Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Philippians 3:9 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 9. 9And 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:
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Paul wants to be found in Christ with righteousness from God through faith, not a status secured by law performance.
Read It With
- Philippians 3:7–11
Former gains become loss because knowing Christ, receiving righteousness from God, sharing Christ's sufferings, and reaching resurrection belong together.
Why This Verse Appears Here
Verse 9 states the positive alternative to self-based confidence: Paul wants to be found in Christ with righteousness from God through faith rather than one constructed through law performance.
What Remains True
Right standing with God is received in relation to Christ, not established by personal religious performance.
How It Can Shape Life
- Let obedience respond to God's gift rather than using it as a scoreboard for proving superiority before God or others.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Philippians 3:1–11 — Counting Every Status Gain as Loss Beside ChristSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The KJV wording and immediate English context for Philippians 3:1–11.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Philippians 3; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording and punctuation used as the base text for this passage.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Phil.txt, Philippians 3, verses within Philippians 3:1–11.
Open the Philippians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Philippians with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Material English translation choices, syntax notes, and textual variants identified for this passage.
Exact location: NET Bible, Philippians 3, translator and textual notes attached to the verses in Philippians 3:1–11.
Open NET Philippians 3 ↗