Straining Toward the Goal

Php. 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

A Walk Completed

The people of Philippi were living there as colonists while their citizenship was in Rome. Similarly Christians, while living on earth, have their citizenship elsewhere - in heaven. This contrasts with those in Php. 3:19 whose minds are exclusively on earthly things.

For...

γάρ

gar

gar

A primary particle; properly assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles): - and, as, because (that), but, even, for indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.

our...

ἡμῶν

hēmōn

hay-mone'

Genitive plural of I, me; of (or from) us: - our (company), us, we.

Used only here in New Testament. The verb is used in Php. 1:27.

conversation...

πολίτευμα

politeuma

pol-it'-yoo-mah

From behave as a citizen; a community, that is, (abstractly) citizenship (figuratively): - conversation.

is...

ὑπάρχω

huparchō

hoop-ar'-kho

From under, that is and to commence; to begin under (quietly), that is, come into existence (be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an adjective, participle, adverb or preposition, or as auxiliary to principal verb): - after behave, live.

in...

ἐν

en

en

A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between to or into and from, out); “in”, at, (up-) on, by, etc.: - about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-) by (+ all means), for (. . . sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-) in (-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-) on, [open-] ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, [speedi-] ly, X that, X there (-in, -on), through (-out), (un-) to(-ward), under, when, where (-with), while, with (-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) prep.

The believer looks with keen anticipation for his Savior’s return from heaven. Eagerly await translates a word (apekdechometha) that suggests a tiptoe anticipation and longing. This word is also used in Rom. 8:19, 8:23, 8:25; 1Cor. 1:7; Gal. 5:5; Heb. 9:28.

heaven;...

οὐρανός

ouranos

oo-ran-os'

Perhaps from the same as to rise or rear (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension heaven (as the abode of God); by implication happiness, power, eternity; specifically the Gospel (Christianity): - air, heaven ([-ly]), sky.

from...

ἐκ, ἐξ

ek ex

ek, ex

A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause; literally or figuratively; direct or remote): - after, among, X are, at betwixt (-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for (-th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, . . . ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.

whence...

ὅς, ἥ, ὅ

hos hē ho

hos, hay, ho

Probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article the); the relative (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that: - one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who (-m, -se), etc.

also...

καί

kai

kahee

Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.

It is scriptural to look for the rapture or coming of the Lord in the air for the saints, to take place any time (Php. 3:20; Tit. 2:13), but not the second coming (see notes on 2Th. 2:7; Rev. 1:19; 4:1). The rapture and second coming are two events separated by at least seven years. They are not two phases or two stages of one coming, but two distinct comings—one a coming in the air (not to the earth) before the tribulation, and the other a coming to the earth immediately after the tribulation (1Th. 4:16 with Mat. 24:29). One is the coming for the saints (John 14:1-3; Luke 21:36; 1Cor. 15:23, 15:51-54; 1Th. 4:13-17; 2Th. 2:1, 2:7; Php. 3:21; Col. 3:4) and the other is the coming to earth with the saints to set up the kingdom (Zec. 14:5; Jude 1:14; Rev. 19:11-21).

we look for...

ἀπεκδέχομαι

apekdechomai

ap-ek-dekh'-om-ahee

From off, that is and to accept from some source; to expect fully: - look (wait) for.

the Saviour,...

σωτήρ

sōtēr

so-tare'

From to save; a deliverer, that is, God or Christ: - Saviour.

the Lord...

κύριος

kurios

koo'-ree-os

From κῦρος kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; by implication Mr. (as a respectful title): - God, Lord, master, Sir.

Jesus...

Ἰησοῦς

Iēsous

ee-ay-sooce'

Of Hebrew origin [Jehovah saved]; Jesus (that is, Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites: - Jesus.

Christ:...

Χριστός

Christos

khris-tos'

From to smear or rub with oil; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.

At the Rapture of the church, Christ will transform (metaschēmatisei, “change the outward form of”) our lowly bodies so that they will be like (symmorphon, “identical in essential character”; cf. the participle symmorphizomenos in Php. 3:10) His glorious body. Then every child of God will be made like the Son of God (1Jn. 3:2), that is, all Christians will receive glorified bodies like His. No more will they have the limitations they now experience in their “lowly” bodies, which are humbled by disease and sin. Their resurrected bodies will be like Christ’s, and their sanctification will be completed.