_HE WARNETH THEM TO BEWARE OF THE FALSE TEACHERS OF THE CIRCUMCISION, SHEWING THAT HIMSELF, IF ANY, HATH GREATER CAUSE THAN THEY TO TRUST IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW: WHICH NOTWITHSTANDING HE COUNTETH AS DUNG AND LOSS, TO GAIN CHRIST; HE EXHORTETH THEM TO BE THUS MINDED, TO IMITATE HIM, AND TO D... [ Continue Reading ]
FINALLY,—REJOICE— Some have apprehended here a contrast with ch. Philippians 2:25; Philippians 2:28 where the Apostle tells them he had sent Epaphroditus, that they might _rejoice at his coming:_ as if he had said, "And now I add, that while you are rejoicing in _him,_ I would have you rejoice in _t... [ Continue Reading ]
BEWARE OF DOGS,— This may very possibly be an allusion to Isaiah 56:10. Comp. Philippians 3:19. Titus 1:11.Romans 16:18. Galatians 6:12. The Jews used to call the Gentiles _dogs,_ and perhaps St. Paul, directed by the Spirit of God, may use this language, when speaking of their proud bigots, by way... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION,— That is, "We have that which was signified by circumcision;" for _that is not circumcision which is outward in the flesh, but circumcision is that of the heart; in the spirit, and not in the letter._ Romans 2:28. See also Colossians 2:11. Instead of, _we rejoice in Christ J... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY OTHER MAN THINKETH, &C.— It can scarcely be supposed, that there were absolutely none who could pretend to the same grounds of _confidence in the flesh,_ which St. Paul here mentions. His expression, therefore, is to be limited to such as he had in view. If there was but one person in Philipp... [ Continue Reading ]
CIRCUMCISED THE EIGHTH DAY,— _Under circumcision when eight days old._ Piscator and Homberg. It evidently appears, that the Jews did not only lay a great stress on the rite of circumcision, but on the time of performingit; that is, exactly on the eighth day. This consideration, and the particulars e... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCERNING ZEAL, PERSECUTING THE CHURCH;— All that the Apostle can mean here is, that if a zeal for the law were, as the Jews thought it, a ground of confidence, _he_ could lay claim to it with abundant propriety; since his zeal had been so great for it, as to lead him to persecute the Christians, b... [ Continue Reading ]
THOSE I COUNTED LOSS FOR CHRIST.— That is, "I _threw them away,_ as mariners do their goods, on which they before set a value, lest they should endanger their lives:" in which sensethe word ζημια is used, Acts 27:21. We may observe, that St. Paul in this and the following verses carries on an agreea... [ Continue Reading ]
I COUNT ALL THINGS BUT LOSS— _I have thrown away all things:_—"Have willingly parted with all my advantages and expectations from the law; that I might _gain_ or _secure Christ."_ It is not by any means improbable, that a sentence of excommunication might have been pronounced against St. Paul, or at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BE FOUND IN HIM,— "Though not only reputation and power, ease and plenty, but even life itself, should be sacrificed to this view, I am happy enough if I may but be _found in him,_ vitally united to him by a true faith and love, and so taken into his favour and under his protection.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION,— The resurrection of Christ is one of the strongest confirmations of our holy religion; and therefore yields the greatest encouragement to the hopes and expectations of genuine Christians. Hence God is said to _have begotten them again to a lively hope, by the resu... [ Continue Reading ]
IF BY ANY MEANS I MIGHT ATTAIN, &C.— "That any way, as it shall please him, I may _arrive safe_ at my desired haven, the resurrection of the just." Dr. Heylin renders it, _In order to attain to the resurrection of the dead;_ that is, says he, the resurrection of the _just;_ for the resurrection of _... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY, &C.— "This I say not as if I had already attained to all that I wish to be, or were already _perfected:_ for I am truly sensible how far I am from that consummate perfection of character, as well as of state, which the gospel teaches me to aspire after: but I pursue it,... [ Continue Reading ]
BRETHREN, I COUNT NOT MYSELF, &C.— _No, my brethren, I do not imagine that I am yet arrived at the goal; but this one thing I do: regardless of what is behind, and intent only to reach what is before, I press forward to the mark, for the prize to which God has called me from above by Christ Jesus._... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US THEREFORE, AS MANY AS BE PERFECT, &C.— "Such is the situation of my own mind, and the ardour of desire with which I am pressing after farther attainments in the Divine life. _Let as many of us therefore as are perfect_ in any degree, and initiated, if I may so express it, into the holy myster... [ Continue Reading ]
BE FOLLOWERS TOGETHER OF ME,— Here the reason very plainly appears, why he said so much of himself in the foregoing verses; and we may observe, that as he was apprehensive of the danger his Philippians were in from these Judaizers, he labours effectually to discredit them; and shews from the differe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS— That is, "enemies to the doctrine of salvation by a dependance upon _Christ crucified:"_ for while they directed men to seek salvation by observing the ceremonial law, they took them off from depending solely on Christ crucified, and so made the death of Christ ins... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE END IS DESTRUCTION,— See 2 Corinthians 11:15. It has been thought that the Apostle has an eye here to what he had observed of these men before, ch. Philippians 1:28 and so he may be understood as if he had said, "These men reckon upon your destruction, but they will certainly meet with their o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OUR CONVERSATION IS IN HEAVEN;— They who have occasion to make use of this text, commonly attempt to mend our translation, asserting that the word πολιτευμα should not be rendered _conversation,_ but _citizenship._ Thus Beza, the common French translation, and that printed at Mons, have rendered... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL CHANGE OUR VILE BODY, &C.— Instead of _our vile body,_ the Greek would be better translated _our mean, humble, lowly body:_ το σωμα της ταπεινωσεως ημων : literally _the body of our humiliation. Flesh_ and _blood,_ in their present state, not being fit to inherit the kingdom of God, there... [ Continue Reading ]