The Upward Calling
By Jonathan Mitchell
This study will investigate a passage of Paul's words in Philippians 3. Here, he draws upon his own life as a pattern for folks who are members of the called-out, covenant community in Philippi. He begins, in vss. 7-8, by sharing his attitude toward "things" as contrasted to the value of having "intimate knowledge" of his "Lord, Jesus Christ." He terms this contrasting "all-surpassing value" as "the advantage of Christ."
In Phil. 3:4-6, Paul rehearses all the fleshly things of which he could boast and be proud. But now, he presents his new attitude toward all those "things":
7. But to the contrary, whatever things (or: things which) were being gains (advantages; assets) to, for, or in, me, THESE things I have esteemed and now consider (or: regard) as a loss (a penalty; a forfeit; disadvantage; a bad bargain; a detriment) because of the Christ (or: on account of the Anointed One [= the Messiah] and the Anointing).
8. But further - indeed, then, as a matter of fact - I even am habitually considering (or: regarding; deeming) all things (or: all; everything) to be a loss (a disadvantage; a bad bargain; damage; a forfeit; a penalty) because of (on account of; for the sake of) the thing that is constantly holding things above and thus having all-surpassing value and superiority: that which pertains to and comes from the experience of the intimate knowledge of my Lord, Jesus Christ (or: personal insight of, from, and which is, Christ Jesus, my Owner; [cf Jn. 17:3]) - because of, on account of, and for the sake of, Whom I undergo loss of (experience the forfeit of; receive as a disadvantage) all things (or: everything; the whole life-experience, environment and possessions) - and I continue considering (or: regarding; deeming) them to be [either] a lot of refuse and filth (pieces of dung; a pile of manure; excrement) [or] things that are cast away from the table to the dogs (garbage), to the end that I may have the advantage of Christ (or: could maintain the gain of [the] Anointing; enjoy the assets of and profit from [the Messiah]),[cf Phil. 3:2; Isa. 53:11; 2 Cor. 5:2, 4; Rom. 5:9]
Note that Paul not only considers all the Jewish things a loss to him, but as being REFUSE, filth, dung, manure, excrement - things to be cast away! The real advantage, gain, profit, and asset, is CHRIST!
This is the attitude and outlook of a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught His disciples the same thing, in Mat. 16:
24. At that point Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone continues intending (purposing; willing; wanting) to come on behind Me, let him at once completely say, 'No,' to, deny and disown himself, and then in one move lift up his execution stake (pole for suspending a corpse; cross), and after that proceed to be by habit continuously following after (with) Me!
25. "You see, whoever may intend (or: should purpose; might set his will; happens to want) to keep his soul-life safe (rescue himself; preserve the conscious life that he is living) will continue loosing-away, ruining and destroying it. Yet whoever can loose-away and even destroy his soul-life (the consciousness of self) on My account, he will continue finding it!
26. "For what will a person (or: mankind) proceed being benefited, or in what will he (or: it) continue helped or augmented, if he (it) can or would advantageously procure and gain the whole ordered system of society: government, economy, culture, religion - even the whole universe, yet would be undergoing the loss of, receive damage to, or be made to forfeit, his soul-life (the consciousness which he is; or: its interior self [in its reality])? Or what will a person (or: mankind) proceed giving as a result of a change-instead (or: in exchange) pertaining to his (or: its) soul (or: as an effect corresponding to transformation of the consciousness of, or which is, himself/itself which makes him/it other than he/it is)?
Paul has explained what Jesus meant, in this statemen from Mat. 16, and Paul's own life was now a lived-out parable for his listeners: an example they could contemplate, and to which they could align themselves. Notice that, in vs. 8a, Paul uses the phrase, "the thing that is constantly holding things above." What did he mean by this concept? Well, in our present passage, in vs. 14, he refers to an "invitation to an above place." Could this possibly be the "Jerusalem which is above" (Gal. 4:26)? Could it be the "heavenly Jerusalem" which is on Mount Zion (Heb. 12:22-24; cf Rev. 21:9b-11a)? Our next verse, here, offers an aspect of "holding things above" and which gives description of this "above place" - to be "found within Him," which corresponds to finding one's "soul-life/consciousness" (Mat. 16:25, above).
