Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
‘Vile’ [Greek: tapeinosis] humiliation (Acts 8:33); low estate (Luke 1:48; Jas. 1:10); and vile (3:21). It refers to the low state of sin and shame into which the body of a man has degenerated. Instead of it being immortal, glorious, and powerful as the ruler of all creation as originally planned (Gen. 1:26-31; Ps. 8:3-6), it is now vile, depraved, sinful, sickly, mortal, and subject to the lowest humiliation and eternal ruin (2Cor. 4:16; Rom. 1:18-32; 6:19; Gen. 3:19).
‘Fashioned like unto’ [Greek: summorphos] conformed to. It has reference, not to exact outward features, but to the substance of the body, which will be changed from mortality to immortality; from a natural body to a spiritual body; from corruption to incorruption; and from weakness and humiliation to glory and power (1Cor. 15:35-58). It will be flesh and bone like Christ’s body of glory (Luke 24:39; Zech. 13:6).
‘According to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.’ The power that made the body and all things originally will be the power that will make the resurrection bodies in a moment (1Cor. 15:51) and subdue all things to God again (1Cor. 15:24-28; Heb. 2:9-18).
Living the Word 