What Does Philippians 3:9 Mean in the King James?
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:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The alignment found in Christ comes from God through trust, not from a record you build by keeping the law.
THE MEANING
Your place in Christ rests on an alignment that comes from God and is received through trust. The verse locates this standing in Christ, rather than in what you can claim as your own achievement.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that being found in Christ depends on building a flawless record of rule-keeping.
THE ROOT
δικαιοσύνην
dikaiosynēn
GROWS FROM
δικ-
dik-
Justice, what is right or due; here, alignment.
The verse uses this word for both the alignment associated with law and the alignment that comes from God. English can make “righteousness” sound like a quality you accumulate, while the verse directs attention to its source: God, in Christ.
ALSO GROWS
dikaios: Just, right.
δίκαιος
The related adjective shows the same root describing what is aligned with what is right.
dikaioō: To justify, declare or set right.
δικαιόω
This verb carries the root into the act of recognizing or establishing right standing.
dikē: Justice, what is due.
δίκη
It makes the root’s concern with right order visible beneath the broader English word “righteousness.”
πίστεως
pisteōs
GROWS FROM
πειθ-
peith-
Persuasion; being persuaded into trust.
“faith” in this verse is pisteōs. The word points to trust as reliance, not merely agreement with an idea. In this verse, trust is the way the alignment from God is received; it is not another achievement to add to a personal record.
ALSO GROWS
peithō: To persuade, or to trust.
πείθω
The related verb connects trust with being persuaded or brought to rely.
pisteuō: To believe, trust, or rely.
πιστεύω
This verb shows the same root as an active response of trust.
pistos: Trustworthy, reliable.
πιστός
The adjective shows the root describing what can be relied upon.
THE PATTERN
Alignment is counted as received through trust rather than earned as a personal achievement.
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.THE THREAD
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:Romans 3:22 repeats the same pair: God’s righteousness and faith in Jesus Christ. It opens Philippians’ contrast further by showing that this alignment is from God and reaches all who trust, without distinction.
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