We see another layer of interpretation in Mat. 16:24, and from this insight we ask, "Why did Jesus tell His followers (those who would "come behind [Him]" and "follow after [Him]") to "pick up their crosses"? This would imply that they would be "lifted up" just as He was going to be "lifted up" (Jn. 12:32a). Jesus, having been "lifted up" and then exalted, said that He "will progressively (or: one after another) drag [note: drag as with, or in, a net; or: draw, as drawing water with a bucket; a sword from a sheath] all human beings (or: people; everyone) to Myself" (Jn. 12:32b) Jesus was, in effect, presenting to His followers "the upward call." He had referred to this when speaking with Nicodemus, in Jn. 3:14,
"And so, just as (or: correspondingly as) Moses lifted up (elevated; raised up high) the serpent, within the wilderness (desert; desolate place) [Num. 21:7ff], thus it is necessary and binding for the Son of Mankind (Humanity's Son; the Human Being) to be lifted up (elevated; raised up high; exalted)."
Recall what Jesus said, in Jn. 15:13,
"No one continues holding (or: having) greater Love (full self-giving; urge toward reunion) than this: that someone should place or deposit (lay; put) his soul (or: inner being; consciousness which is him) over [and cover the situation or circumstances of] (or: set or place his self and person, on behalf of) his friends."
We are instructed, in 1 Jn. 4:19, that "We ourselves are habitually Loving (or, as a subjunctive: can and should be constantly loving) because He Himself first Loves (or: accepted and urged to reunion with) us." Jesus explains that this "upward living" (i.e., loving) is accomplished by "dwelling in Him" (Jn. 15:1-10). In Jn. 14:6, Jesus revealed to them that He was the Way (Path; Road) for us to come to the Father. The Father is the "above place, or realm." That verse ends, "No one is presently going to, or progressively coming toward, the Father, except through Me." In Jn. 1:51, Jesus told Nathaniel, and those with him, "you will proceed seeing the heaven (or: sky; atmosphere) being one that is opened back up again, and 'God's agents (the folks with a message from God) repeatedly ascending (continuously and progressively stepping back up again) and then habitually descending (repeatedly and progressively stepping down)' upon the Son of the Man."
Jesus is "Jacob's Ladder" (Gen. 28:12). He was prophesying about "the upward call." But, let us return to Paul, in Phil. 3:
9. and thus, can be found (or: would be discovered to actually be) within Him (or: in union with Him; centered in Him) - NOT continuing having (or: holding) my [previous] flowing-together, pointed-out way (my rightness, fairness and equity; my relationships; my way of what is right; my ownrighteousness) from out of the Law or custom [cf Ps. 143:2; Isa. 64:6; Rom. 10:3] - but to the contrary, this [Way pointed-out which was a rightwising deliverance] through means of Christ's Faithfulness (or: the trust-conviction which is Christ; the faith of and from [the Messiah]): the flowing-together rightwising, eschatological deliverance into the new covenant fairness of rectified relationships within the Way pointed out [which is] forth from out of the midst of God as a source (or: the just Act from the midst of God), based upon that Faithfulness (or: [Christ's/God's] loyal allegiance; or: the Trust and confident faith), [cf Gal. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:3, 8; 2 Pet. 1:1]
Being "discovered to actually be in union with Him" is here defined as happening "through means of Christ's Faithfulness," which is "the flowing-together rightwising, eschatological deliverance into the new covenant fairness of rectified relationships within the Way pointed out [which is] forth from out of the midst of God," and which is, "based upon that Faithfulness." It is all a matter of the Christ event, and the Grace which has erupted from that event, which results in our being "found within Him."
