And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
be.
Genesis 7:23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
Deuteronomy 19:3,4 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither…
Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
in.
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.
Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
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:
not.
Philippians 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
1 Kings 8:46 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;
2 Chronicles 32:25,31 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem…
which is of the.
Deuteronomy 27:26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Luke 10:25-29 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? …
Romans 3:19,20 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…
the righteousness.
Psalm 71:15,16 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof…
Isaiah 45:24,25 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed…
Isaiah 46:13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
not having my own righteousness from the law
Paul contrasts the righteousness that comes from the law with the righteousness that comes through faith. Historically, the Jewish law was seen as a means to achieve righteousness, but Paul argues that true righteousness cannot be attained through human effort or adherence to the law. This reflects the broader New Testament teaching that the law serves to reveal sin (Romans 3:20) but cannot save. Paul's own background as a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) underscores his understanding of the limitations of the law.
but that which is through faith in Christ
Here, Paul introduces the concept of righteousness through faith, a cornerstone of Christian doctrine. This righteousness is not earned but is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ. This echoes the teaching in Ephesians 2:8-9, which emphasizes salvation by grace through faith, not by works. The phrase underscores the transformative power of faith in Christ, which brings about a new standing before God.
the righteousness from God on the basis of faith
This final phrase encapsulates the doctrine of justification by faith. The righteousness that believers receive is not their own but is imputed to them by God. This is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, such as in Isaiah 53:11, where the suffering servant makes many righteous. The concept of imputed righteousness is further elaborated in Romans 4, where Paul discusses Abraham's faith being credited as righteousness. This righteousness is a divine gift, highlighting God's grace and the believer's reliance on faith rather than works.
• Paul’s longing is “to be found in Him,” immersed in Jesus so completely that his identity is defined by Christ alone.
• Colossians 3:3 echoes this: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Union with Christ brings security, purpose, and a new position before the Father (John 15:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
• Being “found” implies the final reckoning—when God searches hearts, believers want to be discovered in the shelter of Christ, not standing on their own merits.
• Paul once prided himself on flawless law-keeping (Philippians 3:6), yet he now calls that résumé “loss.”
• Isaiah 64:6 bluntly states, “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags,” and Romans 3:20 confirms that “no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law.”
• The law exposes sin and proves our need; it was never meant to be a ladder to heaven (Galatians 2:16; James 2:10). Self-generated righteousness collapses under divine scrutiny.
• The contrast is stark: human effort versus simple trust. Salvation rests on “faith in Christ”—total reliance on who He is and what He accomplished at the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:22).
• Faith is not a work added to the pile; it is the empty hand receiving God’s gift (John 3:16).
• Galatians 3:26 affirms, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,” highlighting relationship, not performance.
• This righteousness is God’s own, credited to the believer (Romans 4:3-5). It’s objective, complete, and unchanging.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
• Such righteousness produces visible fruit—“the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:11)—yet its root is always faith, never self-achievement.
Philippians 3:9 presents the gospel in a single verse: to stand safely “in Him,” abandoning every shred of self-made righteousness, embracing the flawless righteousness God freely gives through faith in Christ. In that exchange, the believer gains a secure identity, a cleansed record, and a life that naturally overflows with Christ-shaped fruit.
(9) Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law.--This is not the same as "righteousness in the Law," that is, defined by law. It is a righteousness resulting from the works of the Law (Galatians 2:16), earned by an obedience to the Law, which is "mine own"--"not of grace, but of debt" (Romans 4:4)--such as St. Paul declares (in Romans 10:3-6) to have been blindly sought by Israel, which he there defines as "life by doing the things of the Law." We have here, and in the following words, a remarkable link of connection with the earlier Epistles of the Judaising controversy, corresponding to Ephesians 2:8-10, but cast more nearly in the ancient mould. Yet it is, after all, only the last echo of the old controversy, which we trace so clearly in the Galatian and Roman Epistles. The battle is now virtually won, and it only needs to complete the victory.But . . . the righteousness which is of God by (on condition of) faith.--This verse is notable, as describing the true righteousness; first imperfectly, as coming "through faith of Jesus Christ," a description which discloses to us only its means, and not its origin; next, completely, as "a righteousness coming from God on the sole condition of faith"--faith being here viewed not as the means, but as the condition, of receiving the divine gift (as in Acts 3:16). It may be noted that in the Epistle to the Romans, we have righteousness "through faith," "from faith," "of faith;" for there it was needful to bring out in various forms the importance of faith. Here, now that the urgent necessity has passed, we have the stress laid simply on the opposition of the gift of God through Christ to the merit of the works of the Law; and faith occupies a less prominent, though not less indispensable, position. (See Ephesians 2:8-10, and Note thereon.) . . .
Verse 9. - And be found in him; now, at the last day, always. In Christ; a member, that is, of his body, a living branch of the true Vine. Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law; rather, as R.V., not harding a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the Law. Not any righteousness of my own, such as that described in ver. 6, the righteousness which consists in and results from conformity to an external law. But perhaps the words are best rendered, as in the margin of R.V., "Not having as my righteousness that which is of the Law." St. Paul was blameless as regards that righteousness which lies in legal observances: in that he puts no confidence, he seeks a better righteousness. But that which is through the faith of Christ; rather, as R.V., through faith in Christ. There is no article, and the genitive is objective. Through faith. God is the Giver, the Source of righteousness; it is given through faith as the means, on condition of faith. The righteousness which is of God by faith. Greek, "upon faith," based upon faith, or on condition of faith. St. Paul speaks of "having" this righteousness. Then it is his; yet it is not any righteousness of his own, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done;" but a righteousness of God given to him, merited, not by his works, but by the perfect obedience and the precious death of Christ, and granted unto all who are found in Christ. It comes from God, the one only Giver of all good things; it is obtained through faith as the instrument or means; and it is given on that faith - on condition, that is, of a living faith abiding in the soul. Thus St. Paul states incidentally, but simply and forcibly, the great doctrine of justification by faith.