One Body finds in one section of these mighty spiritual beings, attentive

spectators, learning through the lowly ministry of the Church the wonders of

Divine wisdom (Eph. 3:10), but that another section constitute their foes

against whom the whole armour of God has been provided (Eph. 6:12).  (See,

for a new translation of Ephesians 6:12, the article entitled Saints4).  One

company of these principalities seems to have exercised its authority to the

prejudice of the Church and was `spoiled' at the cross (Col. 2:15), and

fallen angels are said to have left their `first estate' or `principality'

(Jude 6).  Further, Christ is Head of all principality and power because He

is their Creator (Col. 1:16), and then by virtue of Redemption and

Resurrection is invested with the title `The Beginning', i.e. The

Principality par excellence (Col. 1:18).  This Mediatorial office is held by

the Saviour until all `rule' (i.e. principality) has been subjected under His

feet, and the goal of the ages has been reached.

Although Colossians 1:16 -20 is prominent among the advocates of

universal reconciliation, no created being is named there but spiritual

rulers, the argument of the passage leading up to the Pre -eminence of His

Principality (arche `beginning'); verse 20 should read, `reconcile all these

things', as in Colossians 3:8.

The Greek word translated `prize' is brabeion, and occurs in two

1 Cor. 9:24 Run all, but one receiveth the prize.

Phil. 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize.

(According to a mark, I press toward the prize, literally).

The word prize is derived from brabeus, the judge at a public game who

assigns the prize.  Brabeuo, to preside at the games, occurs in Colossians

3:15 where it is translated `rule' and katabrabeuo also found in Colossians

2:18, means `to defraud or deprive of a prize, to so manage affairs that the

umpire shall pronounce against the contestant'.  In Colossians the thought is

not so much that of being cheated of the reward, but of failing to attain

unto the required standard.  The atmosphere of 1 Corinthians 9:24 and of

Philippians 3:14 is that of the arena, and the race course.  In the article

entitled the Crown1, we have shown that `prize' and `crown' are related, as

genus and species.

Philippians 3:10 -14 reveals a series of steps toward the goal in view.

When the apostle cried, `that I may know Him and the power of His

resurrection' it is this aspect of resurrection that he has before him.  He

knew the historic fact, he knew its fundamental character for all doctrine,

he knew all preaching and all faith was vain without it, but he also realized

that there was a personal and experimental side to the fact of resurrection

that had a peculiar bearing upon the great theme of the Philippian epistle.

Let us follow the apostle in his quest.

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection.

The fellowship of His sufferings.

Being made conformable unto His death.

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.