10. and from this, to come to intimately, and with insight, experientially know Him, and this Ability - even the Power (means of Influence, natural Faculties, and inherent Properties) - of, and from, His resurrection, and also this (or: the; [other MSS: a]) common existence (equally-belonging participation; common Being; shared partnership, associated sharing and fellowship; contribution) of the results, and from the effects, of His experiences [note: these include good times/feelings and passions, as well as sufferings] - being a person that is BEING continuously conformed by (being progressively brought together with the form of; being habitually configured to) His death, [cf Col. 1:24; 1 Pet, 4:13]
Paul unpacks the Christ event even further, explaining that this "above place" of "being found in Him" brings intimate knowing of Him, and experiential insight into "this Ability (Power, etc.)" which stems from "His resurrection," which in turn gives birth to our "common existence (equally-belonging participation; common Being; shared partnership, associated sharing and fellowship; contribution) of the results, and from the effects, of His experiences." But there is more: this "common existence (Greek, koin-on-ian: the term for 'common' and the present participle of the verb 'to be,' then given the form of a noun)," and "participation" in His experiences, results in our "being continuously conformed by (being progressively brought together with the form of; being habitually configured to) His death." This, again, sounds like Mat. 16:24-26, but do not miss the passive voice (which indicates that God is the one doing this): "being continuously conformed... being progressively brought together... and being habitually configured" BY His death, and TO His death. In Phil. 2:13, Paul makes this quite clear:
"for it follows that (or: for you see,) God is the One habitually operating with inward activity, repeatedly working within, constantly causing function and progressively producing effects within, among, and in union with, you folks - both the [condition] to be habitually willing (wanting; intending; purposing; resolving) and the [situation] to be continuously effecting the action, repeatedly operating to cause function, and habitually setting at work so as to produce - for the sake of, and over, the pleasing good form and this thinking of goodness, in delightful imagination of what is desirable." [cf Heb. 13:20-21]
11. since this is how I can fully meet face-to-face, commensurately participate in, and reach down into the midst of (or: if, as is the case, in some way I would attain the level [to be] into the midst of; or: if in fact, by any means I may arrive and meet with the corresponding sphere that has a view to) the full resurrection (or: the arising and standing back up again from out of the midst; or: the out-resurrection) - the one [arising] forth from out of the midst of dead folks.[cf Dan. 12:2-3; 1 Cor. 15:41-42; 2 Cor. 4:14; 5:4; Eph. 2:1; Heb. 11:35]
Now Paul presents further information concerning what he had just said in vs. 10. The particle which opens this verse can be rendered as "since," or, "if, as is the case," or, "if in fact." The next term can be rendered, "this is how," or, "in some way," or, "by any means." Then follows the verb which is in the form of an aorist subjunctive, and for which on offer are the following options: 1. I can fully meet face-to-face, commensurately participate in, and reach down 2. I would attain the level 3. I may arrive and meet with the corresponding sphere.
But to what does this potential action lead? "The full resurrection - the one [arising] forth from out of the midst of dead folks." Now how are we to take his words? Literally, or figuratively? Are these "dead folks" those whose bodies are in graves? Or, are they folks "who are dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1)? These questions are beyond the scope of this study. But take note of the last part of vs. 10, that he was speaking about being conformed by, and to. His death. This calls to mind Rom. 6:3, where Paul instructs us that we were baptized into His death, and so we should "walk in newness of Life." In Rom. 6:8, we read:
"Now since, and in view of the fact that, we died-off (or: So if, as is the case, we die-away) together with Christ, we are continuously believing (relying; trusting) that we will also continue living together in Him (by Him; for Him; to Him; with Him)," [cf Jn. 11:25-26]
But, let us continue in our passage:
12. [Now this is] not because I already received [this] (or: grasped or laid hold of it; or: obtained) or even have been already finished, brought to the purposed goal and destiny, matured and perfected. But yet, I am consistently pursuing (running swiftly in order to catch), since, also, I can fully receive, seeing that, in fact, I WAS fully received and taken (or: if, as is the case, I would take down by the hand, fully seize, gain possession, and forcefully grasp upon [this] in which I also was taken down by hand, fully seized, forcefully grasped, and taken possession of) by, and under [the control of], Christ Jesus. [cf 1:6, above; Acts 9:3-8; 1 Tim. 6:12; Heb. 12:23]
In 12a, Paul is refusing to take to himself more than he had obtained, or received. He acknowledges that his course is not yet finished. There is yet life to be lived out. He is not yet perfected. Thus, he was "consistently pursuing (running swiftly in order to catch)."
