes go together to match all of what Paul has said in this letter. The way the letter is integrated around the same things is very thought provoking. I have already dealt with each of these themes and added the motifs to the mix as well. I will be guided by you my readers, as to whether I expand this some more or not. My hunch is to leave the rest for you to put together. I know some of you will say “thanks” for that and mean it. Others will say “thanks” with the intonation of “yeah right”. Still others will say “No thanks, let’s move on”. The latter is my intention, after I have teased out the Prize and explained the way to attain to, appropriate, come up to, measure up and make the Prize yours in the following Gems.
It is my express wish that in awarding the [Nobel Prizes] no consideration be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be Scandinavian or not.
Alfred Nobel
I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Steven Wright
Being a male is a matter of birth, being a man is matter of choice.
Ed Cole
It takes God to be a man.
Major Ian Thomas
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
Phil 2:5