Philippians 3
CHAPTER 3
Warning against the Judaizers
Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. For me to repeat the same things to you as I did before is not tedious, indeed it only confirms their certainty. 2 As so I say again: Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the mutilators! 3 For we are the circumcision who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more. 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of Israelite stock, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. As touching the law, a Pharisee. 6 As touching zeal, persecuting the church. As touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. 7 However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yes indeed, I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own which is of the law, but which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death. 11 If by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Paul’s aim
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet. But one thing I do, forgetting the past and looking forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal, to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are mature, be thus decided; and if in anything you are otherwise decided, this also shall God reveal to you. 16 For now, according to that understanding unto which we have attained, by that same rule let us walk.
17 Brothers, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself.
Commentary
3:10,11 If we share the sufferings of Christ now, we will share in His resurrection. Our baptism committed us to this as a way of life (Rom. 6:3-5).
3:13 Forgetting the past- This is so difficult to do. But if we believe for sure that we will live eternally in God’s Kingdom, we have so much to look forward to that the past weighs less heavily. And God can help us- He made Joseph “forget” or [Hebrew] ‘neglect’ the pain he suffered in his family (Gen. 41:51).
3:20 We are citizens of Heaven, of God and of Jesus, although we live here on earth. This is where our loyalty should be; our earthly citizenship should mean far less to us than the fact we are citizens of God’s Kingdom.
3:21 Jesus now exists in a bodily form; and we also will, eternally in God’s Kingdom.