The next clause starts with the same particle that opened vs. 11: since, or, If, as is the case. Then, the first option asserts that he CAN fully receive, "seeing that, in fact, I WAS fully received and taken." The second option is similar: he "would take down by the hand, fully seize, gain possession, and forcefully grasp upon, that in which he was also... taken possession of." And who was the actor who "fully received" him and "took possession of" him? Christ Jesus! No wonder Paul referred to himself as "a slave of Jesus Christ" (Rom. 1:1). That event happened to Paul on the road to Damascus.
Paul is just living out the new Life that was birthed in him by our Lord.
13. Brothers (Womb-mates; = Fellow believers)! I am not [other MSS: not yet] calculating (logically considering; reckoning; viewing) myself to have fully received (or: taken it down by hand, seized, fully grasped or gotten hold of it in order to have it), so as to presently possess, yet [there is] one thing: by habit, completely forgetting and taking no notice of (or: constantly fully-disregarding), on the one hand, the things behind (or: at [my] back; cf vss. 4-8, above; = the old covenant and customs), and on the other hand, constantly reaching and stretching myself out upon the things in front (or: ahead), [cf 2 Cor. 5:17; Heb. 6:1]
The first clause affirms, and basically repeats 12a, above. The second half of the verse restates 12b, above. He has left death (the old covenant and dead existence of missing the target) behind and now is racing forward into the continuous Life that lies ahead. This is imagery of the stadium races. He is not hanging around at the starting blocks. He is already "in Christ," so he is not pursuing salvation. He is describing a way of Life. To paraphrase Jesus, Paul was in the Racecourse (Path; Way), living in the New Reality (the Truth), and drawing from the Life (Christ).
14. I am continuously pressing forward and bearing down on [the; or: an] object in view (progressively pursuing along the line of a mark on which the eye is fixed, and in the sphere of a goal): with a view to, and into the midst of, the awarded contest prize of God's (or: the award from, and which is, God's) invitation to an above place (or: the prize pertaining to, and which is, the upward calling from, and which is, the God) centered within the midst of, and in union with, Christ Jesus. [cf 2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Tim. 4:7-8; Heb. 3:1]
His life is one of "progressively pursuing along the line of a mark on which the eye is fixed, and in the sphere of a goal." This goal is "God's invitation to an above place - the upward calling from, and which is, God." The text can be read either as the "above place" which is "centered in Christ Jesus," or, as the "above place" BEING "the God which is centered in Christ Jesus." We find an "above place" spoken of in Eph. 2:5. even us, being continuously dead ones by (or: in; to; with) the results and effects of stumblings aside (wrong steps; offences) [cf Tit. 3:3-5; Gal. 5:16; Rom. 5:6; 6:4; 10:12][p46 reads: ... in (to; by) the bodies; other MSS: by the failure(s) to hit the mark (sin/sins); B reads: within the stumblings aside and the cravings (lusts)], He made alive together by (or: joins us in common life with, for and in; [p46, B: within; in union with; cf Jn. 5:24]]) the Christ - by (with; in) the Grace and joyous Favor you continually exist, being folks having been delivered (rescued and saved, so that you are now safe and made whole)! -
6. and He jointly roused and raised (or: suddenly awakens and raises) [us] up together, and caused [us] to sit (or: seats [us]; = enthroned [us]) together in union with, and among, the ruling heavenly people, and within the things situated upon the imposed heavens (or: centered in the full, perfected heavenlies; or: among those comprising the complete and completed heavenlies; in union with the celestial people; among the folks [residing] upon the atmospheres) within, in union with, and in the sphere of, Christ Jesus,
But with the genitive of the word "invitation" not rendered in apposition, "the prize of God's invitation" may be seen as the result of God's invitation, and be the same prize that Paul refers to in 1 Cor. 9:24 (the only other place where this word is used in the NT),
"Have you folks not seen, so as to know, that those progressively running, on the race-course within a stadium, are indeed all progressively running (or: constantly and repeatedly racing), yet one normally (= each time) grasps (takes; receives) the prize (victor's award)? Be habitually running (progressively racing) so that you folks can (may; would) seize and take [it] down in your hands."
