Philippians 3 · Verse 9

Philippians 3:9

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Philippians 3:9, King James Version

Philippians 3:9 in other translations

BSBand be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
WEBand be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith,
ASVand be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:
YLTnot having my righteousness, which is of law, but that which is through faith of Christ--the righteousness that is of God by the faith,
DARBYand that I may be found in him, not having my righteousness, which would be on the principle of law, but that which is by faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God through faith,
BBEAnd be seen in him, not having my righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
WebsterAnd be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:

What does Philippians 3:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. be found in him--"be found" at His coming again, living spiritually "in Him" as the element of my life. Once lost, I have been "found," and I hope to be perfectly "found" by Him (Lu 15:8). own righteousness ... of the law--(Php 3:6; Ro 10:3, 5). "Of," that is, from. righteousness ... of God by faith--Greek, "which is from God (resting) upon faith." Paul was transported from legal bondage into Christian freedom at once, and without any gradual transition. Hence, the bands of Pharisaism were loosed instantaneously; and opposition to Pharisaic Judaism took the place of opposition to the Gospel. Thus God's providence fitly prepared him for the work of overthrowing all idea of legal justification. "The righteousness of faith," in Paul's sense, is the righteousness or perfect holiness of Christ appropriated by faith, as the objective ground of confidence for the believer, and also as a new subjective principle of life. Hence it includes the essence of a new disposition, and may easily pass into the idea of sanctification, though the two ideas are originally distinct. It is not any arbitrary act of God, as if he treated as sinless a man persisting in sin, simply because he believes in Christ; but the objective on the part of God corresponds to the subjective on the part of man, namely, faith. The realization of the archetype of holiness through Christ contains the pledge that this shall be realized in all who are one with Him by faith, and are become the organs of His Spirit. Its germ is imparted to them in believing although the fruit of a life perfectly conformed to the Redeemer, can only be gradually developed in this life [Neander].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. And be found in him. That is, united to him by a living faith The idea is, that when the investigations of the great day should take place in regard to the ground of salvation, it might be found that he was united to the Redeemer, and depended solely on his merits for salvation. Jn 6:56.

Not having mine own righteousness. That is, not relying on that for salvation. This was now the great aim of Paul, that it might be found at last that he was not trusting to his own merits, but to those of the Lord Jesus.

Which is of the law. Rom 10:3. The "righteousness which is of the law" is that which could be obtained by conformity to the precepts of the Jewish religion, such as Paul had endeavoured to obtain before he became a Christian. He now saw that no one complied perfectly with the holy law of God, and that all dependence on such a righteousness was vain. All men by nature seek salvation by the law. They set up some standard which they mean to comply with, and expect to be saved by conformity to that. With some it is the law of honour, with others the laws of honesty, with others the laws of kindness and courtesy, and with others the law of God. If they comply with the requirements of these laws, they suppose that they will be safe; and it is only the grace of God showing them how defective their standard is, or how far they come from complying with its demands, that can ever bring them from this dangerous dependence. Paul in early life depended on his compliance with the laws of God as he understood them, and supposed that he was safe. When he was brought to realize his true condition, he saw how far short he had come of what the law of God required, and that all dependence on his own works was vain.

But that which is through the faith of Christ. That justification which is obtained by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 1:17; Rom 3:24; Rom 4:5.

Righteousness which is of God by faith. Which proceeds from God, or of which he is the great Source and Fountain. This may include the following things:

(1.) God is the author of pardon--and this is a part of the righteousness which the man who is justified has.

(2.) God purposes to treat the justified sinner as if he had not sinned--and thus his righteousness is of God.

(3.) God is the source of all the grace that will be imparted to the soul, making it really holy. In this way, all the righteousness which the Christian has is "of God." The idea of Paul is, that he now saw that it was far more desirable to be saved by righteousness obtained from God than by his own. That obtained from God was perfect, and glorious, and sufficient; that which he had attempted to work out was defective, impure, and wholly insufficient to save the soul. It is far more honourable to be saved by God than to save ourselves; it is more glorious to depend on him than to depend on anything that we can do.

