Philippians 3:2

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Beware, [ blepete (G991)] - 'Have your eye on' so as to beware of. Contrast "mark," namely, so as to follow (Philippians 3:17).

Dogs, [ tous (G3588) kunas (G2965)] - 'the dogs;' namely, those impure persons "of whom I have told you often" (Philippians 3:18); "the abominable" (cf. Revelation 21:8 with Revelation 22:15; Matthew 7:6; Matthew 15:26, paganish in spirit; Titus 1:15): "dogs" in filthiness and snarling (Deuteronomy 23:18; Psalms 22:16; Psalms 22:20; Psalms 59:6; Psalms 59:14; 2 Peter 2:22). The Jews regarded the Gentiles as "dogs" (Matthew 15:26); but by their own unbelief they ceased to be the true Israel, and are become "dogs" (cf. Isaiah 56:10; Isaiah 66:3).

Evil workers (2 Corinthians 11:13); Not simply 'evil-doers,' but men who 'worked' ostensibly for the Gospel, but really for evil (Philippians 3:19: cf. Romans 16:18): [ tous (G3588) kakous (G2556) ergatas (G2040)] 'the evil workmen; i:e., bad teachers (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15).

Concision, [ katatomeen (G2699)]. Paul digresses at this word. Circumcision [ peritomee (G4061)] had now lost its spiritual significance, and was to those who rested on it at all for justification a senseless mutilation. Christians have the true circumcision-namely, of the heart; legalists have only "concision" - i:e., the cutting off of the flesh. To make "cuttings in the flesh" was prohibited (Leviticus 21:5): it was a paganish practice (1 Kings 18:28): yet this, writes Paul indignantly, is what these legalists are virtually doing in violation of the law. There is a gradation (Birks) in Paul's language as to circumcision. In his first discourse (Acts 13:39) circumcision is not named, but included in "the law of Moses," which cannot justify. Six or seven years later, in Galatians 3:3, where first it is named, its inefficiency is maintained against those Gentiles who, beginning in the spirit, thought to be perfected in the flesh. Later, in Romans 2:28, he goes further, and claims its substance for every believer, assigning the shadow only to the unbelieving Jew. In Colossians 2:11; Colossians 3:11; also Ephesians 2:11, still later, he expounds the true circumcision as the believer's exclusive privilege. Last of all, here, the very name is denied to the legalist: a term of reproach is substituted - "concision." Once obligatory on all the covenant people, then reduced to a national distinction, it was more and more associated with the open hostility of the Jews, and the perverse teaching of false brethren.