This prize may well be the fruit of his ministry, those to whom he gave himself, or as he says elsewhere, "[his] glory" (1 Thes. 2:20), and below, in chapter 4:1, he refers to them as his "winner's wreath."
In Lu. 13:24, Jesus told His listeners:
"YOU folks be continually struggling and constantly exerting yourselves vigorously even to the point of agonizing, as contestants in the public games, to at once enter through the narrow gate, or door (or: cramped entry),.."
We suggest that, since Jesus had just given parables about the realm (kingdom) of God (13:18-21) - even though His listeners did not understand Him (13:23) - He was speaking about entering the higher realm of God's kingdom and sovereign activities. We read Paul, here, as saying the same thing.
The pictures of "pressing forward and bearing down" (Paul, vs. 14) and "struggling and constantly exerting" (Jesus, Lu. 13:24) are speaking about one's focus and about being intent upon the present moment - as does a runner, when running a race. In vs. 13, above, Paul described this as, "completely forgetting and taking no notice of (or: constantly fully-disregarding), on the one hand, the things behind (or: at [my] back; cf vss. 4-8, above; = the old covenant and customs)," Recall his words in 2 Cor. 5:17,
"Consequently, since someone [is] within Christ (or: So that if anyone [is] in union with, and in the sphere of, [the] Anointed One, and the Anointing; or: And as since a Certain One [was] in Christ; [cf 12:2, below]), [there is] a new creation (or: [it is] a framing and founding of an essentially different kind; or: [he or she is] an act of creation having a fresh character and a new quality): the original things (the beginning [situations]; the archaic and primitive [arrangements]) passed by (or: went to the side). Consider! New, essentially different things have come into existence (have occurred and been birthed; or: It has become new things that are essentially different from what was habitual, before; or: He has been birthed and now exists being ones of a different kind, character and quality). [cf Wis. 19:6-8; Rev. 21:5]
In Eph. 4, we find this expressed this way:
23. and then to be continuously renewed (or: from time to time, or, progressively made young again; [cf Rev. 21:5]) by (or: in; with) the spirit (or: attitude; breath-effect) of your mind (or: from the mind which is you folks; or: by the Spirit which is your [collective] mind),[paraphrase: "in the power which... radically alters the entire sphere and business of the inner mechanism" - Eadie, in Wuest; cf Ezk. 18:31; Rom. 12:2; Col. 3:10]
24. and thus, to enter within (or: sink in; clothe yourselves with) the New Humanity (or: the Person that is different and innovative in kind and quality; [cf Rom. 13:14; Gal. 3:27]) - the one in accord with, corresponding to, and following the pattern of, God (or: the person in the sphere of the Divine level, and commensurate with God [Himself]) - being formed (framed, built, founded and settled from a state of disorder and wildness; created) within the flowing-together Way pointed out (or: in union with fair dealings in rightwised relationships, justice, rightness and covenant participation; centered in [His] eschatological deliverance) and reverent dedication (or: sacred observance in a benign relationship with nature) pertaining to the Truth (or: in intrinsic alignment with Reality, which is the Truth; or: from this factual State of Genuineness).
All these admonitions refer to "the upward call," the "invitation to an above place," in Christ Jesus. Following Jesus is a way of life which has a focus on the higher realm and resurrected consciousness.