(e) "righteousness which" Rom 1:17, 3:21,22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 And be found in him - Be found a believer in Christ, not having mine own righteousness - not trusting in any thing I have done or could do, in order to my salvation; relying on no scheme of justification, set up either formerly by myself or by others. But that which is through the faith of Christ - That justification which is received by faith through the atonement made by Christ. The righteousness which is of God - God's method of justifying sinners through faith in his Son. See the notes on Rom 3:21, Rom 3:23 (note), Rom 3:25 (note), where this subject is treated at large.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philippians 3:1-11

Sincere Christians rejoice in Christ Jesus. The prophet calls the false prophets dumb dogs, Is 56:10; to which the apostle seems to refer. Dogs, for their malice against faithful professors of the gospel of Christ, barking at them and biting them. They urged human works in opposition to the faith of Christ; but Paul calls them evil-workers. He calls them the concision; as they rent the church of Christ, and cut it…

Read the full comment on Philippians 3:1-11 →

Philippians 3:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532
εὑρεθῶheurethōmay be foundG2147
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷautōHimG846
μὴmēnotG3361
ἔχωνechōnhavingG2192
ἐμὴνemēnmy ownG1473
δικαιοσύνηνdikaiosunēnrighteousnessG1343
τὴνtēnwhich [is]G3588
ἐκekofG1537
νόμουnomou[the] LawG3551
ἀλλὰallabutG235
τὴνtēnthatG3588
διὰdiathroughG1223
πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102
Χριστοῦ,Christoufrom Christ,G5547
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐκekofG1537
θεοῦtheouGodG2316
δικαιοσύνηνdikaiosunēnrighteousnessG1343
ἐπὶepion the basis ofG1909
τῇtēa<the>G3588
πίστει,pisteifaith,G4102

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Philippians 3:9

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:30

    But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

  • Galatians 2:16

    Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

  • Romans 4:5-6

    But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

  • Romans 4:13-15

    For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

  • Romans 1:17

    For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

  • Romans 8:1

    There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

  • Isaiah 53:11

    He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

  • Romans 9:30-32

    What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

  • Jeremiah 33:16

    In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.

  • Jeremiah 23:6

    In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

  • Romans 3:19-22

    Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
be.
Ge 7:23; De 19:3,4; Heb 6:18; 1Pe 3:19,20
in.
Ro 8:1; 16:7; 1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:17
not.
6; 1Ki 8:46; 2Ch 32:25,31; Job 9:28-31; 10:14,15; 15:14-16; 42:5,6
Ps 14:3; 19:12; 130:3,4; 143:2; Ec 7:20; Isa 6:5; 53:6; 64:5,6
Mt 9:13; Ro 9:31,32; 10:1-3,5; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 3:5; Jas 3:2; 1Jo 1:8-10
which is of the.
De 27:26; Lu 10:25-29; Ro 3:19,20; 4:13-15; 7:5-13; 8:3; 10:4,5
Ga 3:10-13,21,22; Jas 2:9-11; 1Jo 3:4
the righteousness.
Ps 71:15,16; Isa 45:24,25; 46:13; 53:11; Jer 23:6; 33:16; Da 9:24
Joh 16:8-11; Ro 1:17; 3:21,22; 4:5,6,13; 5:21; 9:30; 10:3,6,10
1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:21; Ga 2:16; 3:11; 2Pe 1:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Philippians 3:8

    Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

  • Philippians 3:9

    And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

  • Philippians 3:10

    That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Read all of Philippians 3

Philippians 3:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ser hallado en él, no teniendo mi justicia, que es por la ley, sino la que es por la fe de Cristo, la justicia que es de Dios por la fe;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et que je sois trouvé en lui, n’ayant pas ma justice qui est de la loi, mais celle qui est par la foi en Christ, la justice qui est de Dieu, moyennant la foi;
German
Elberfelder 1871		und in ihm erfunden werde, indem ich nicht meine Gerechtigkeit habe, die aus dem Gesetz ist, sondern die durch den Glauben an Christum ist-die Gerechtigkeit aus Gott durch den Glauben;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et inveniar in illo non habens meam justitiam, quæ ex lege est, sed illam, quæ ex fide est Christi Jesu: quæ ex Deo est justitia in fide,