The Transformation of Lowly Bodies (Philippians 3:21)—Physical or Spiritual?

“Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Phil. 3:21)

This passage is often used to “prove” a future physical resurrection. Paul talks about “being conformed to His [Jesus’s] death…if, by any means, I may obtain to the resurrection of the dead” (v. 10–11). Then Paul describes his lowly body being transformed to a glorious body (v. 21).

Response: Paul gives many hints within the context that suggest he has spiritual resurrection—not physical resurrection—in mind. Notice what Paul says in verse 12: “Not that I have already attained [the resurrection] or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (v. 12). Now think about this logically. If Paul had a physical, body-coming out-of-the-dirt resurrection in mind, why would he say, “Not that I have already attained it”? Wouldn’t that have been obvious to his first-century audience? They knew Paul had not died yet, let alone been physically resurrected.

Then Paul says, “To the degree that we [Philippians] have already attained [the resurrection], let us walk by the same rule, be of the same mind” (v. 16). Once again, though, this statement would make no sense if Paul were describing physical resurrection. Were the Philippians partially resurrected (physically)? That’s just silly!

Clearly, Paul was describing spiritual resurrection that had already begun when he wrote this letter to the Philippians in approximately AD 62. And it was consummated or completed when the Old Covenant ministration of death passed away (2 Cor. 3:7), and the New Covenant ministration of eternal life began in full (John 11:26).

For more information about the topics discussed in this article, visit The Bible Fulfilled, click on the “Category” page, then click the category of interest.

Or, for a more detailed discussion of these topics, get my book The End Is Here: How the New Testament’s Prophecies Were Fulfilled, available Summer 2024.

By Alex Polyak, Director of The Bible Fulfilled, 9/17/24