`That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should

rise out from dead ones'.

We now take one further step forward and discover a reference that is

nearer to the form found in Philippians 3, tes anastaseos tes ek nekron in

Luke 20:35 :

`But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the

resurrection that which is out from dead ones'.

Here it will be observed that not only have we words similar to those used in

Philippians 3:11, but a similar context -- `accounted worthy to obtain'.

Believers can be accounted worthy to obtain that age and the out -

resurrection, they may be accounted worthy to escape the dreadful things that

are coming on the earth and to stand before the Son of Man, they were counted

worthy to suffer shame for His name; and the persecutions which they endured

were a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that they may be

counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which they suffered (Luke 20:35;

21:36; Acts 5:41; 2 Thess. 1:5).

The word `obtain' in Luke 20:35 is used by the apostle in 2 Timothy

2:10, `that they may also obtain that salvation which is with eternal glory',

where the context associates `suffering' with `reigning', and in Hebrews

11:35, `that they might obtain a better resurrection' which is an obvious

parallel with the `out resurrection' of Philippians 3:11.  While Paul was

sure of the `hope' of his calling, he could not be sure of attaining unto the

`prize' of this same calling, and associated with that prize is the special

resurrection, the out -resurrection and the desire for conformity unto the

death of Christ, which we have been considering.

In the verse following, the apostle makes it very clear that this

uncertainty is legitimate, and one or two added words are employed in making

this fact clear.  `Not as though I had already attained', (`not that I have

already obtained' R.V.), `either were already perfect' (`or am already made

perfect' R.V.), `but I follow after' (`but I press on' R.V.).  `If that I may

apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus' (`if so be

that I may apprehend that for which also I was apprehended by Christ Jesus')

(Phil. 3:12 R.V.).  The A.V. repeating the word `attain' in Philippians 3:12

gives a continuity to the apostle's argument, but as two very different words

are employed katantao in verse 11, and lambano in verse 12, the R.V. is

preferable.  The change from `attaining' to `obtaining' moreover, reveals a

change in the apostle's objective.  He sought first to `attain' to the out-

resurrection, and then subsequently to `obtain' the prize.  This comes out

clearly when we remember that lambano `obtain' occurs in 1 Corinthians

9:24,25, `one receiveth the prize', `they do it to obtain a corruptible

It is, moreover, evident from the apostle's language, that one who

`obtained' the prize, could be considered as `perfect'.  Here the Greek word

teteleiomai `I have been perfected' awaits the triumphant teteleka `I have

finished' of 2 Timothy 4:7, where once again we have the race course, the

conflict, and the crown.  The reader will recognize that in both of these

Greek words, there is the common root tel which means that the `end' has been

reached, the race run.  Telos `end' (Phil. 3:19) gives us teleo `to reach an

end, and finish' (2 Tim. 4:7); and so teleioo `to make perfect' (Phil. 3:12),

and teleios `perfect' (Phil. 3:15).  The apostle said, `I follow after', and

what he sought for was that he might `lay hold of' that for which