Philippians 3:1-3

"Beware of Dogs"

The word "finally," according to Vine, was sometimes used by Paul to mark the close of one part of an epistle. It is a transitional word that actually means, "And for the rest". Paul wanted the brethren to rejoice in the Lord, but ONLY in the Lord. The "same things" he wrote about may be the rejoicing just mentioned, or, the message which follows about those who would require Gentiles to be circumcised. The latter seems most likely since he had just been to the Jerusalem conference before his first visit to Philippi (Acts 15:1-29). Paul did not mind repetition. In fact, repetition aids learning, as any good teacher knows, and it was needful for the safety of their souls (1 Peter 3:1).

It was common for Jews to deride Gentiles by calling them dogs. Max Hughes points out that during those days dogs were dirty animals that roamed the streets eating garbage. They were half-wild and dangerous (Psalms 22:16-20). These the apostle spoke of worked, but to an evil end (Matthew 23:15; 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; Galatians 1:6-9). It appears Paul is referring to the Judaizers who were trying to make Gentile Christians obey the law of Moses (Acts 15:5; Galatians 3:24-25). They asked Gentiles to circumcise to be more pleasing to God, but it did not please God so it was only a mutilation of the flesh, or concision (1 Peter 3:2; Leviticus 21:5).

The Jews used their fleshly circumcision to prove they were descendants of the faithful Abraham. However, Christians were the ones truly circumcised in accord with God's will. When one is baptized into Christ, he has the sins of the flesh cut away and begins to walk as a spiritual servant of God (Colossians 2:10-13; Galatians 6:11-16). God wants inward commitment more than outward ritual (Romans 2:25-29). Now, God's true Israel is composed of those who worship him in spirit (John 4:23-24; Matthew 15:7-9). The Christian's glory is not in the flesh or outward works, but in Christ (Galatians 6:14). God never intended to accept mere outward ritual (See Leviticus 26:1-46; esp. 31, 40-42; Deuteronomy 10:15-22; Deuteronomy 30:5-6; Jeremiah 4:4; Ezekiel 44:6-8).

The one who trusts in the flesh tries to pull himself up by his own bootstraps, thus rejecting Christ's assistance (1 Peter 3:3).