For Paul, the expression “body of glory”
would recall prophetic visions of God’s human-like form, which Ezekiel
described as “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD (δοξης κυριου)” (Ezek
1:26-28) and that the later apocalyptic and mystical tradition referred to as “the
(Great) Glory” (1 En. 14:20; T. Levi 3:4; cf. 4Q405 23 ii II.8-9). As such, the
σωμα της
δοξης αυτου of Phil
3:21 echoes the εν μορφη θεου
υπαρχων of 2:6. Christ on his return has the same
kind of visible, tangible-but-heavenly-and-glorious form that he had before the
incarnation. If this is that to which believers will be conformed, Paul
envisages a Christ-shaped version of a Jewish belief that visionaries can be
transformed to the likeness of God’s own glorious form. (Crispin Fletcher-Louis,
The Divine Heartset: Paul’s Philippians Christ Hymn, Metaphysical Affections,
and Civic Virtues [Eugene, Oreg.: Pickwick Publications, 2023], 152)
