Philippians 3:17

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., become my united imitators. For his appeals to his disciples to copy his example, see Philippians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 4:16 (a passage closely kindred in reference to this), 1 Corinthians 10:33 to 1 Corinthians 11:1; and cp. 1 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9; and Acts 20:18-21; Acts 20:30-35. Such appeals imply not egotism or self-confidence, but absolute confidence in his message and its principles, and the consciousness that his life, by the grace of God, was moulded on those principles. In the present case, he begs them to "join in imitating" him, in his renunciation of self-confidence and spiritual pride, with their terrible risks.

mark Watch, for imitation. The verb usually means the watching of caution and avoidance (Romans 16:17), but context here decides the other way. The Philippians knew Paul's principles, but to seethem they must look at the faithful disciples of the Pauline Gospel among themselves; such as Epaphroditus, on his return, the "true yokefellow" (Philippians 4:3), Clement, and others.

walk The common verb, not that noticed just above. It is a very favourite word with St Paul for life in its action and intercourse. See e.g. Romans 13:13; Romans 14:15; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10; Colossians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6. Cp. 1 John 1:7; 1Jn 2:6; 2 John 1:4; Revelation 21:24.

" Walk so as&c.": more lit., with R.V., so walk even as &c.

us "Shrinking from the egotism of dwelling on his own personal experience, St Paul passes at once from the singular to the plural" (Lightfoot). Timothy and his other best known fellow-workers, Silas certainly (Acts 16), if still alive, would be included.

ensample An "Old French" and "Middle English" derivative of the Latin exemplum(Skeat, Etym. Dict.). The word occurs in A.V. elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 10:11; 1Th 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1Pe 5:3; 2 Peter 2:6; and in the Prayer Book (Collect for 2nd Sunday after Easter).