Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Philippians 3:17

Συμμιμηταί μου γίνεσθε. Literally, “Become my co-imitators”; “join in copying my example.” In this case, the example is that of the renunciation of self-righteousness and of the dream of an attained perfection. St Paul often thus invites “imitation”; see below, Philippians 4:9, ἃ … εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοὶ … πράσσετε: 1 Corinthians 4:16, παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς, μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε: 1 Corinthians 11:1, μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε, καθὼς κἀγὼ Χριστοῦ: 2 Thessalonians 3:7, οἴδατε πῶς δεῖ μιμεῖσθαι ἡμᾶς: 2 Thessalonians 3:9, ἵνα ἑαυτοὺς τύπον δῶμεν ὑμῖν εἰς τὸ μ. ἡμᾶς: and Acts 20:18-21; Acts 20:30-35. This is not egotism, but a mark of entire confidence in his message and its principles, and a clear conscience as to the power of them on his own life.

σκοπεῖτε. Observate, Vulg.—Σκοπεῖν usually implies the need of caution and avoidance; cp. Romans 16:17, σκοπεῖν τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας … ποιοῦντας, καὶ ἐκκλίνετε�ʼ αὐτῶν. Here context gives the opposite reference; to see St Paul’s example, for daily practice, let them watch its reflection in his attached followers among themselves.

περιπατοῦντας. The verb occurs here only (with Philippians 3:18) in the Epistle. Elsewhere it is a favourite with St Paul, to denote life in its action and intercourse; e.g. Romans 6:4, ἐν καινότητι ζωῆς περιπατήσωμεν: Romans 13:13, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν: Galatians 5:16, πνεύματι περιπατεῖτε: Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:1; Ephesians 4:17; Ephesians 5:2; Ephesians 5:8; Ephesians 5:15; and many other places.

τύπον ἡμᾶς. “Shrinking from the egotism of dwelling on his own personal example, St Paul passes at once from the singular (μου) to the plural (ἡμᾶς)” (Lightfoot). He similarly uses the plural in 2 Thessalonians 3:7, quoted above, and 1 Thessalonians 1:6.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Philippians 3:17

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