If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

PHILIPPIANS 3:11KJV
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Philippians 3:11 (KJV)

What does Philippians 3:11 mean?

Philippians 3:11 expresses Paul’s hope of reaching life beyond death through Jesus. His words, “If by any means,” present that future as the goal toward which he is moving, not as an achievement he has already claimed.

The sentence continues Paul’s thought from verse 10, where he speaks of knowing Jesus and sharing in his sufferings. “Resurrection of the dead” points to the dead being raised to life. Paul places his own hope within that future.

The Greek behind Philippians 3:11

  • “resurrection” — ἐξανάστασις (exanastasis): This word means a rising up from among the dead. Paul uses an unusual form of the word for resurrection here.
  • “attain” — καταντάω (katantaō): This word can mean to arrive at or reach a destination. Paul pictures resurrection as the goal at the end of a journey.

Why Philippians 3:11 matters

  • Paul’s hope is tied to Jesus, rather than to a list of personal achievements. Earlier in the passage, Paul sets aside the things he once counted as gains because of the worth of knowing Jesus (verses 7–8).
  • Paul speaks as someone still pressing forward. In verse 12, he says he has not already reached the goal or become perfect.
  • “If by any means” expresses Paul’s earnest aim. The phrase shows how important reaching that goal is to him, while leaving the exact course ahead unstated.

Where else these words appear

“means” Greek G1513 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 27:12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
  • Romans 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
  • Romans 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

“attain” Greek G2658 · used in 13 verses

  • Acts 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
  • Acts 21:7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
  • Acts 28:13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

“dead” Greek G3498 · used in 123 verses

  • Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
  • Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?