The Evangelical Universalist Forum

Philippians 3:21 and Universal Salvation

“…who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” - Philippians 3:21 (NKJV)

I think that Paul is here affirming an eventual universal salvation, especially considering what Paul says in 1 Cor. 15. It seems to me that this verse is suggesting that the subjection of Christ’s enemies entails their transformation (resurrection) and their conformation to Christ. What do you folks think? Am I reading too much into the texts?

Having come to believe that Paul really did believe that all will ultimately be reconciled to God, this verse fits well with that. And in context it seems even more poignant.

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Notice that he says that the destiny of the “enemies of the cross” is “destruction”. And elsewhere Paul says that he turns a brother over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that his spirit might be saved. So enemies are turned over to destruction so that they might be saved fits well with Him, Jesus ultimately bringing everything under his control!

And the belief that Jesus brings everything under his control fills us with faith that He will transform us individually, transforming us to be like Him!

And let’s not forget that this verse comes after Paul’s affirmation of UR in 2:10-11!