Philippians 3:20

‘For our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,'

Paul now contrasts with the descriptions just given the viewpoint and mindset of the Christian. Rather than ‘minding earthly things', they recognise that their citizenship is in Heaven (in contrast with being in Rome). In other words, as it has been so aptly put, ‘they are a colony of Heaven'. As representatives of Heaven, following Heaven's laws, subject to Heaven's justice, supported by Heaven's power and acting on Heaven's behalf in the area where they are (compare what was said in the introduction about a Roman ‘colony'), they await the coming of their Heavenly King, their Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. They are a ‘military camp of the saints and the beloved city' (the heavenly Jerusalem - Galatians 4:22; Hebrews 12:22), surrounded by the enemy, but knowing that they have nought to fear, because their Lord and Saviour is coming to finalise their salvation and set all right (Revelation 20:9).

‘A Saviour.' In the New Testament the title Saviour is used of God and of Jesus Christ on an equal basis. It signifies the Saviour of the Old Testament Who will deliver His people (e.g. Psalms 106:21; Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 45:21; Isaiah 60:16; Jeremiah 14:8; Hosea 13:4), but was also used of Caesar in an earthly sense, thus indicating that while great Caesar reigned on earth, God and the Lord Jesus Christ reign in Heaven. It is particularly apt therefore in Philippians where citizenship in Heaven is seen as being superior to that in Rome. Prior to this the word Saviour had only been used once by Paul, in Ephesians 5:23, but it would be commoner in the Pastorals (1 Timothy three times of ‘God'; 2 Timothy once of ‘Jesus Christ'; Titus six times, three of ‘God' and three of Jesus Christ). It occurs also in Luke 1:47; Luke 2:11; John 4:42; Acts 5:31; Acts 13:23; 1 John 4:1; Jude 1:25; Jude 1:2 Peter - 5 times).

Alternately we may see politeuma (citizenship) as signifying ‘our commonwealth (colonial rule) is in Heaven', with the emphasis being on the source of rule. The consequence is little different. Each church on earth is still seen as an outpost or military camp under Heaven's rule. ‘From where (which) --.' That is from the commonwealth of Heaven.