Thomas Aquinas, on Phil 3:10

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death,”

“The fruit is knowledge of Him and the power of His resurrection and to be in the company of His saints. These things can be explained in two ways according to the two forms of knowledge: in one way, in terms of knowledge available in this life. In that case one must know three things about Him: first, His person, namely, that He is true God and true man; hence he says, that I may know him: "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn. 14:9). Secondly, the glory of His resurrection; hence he says, and the power of his resurrection, i.e., the powerful resurrection performed by His own power. Thirdly, how to imitate Him, when he says, and may share his sufferings, namely, be associated with Him in His passion: "Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Pet. 2:21). In the other way, by practical knowledge, which begins from what is later, which is the last thing accomplished but the first thing intended. The first thing intended is the knowledge of God through His essence, to which faith leads: "They shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest" (Jer. 31:34); therefore, he says, that I may know him. Secondly, that not only the soul will be glorified, but the body also; hence he says, and the power of his resurrection, namely, by which we shall rise: "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain" (1 Cor. 15:14). Thirdly, the value of sharing His suffering, because we shall know how much it benefits us to be associated with His passion: "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9). Then when he says, becoming like him in his death, he shows how he would like to grow and be found in Him by enduring His sufferings: first, he mentions the endurance; secondly, its fruit (3:11). He says, therefore: let me be found not only having justice but also conformed to his death, that I might suffer for justice and truth as Christ did: "I bear on my body the marks of Jesus" (Gal. 6:17).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.