_Finally_ Or rather, as το λοιπον should be here rendered, _As for what remains;_ or, what I have further in view in writing this epistle. For the expression cannot here signify _finally_, as our translators have rendered the word, since the apostle is only entering on the main subject of his letter... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beware of dogs_ Unclean, unholy, rapacious men, who, though they fawn and flatter, would devour you as dogs. He probably gave them this appellation also, because they barked against the doctrines of the gospel, and against its faithful teachers, and were ready to bite and tear all who opposed their... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we are the circumcision_ The true spiritual seed of Abraham; who have the things signified by that sign, and perform that which circumcision was designed to engage men to. We are the only people now in covenant with God, _who worship God in the Spirit_ Not barely in the letter, or by a mere ext... [ Continue Reading ]
_Though I_ Above many others; _might have confidence in the flesh_ That is, I have such pretences for that confidence as many, even Jews, have not. He says _I_, in the singular number, because the Philippian believers, being of Gentile race, could not speak in that manner. _If any other man_ Gentile... [ Continue Reading ]
_Concerning zeal_ For the law and the Jewish religion, and for all those ritual observances which they so eagerly enforce, I myself was once so earnest, that I _persecuted_, and that even to imprisonment and death, those who did not observe them. _Touching the righteousness which is in the law_ Whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_But what things_ Of this nature; _were_ once reputed _gain to me_ Which I valued myself upon, and confided in for acceptance with God, supposing them to constitute a righteousness sufficient to justify me in his sight; those, ever since I was made acquainted with the truth as it is in Jesus, and em... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea doubtless_ Not only when I was first converted, but I still _account_ both these and all things else, how valuable soever, to be _but loss._ Having said, in the preceding verse, that he counted his privileges as a Jew, and his righteousness by the law, to be _loss_, or things to be thrown away,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not as though I had already attained_ Ουχ οτι ηδη ελαβον, literally, _not that I have already received_, namely, the blessings which I am in pursuit of, even that complete knowledge of Christ, of the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his sufferings, and conformity to his death just menti... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended_ To have already attained those high degrees of holiness, internal and external, of usefulness and conformity to my blessed Master, which I have in view. _But this one thing I do_ I make this my chief business. Or rather, (which the phraseology of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us, as many as are perfect_ As many as are genuine believers in Christ, thorough Christians, justified and regenerated, new creatures in Christ, and so fit for the Christian race of duty and suffering; _be thus minded_ Minded as I have said that I am, namely, inclined and determined to press fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brethren, be followers together_ Συμμιμηται, _joint imitators, of me_ Obedient to my directions, and following the pattern which God enables me to set before you; _and mark_ Observe and imitate them; _who walk so as ye have us_ Myself and the other apostles of Christ, _for an ensample. For many_ Ev... [ Continue Reading ]
_For our conversation is in heaven_ We that are true Christians are of a very different spirit, and act in a quite different manner. The original expression, πολιτευμα, rendered conversation, is a word of a very extensive meaning, implying our citizenship, our thoughts, our affections, are already _... [ Continue Reading ]