CHAPTER 3

(A.D. 64)

FALSE TEACHERS

¹Finally, my Brethren, rejoice in the Lord (as long as they keep their eyes on Christ and the Cross, they can keep rejoicing). To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. (This presents the Apostle now turning his attention to the Judaizers, who might at any time turn their attention toward Philippi.)

²Beware of dogs (the Apostle is addressing the Judaizers, who were Jews from Jerusalem that claimed Christ, but insisted on Believers keeping the Law as well; all of this was diametrically opposed to Pauls Gospel of Grace, in which the Law of Moses had no part; as well, by the use of the word dogs, the Apostle was using the worst slur), beware of evil workers (they denigrated the Cross), beware of the concision. (This presents a Greek word Paul uses as a play upon the Greek word Circumcision, which was at the heart of the Law Gospel of the Judaizers.)

³For we are the Circumcision (refers to the true Circumcision, which is that of the heart), which worship God in the Spirit (would have been better translated, which worship by the Spirit of God), and rejoice in Christ Jesus (refers not only to Who Christ is, but what He has done for us at the Cross), and have no confidence in the flesh (in things other than the Cross, which alone is the guarantee of Salvation and Victory).

⁴Though I might also have confidence in the flesh (refers to human attainments). If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more (the Apostle knows what hes talking about regarding Judaism):

PAUL

⁵Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel (he was a pure-blooded Jew), of the Tribe of Benjamin (Benjamin was the only Tribe that stayed with Judah at the time of the division of the nation), an Hebrew of the Hebrews (goes all the way back to Abraham); as touching the Law, a Pharisee (in fact, Paul had been the hope of the Pharisees, touted to take the place of Gamaliel);

⁶Concerning zeal, persecuting the Church (he thought he was doing God a service); touching the Righteousness which is in the Law, blameless. (He thought he was earning merit with God by persecuting the Church.)

⁷But what things were gain to me (Paul was speaking of his privileges as a Jew), those I counted loss for Christ. (All must be given up for Christ, and Christ is worth all we give up, and a thousand times more.)

⁸Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord (the knowledge of the Lord Jesus which Paul gained through the experience of intimate companionship and communion with Him): for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things (For Whose sake I have been caused to forfeit), and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ (next to Christ, everything else is nothing),

⁹And be found in Him (to be united with Christ by a living Faith, which has as its Object the Cross of Christ), not having my own Righ teousness (not having any Righteousness which can be called my own), which is of the Law (pertains to Law-keeping; he was done with that), but that which is through the Faith of Christ (what He did at the Cross), the Righteousness which is of God by Faith (a spotless Righteousness made possible by the Cross, and imputed by God to all who exhibit Faith in Christ and the Cross):

¹⁰That I may know Him (referring to what Christ did at the Cross), and the power of His Resurrection (refers to being raised with Him in Newness of Life [Rom. 6:3-5]), and the fellowship of His sufferings (regarding our Trust and Faith placed in what He did for us at the Cross), being made conformable unto His death (to conform to what He did for us at the Cross, understanding that this is the only means of Salvation and Sanctification);

¹¹If by any means I might attain unto the Resurrection of the dead. (This does not refer to the coming Resurrection, but rather the Believing sinner being baptized into the death of Christ [refers to the Crucifixion], and raised in Newness of Life, which gives victory over all sin [Rom. 6:3-5, 11, 14].)

¹²Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect (the Apostle is saying he doesnt claim sinless perfection): but I follow after (to pursue), if that I may apprehend (Paul is pursuing absolute Christlikeness) that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (He was saved by Christ for the purpose of becoming Christlike, and so are we!)

¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (in effect, repeats what he said in the previous Verse): but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind (refers to things the Apostle had depended upon to find favor with God, and the failure that type of effort brought about [3:5-6]), reaching forth unto those things which are before (all our attention must be on that which is ahead, and not on what is past; those things consists of all the victories of the Cross),

¹⁴I press toward the mark (this represents a moral and spiritual target) for the prize of the high calling of God (Christlikeness) in Christ Jesus (proclaims the manner and means in which all of this is done, which is the Cross [I Cor. 1:17-18; 2:2]).

UNITY

¹⁵Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (mature), be thus minded (have our minds on what Christ has done at the Cross, and was done for us): and if in anything you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (This means some were actually otherwise minded. But through the words of Paul, the Holy Spirit was going to show them the right way, which is to pull them back to the Cross.)

¹⁶Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained (progress), let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. (Let us walk the same path, that of the Cross [Lk. 9:23-24].)

ENEMIES OF THE CROSS

¹⁷Brethren, be followers together of me (be fellow-imitators), and mark them which walk so as you have us for an ensample (observe intently).

¹⁸(For many walk (speaks of those attempting to live for God outside of the Victory and rudiments of the Cross of Christ), of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping (this is a most serious matter), that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ (those who do not look exclusively to the Cross of Christ must be labeled enemies):

¹⁹Whose end is destruction (if the Cross is ignored, and continues to be ignored, the loss of the soul is the only ultimate conclusion), whose god is their belly (refers to those who attempt to pervert the Gospel for their own personal gain), and whose glory is in their shame (the material things they seek, God labels as shame), who mind earthly things.) (This means they have no interest in Heavenly things, which signifies they are using the Lord for their own personal gain.)

²⁰For our conversation (citizenship) is in Heaven (meaning the other ways will have no place in Heaven); from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (the Rapture):

²¹Who (the Lord) shall change our vile body (the Resurrection), that it may be fashioned like unto His Glorious Body (every Saint will have a Glorified Body), according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. (All things are done through the Cross.)