3:10

This verse begins with the phrase “I want to know Christ.” Paul followed this with three phrases that show three ways that he could know Christ: by the power of Christ’s resurrection, by the fellowship of sharing Christ’s sufferings, and by becoming like Christ in his death.

3:10a

I want to know Christ: This does not mean to know about Christ. It means to know and experience Christ personally. Paul already knew Christ, but he wanted to know him better.

3:10b

and the power of His resurrection: The power of Christ’s resurrection was already influencing Paul’s life, but he wanted to experience it more. This is one of the ways that a person can know Christ better.

There are several ways to understand the phrase the power of His resurrection :

(1) It refers to the power Christ received after God raised him from the dead. This could be translated:

I want to have the power ⌊that⌋ Christ ⌊had⌋ when he rose again.

(2) It refers to the God’s power that raised Christ from the dead. This could be translated:

I want to experience the same power ⌊that God used when he caused⌋ Christ to live again ⌊after he had died⌋. (New Century Version, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004))

Most English versions do not specify how they understand his phrase, but both interpretations have strong support from commentators. It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1). Paul probably meant that knowing Christ included Paul experiencing the power that is now Christ’s.

Paul wanted this power so that he could behave in the way that pleased God and so that he could effectively teach others God’s message.

resurrection: In some languages the word resurrection can mean to come back to life as a different person or as a different living thing. This is not the meaning of resurrection in the Bible. If this is a problem in your language, you need to translate in a way that makes it clear that resurrection means a person becoming alive again as the same person.

General Comment on 3:10a–b

One way to connect 3:10a–b is:

I want to know Christ ⌊better in this way: I want to know⌋ the power of his resurrection.

3:10c

and the fellowship of His sufferings: This is the second way in which a person can know Christ better.

There are two main ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) Paul was already suffering for Christ and he wanted more of the fellowship with Christ that comes from following him. He did not want to suffer, but he wanted to know Christ more and more even though that meant suffering.

(2) Paul wanted to share by faith (mentally) the sufferings that Christ had.

The first interpretation has stronger support. It is recommended that you follow it (1). Paul did not want to suffer. But he knew that everyone who follows Christ faithfully should expect to suffer because those who refuse to follow Christ oppose them (2 Timothy 3:12). And he wanted the fellowship with Christ that would accompany this suffering.

fellowship: In this context this means “sharing in something with someone.” See note on “partnership” in 1:5a, and “fellowship”, sense A2 in Key Biblical Terms. This sense is brought out by the Berean Standard Bible when it supplies the words “sharing in.”

3:10d

being conformed to Him in His death: This is a difficult phrase to understand and most English versions translate it more or less literally. There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) It is meant literally. Paul wanted to become like Christ by suffering as Christ did even to the point of death.

(2) It is meant figuratively. Paul wanted to die to sin.

Both interpretations have strong support, but it is more likely that Paul was referring here to physical death, just as he had been referring to physical sufferings in 3:10c. So it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul said that he wanted to become like Christ in every aspect of his life. He even wanted to die like Christ died. This means that he was willing to have people persecute him and kill him for his faith just like people killed Christ.

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