from ἐξανίστημι; a rising from death:--resurrection.
Transliteration:exanástasis
Pronunciation:ex-an-as'-tas-is
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word exanástasis (`{{G1815}}`) is a compound noun derived from the verb exanístēmi (`{{G1817}}`), which means "to cause to rise up" or "to stand up from." The prefix "ex-" (ἐξ-) signifies "out of" or "from," emphasizing a definitive emergence or departure from a previous state. The root anástasis (`{{G386}}`) itself means "a standing up again," "a rising," or "resurrection." Therefore, exanástasis intensifies the concept of resurrection, specifically denoting a "rising *out of* death" or "resurrection from the dead." Its semantic range is narrow, exclusively referring to the ultimate bodily resurrection of individuals from the state of death. It implies a complete and transformative emergence from the realm of the deceased.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term exanástasis (`{{G1815}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in [[Philippians 3:11]]. In this pivotal passage, the Apostle Paul expresses his profound spiritual ambition: "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; if somehow I may attain to the exanástasis (`{{G1815}}`) from the dead."
The immediate context reveals Paul's supreme desire to intimately know Christ, not just intellectually, but experientially, even to the point of sharing in Christ's sufferings and death. His ultimate goal, "if somehow I may attain to the exanástasis from the dead," signifies the culmination of this spiritual journey. The phrase "from the dead" (ἐκ νεκρῶν) further reinforces the "out of" aspect already present in the prefix of exanástasis, making the meaning unequivocally clear: a resurrection *out of* the realm of death.
Scholars have debated the precise nuance of exanástasis here compared to the more common anástasis (`{{G386}}`). Some suggest it emphasizes:
1. **A special resurrection:** Perhaps an earlier or more glorious resurrection for those who have suffered with Christ, distinct from the general resurrection.
2. **The intensity of Paul's desire:** The prefix "ex-" could simply be an emphatic particle, highlighting the fervency of Paul's longing for *the* resurrection.
3. **The definitive nature of the resurrection:** Stressing the complete and final emergence from death's power.
Regardless of the precise nuance, the passage underscores Paul's deep longing for ultimate victory over death through Christ, a victory that involves his own bodily resurrection.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **anástasis (`{{G386}}`):** This is the more general and frequently used term for "resurrection" in the New Testament, referring to both Christ's resurrection (e.g., [[Acts 1:22]], [[Romans 6:5]]) and the future resurrection of all people (e.g., [[John 5:29]], [[Acts 24:15]]). exanástasis (`{{G1815}}`) can be seen as a more emphatic or specific form of anástasis.
* **anístēmi (`{{G450}}`):** The verb "to stand up," "to rise," or "to raise," from which anástasis is derived.
* **exanístēmi (`{{G1817}}`):** The verb "to cause to rise up" or "to stand up from," from which exanástasis (`{{G1815}}`) is directly derived. This verb is used in the context of raising up offspring in levirate marriage (e.g., [[Mark 12:19]], [[Luke 20:28]]), demonstrating the core meaning of "raising up from" a state or position.
* **Resurrection of Christ:** The foundational event of Christian faith, upon which all hope for future resurrection rests (e.g., [[1 Corinthians 15:20-23]]).
* **Resurrection of the Dead:** The eschatological promise that all believers will be raised to new, eternal life (e.g., [[John 6:40]], [[Romans 8:11]]).
* **Conformity to Christ's Death:** Paul links the experience of Christ's sufferings and death with the attainment of resurrection, suggesting a profound spiritual process of dying to self in order to live in Christ.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of exanástasis (`{{G1815}}`) in [[Philippians 3:11]] highlights the profound and ultimate hope of the Christian faith: a full and complete resurrection from the dead. Paul's fervent desire to "attain" this exanástasis reveals that for him, resurrection was not merely a distant theological concept but a deeply personal and transformative goal, the very culmination of his life in Christ.
This aspiration is inextricably linked to knowing Christ in the "power of His resurrection" and the "fellowship of His sufferings." This suggests that attaining exanástasis is not a passive event but involves an active, lifelong pursuit of Christ, even if it entails suffering and conformity to His death. It underscores the truth that victory over death is found *in Christ* and through participation in His redemptive work.
The emphasis on "out of" (ex-) in exanástasis signifies a complete and decisive triumph over death's dominion. It is not merely a reanimation but a definitive emergence from the grave into a new, eternal state of life, mirroring Christ's own glorious resurrection. This term powerfully encapsulates the Christian hope for a future bodily resurrection, where believers will fully experience the victory over sin and death, living eternally in the presence of God.
### Summary
The Greek word exanástasis (`{{G1815}}`), uniquely found in [[Philippians 3:11]], denotes a powerful and definitive "rising out of" or "resurrection from" the dead. Derived from exanístēmi (`{{G1817}}`) and intensifying the more common anástasis (`{{G386}}`), it emphasizes a complete and transformative emergence from the state of death. Paul's fervent aspiration to attain this exanástasis underscores the ultimate hope of the Christian faith: a bodily resurrection that mirrors Christ's victory over death and signifies the full realization of salvation. It highlights the transformative power of God to bring life from death and the believer's profound desire for complete conformity to the resurrected Christ, even through suffering.
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