Philippians 3:1-3. Let them cultivate Joy in the Lord, as the true preservative from the Dangers of Judaistic Teaching 1. _Finally_ Lit., "_For the rest_"; "_For what remains_." See Ephesians 6:10, and note in this Series. In 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; below Philip... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beware of_ Lit., "_see_." For this use of the verb, cp. Colossians 4:17; 2 John 1:8. _dogs_ Lit. and better, THE DOGS. He refers to a known and defined class; and these evidently were those Judaistic teachers within the pale of the Church to whom he has referred already (Philippians 1:15) in anothe... [ Continue Reading ]
_we are the circumcision_ See the previous note. For the thought, cp. especially Galatians 3:7; Galatians 3:29; Galatians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19; Colossians 2:11. _which worship God in the spirit_ R.V., WHO WORSHIP BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. This is based on the better-supported reading of the Greek, and s... [ Continue Reading ]
His own experience as a converted Pharisee: Justification by Faith: its spiritual and eternal issues 4. _Though I_might _also_&c. The Greek seems to assert that he not only might have, but has, such confidence. But the whole context, and St Paul's whole presentation of the Gospel, alike assure us t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Circumcised_&c. Quite lit., "_as to circumcision, eight days old_." See Genesis 17:12; Luke 2:21. He was neither a proselyte, circumcised as an adult, nor an Ishmaelite, circumcised (as Josephus tells us, _Antiquities_, xii. i. § 2; see Genesis 17:25) at thirteen, but a member of the covenant from... [ Continue Reading ]
_zeal_ "of God, but not according to true spiritual knowledge (_epignôsis_)," Romans 10:2. Cp. Acts 26:9-11. He implies here that this "zeal" was perfectly sincere, though sinfully conditioned by a moral blindness. See in this connexion Acts 23:1; 2 Timothy 1:3. _persecuting the church_ Cp. 1 Corint... [ Continue Reading ]
_what things_ The Greek might almost be paraphrased, "the _kind_or _class_of things which"; including anything and everything, as ground of reliance, other than Christ. So more fully, Philippians 3:8. _gain_ Lit. and better, GAINS. The plural suggests the proud and jealous care with which the relig... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea doubtless, and_&c. Better, perhaps, YEA RATHER I EVEN &c. He adds a twofold new weight to the assertion; "_I count_" (not only "_I have counted_"), emphasizing the presentness of the estimate; and "_all things_," not only specified grounds of reliance. Whatever, from any point of view, could se... [ Continue Reading ]
_be found in him_ at any moment of scrutiny or test; alike in life, in death, and before the judgment-seat. The truth of the believer's deep incorporation in his Lord and Head, and identification with Him for acceptance and life, is here full in view. In the surrender of faith (Ephesians 2:8-10; cp.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That_I _may know him_ IN ORDER TO KNOW HIM. For the construction, cp. e.g. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Observe the sequence of thought. He embraces "the righteousness which is of God on terms of faith," and renounces "a righteousness of his own" _as a means to the end here stated_the spiritual knowledge o... [ Continue Reading ]
_if by any means_ For the strong language of _contingency_here cp. 1 Corinthians 9:27. Taken along with such expressions of exulting assurance as Romans 8:31-39; 2 Timothy 1:12; and indeed with the whole tone of "joy and peace in believing" (Romans 15:13) which pervades the Scriptures, we may fairly... [ Continue Reading ]
On the other hand, his spiritual condition is one of progress, not perfection 12. _Not as though_&c. This reserve, so emphatic and solemn, appears to be suggested by the fact, brought out more fully below (Philippians 3:18-19), of the presence of a false teaching which represented the Christian as a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brethren_ A direct loving appeal, to restate and enforce what he has just said. _I count not myself_ "I" and "myself" are both emphatic in the Greek. Whatever others may think of _themselves_, this is _his_deliberate estimate of _himself_. He has in view the false teachers more clearly indicated b... [ Continue Reading ]
_the mark_ R.V., "_the goal_." But the Greek word is, like "mark," a general rather than a special one, and used in the classics rather of archery than of racing. The verse might be roughly but closely rendered, "mark-wards I haste, towards the prize &c."; I run with a definite aim, and that aim is... [ Continue Reading ]
_perfect_ An adjective, not a perfect participle, as was the kindred word (" _perfected_") in Philippians 3:12. Is there a contradiction between this place and that? On the surface, but not really. The Apostle appears to be taking up the favourite word of teachers who upheld some phase of "perfectio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nevertheless_ Better, with R.V., ONLY; a word, like the Greek, of less contrast and easier transition. _attained_ Not the same Greek verb as that in Philippians 3:12, though R.V. (with A.V.) gives the same English. The verb here is properly used, in classical Greek, of anticipation (so 1 Thessaloni... [ Continue Reading ]
Application of the thought of progress: warning against antinomian distortion of the truth of grace: the coming glory of the body, a motive to holy purity 17. _Brethren_ A renewed earnest address, introducing a special message. See above, Philippians 3:13. _be followers together of me_ More lit., B... [ Continue Reading ]
_many_ Evidently holders of an antinomian parody of the Gospel of grace; see on Philippians 3:12. That there were such in the primeval Church appears also from Romans 16:17-18 (a warning _to_Rome, as this _from_Rome); 1 Corinthians 5:6. To them Romans 3:31; Romans 6:1, refer, and Ephesians 5:6. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_end_ A word of awful and hopeless import. Cp. Rom 6:21; 2 Corinthians 11:15; Hebrews 6:8; 1 Peter 4:17. _destruction_ R.V., PERDITION. See on Philippians 1:28. their _belly_ Lit. and better, THE BELLY. Cp. Romans 16:18 for the same word in the same connexion. See too 1 Corinthians 6:13. The word... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ The A.V., by marking Philippians 3:18-19 as a parenthesis, connects this "for" with Philippians 3:17. But there is no need for this. A suppressed link of thought is easily seen and expressed between Philippians 3:19-20; somewhat thus: "such principles and practices are wholly alien to ours; fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_change_ The Greek verb is cognate to the word _schêma_, on which see second note on Philippians 2:8. It occurs also 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, and, with a different reference of thought, 1 Corinthians 4:6. Its use here implies that, in a sense, the change would be superficial. Already, in the "new cre... [ Continue Reading ]