15. Therefore - AS MANY AS [are] people who ARE mature (ones who HAVE reached the goal, being finished and complete; [cf 1 Cor. 2:6ff]) - WE should constantly be of this frame of mind (have this attitude and opinion; think this way; be minding and paying attention to this; [cf Gal. 5:10]). And if, in any respect or topic, you folks continue thinking differently (or: are continuing differently minded; keep on being mentally inclined otherwise; are habitually having a different attitude or opinion), God will also proceed in progressively unveiling this to you (or: uncovering and revealing, or disclosing, this for and among you folks). [cf 1 Cor. 13:10-11]
Paul's admonition is to, and for, mature folks. Such folks should maintain the attitude and frame of mind which corresponds to what he had just been saying. If some of his listeners were not yet mature enough to receive his words, he was confident that, in time, God would progressively reveal his message to them.
The following verses in Phil. 3 speak of their being "joint imitators" of Paul (vs. 17), in contrast to being "enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ" (vs. 18), and in contrast to being "people continually thinking about (habitually being intent on; constantly minding) the things existing on the earth" (vs. 19). Then (vs. 20), he reminds them:
20. You see, OUR citizenship (result of living in a free City [cf Gal. 4:26]; or: commonwealth-effects; political realm) continues inherently existing (or: continues humbly ruling; continuously subsists; repeatedly has its under-beginning) resident within the midst of [the] atmospheres (or: heavens; [cf Col. 3:1; Heb. 12:22]), from out of where (or: from which place) we also continuously receive and take away, as in our hands, from out of a Deliverer (a Savior; a Rescuer; One who keeps us safe; One restoring us to the health and wholeness): [the] Lord (or: a Master), Jesus Christ, [cf Rom. 8:23ff; Gal. 5:5; 1 Cor. 1:7; 2 Cor. 5:1ff; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 9:28]
21. Who will continue changing the position and the posture of (or: will progressively be refashioning and remodeling; will continuously be changing the outward fashion, mode of circumstance, condition, form-appearance, character, role, phase, configuration, or manner, of) our body from the low condition and status (or: the body of, and from, our humiliation; or: the body which is us, pertaining to this lowliness) [to be] joint-formed, co-formed together with, and conformed by, to, in, and with, the body of, and which is, His glory [cf Ps. 17:15; Mat. 17:2; 1 Cor. 15:43-49; 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:4; 1 Jn. 3:2] (or: the body from, and which is, His assumed appearance; [other MSS: into the {situation} for it to be brought into existence conformed to, and having the same form together with, His body, from that which calls forth praise and imagination for His character and good repute]), down from (or: in accord with; in the sphere of; to the level of; following the pattern of; in stepping with; commensurate with; as directed by) the inwardly-centered operation (functioning energy; inner-working) of the [conditions, situation or sphere for] Him to be continuously able (or: to progress with Power and means of Influence) also to subjoin and align The Whole, for shelter, in Himself [cf 1 Cor. 15:27-28; Eph. 1:19; Heb. 7:25] (or: to append and subordinate all things to Himself; to arrange everything under, so as to have full control, and to support [it] by, for and with Himself). [cf Isa. 63:1; Mat. 28:18]
[Chapter 4] 1. Consequently, my brothers (= fellow believers; Family) - loved ones and longed-for folks (people being missed, with a craving), my joy and winner's (or: festal) wreath - thus (in this way) you constantly stand within [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh]: [as or being] loved ones! (or, as an imperative: be habitually standing firm in this manner: in {or: centered in; in union with} [the] Lord, [B adds: my] beloved!). [cf 1 Cor. 1:14; 1 Thes. 2:19]
The Upward Calling is an invitation into a higher consciousness and awareness, which is the realm of God's kingdom, the realm of The Father. Paul said it this way, in Gal. 2:
May we all abide in Him, and thus be enabled to respond to His upward call, from the granted awareness of the fact of being "seated with Him" in the "above place" (Eph. 2:6).
Jonathan
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