Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
That I may know him--experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness" just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" (Philippians 3:8). To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself.
the power of his resurrection--assuring believers of their justification (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:17), and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming work for us (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Colossians 3:1). The power of the Divine Spirit, which raised Him from literal death, is the same which raises believers from spiritual death now (Ephesians 1:19-20), and shall raise their bodies from literal death hereafter (Romans 8:11).
the fellowship of his sufferings--by identification with Him in His sufferings and death, by imputation; also, in actually bearing the cross whatever is laid on us, after His example, and so "filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ" (Colossians 1:24); and in the will to bear aught for His sake (Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; 2 Timothy 2:11). As He bore all our sufferings (Isaiah 53:4), so we participate in His.
made conformable unto his death--"conformed to the likeness of His death," namely, by continued sufferings for His sake, and mortifying of the carnal self (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20).
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Isaiah 53:11
Jeremiah 11:19
2 Corinthians 5:16
Galatians 2:20
Galatians 4:19
Galatians 6:14
Galatians 6:17
Ephesians 1:19
Ephesians 2:8
Ephesians 4:20
Philippians 3:15
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