Philippians 3:15

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 mysteries of our religion, into the deep things of God, who have known him that is from the beginning (1 John 2:13.), attend to this as our great business and aim; and if any of you are otherwise affected, if any be unhappily fallen into a remiss and indolent frame, God shall reveal even this unto you, if you sincerely and earnestly ask him. I hope that he will, andI pray that he may give you such views of the crown of glory, the prize of our high calling, as may animate your most vigorous pursuit of it." In Philippians 3:12 the Apostle speaks of himself as not already perfected; which is said in opposition to the Jews, and the converts from among them, who flattered themselves, that barely by being under the law they were made perfect. Hence he speaks in such a manner to the Galatians, ch. Philippians 3:3 when they were seduced by the Judaizers; Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? In which place by the flesh he particularly adverts to the ceremonial law. This notion of the Jews naturally led them into security, and such carelessness of life, as the Apostle judged to be most dangerous. In opposition to them he sets forth his own great solicitude and diligence in the use of all proper means, considering himself as not having yet obtained the prize. This clears the seeming inconsistency between the 12th and the present verse. The perfection spoken of in the 12th verse relates to the reward;—with respect to which our Saviour himself says, the third day I shall be perfected, Luke 13:32. And thus the spirits of just men are not made perfect till the other world, Hebrews 12:23.—We may justly observe, that when an expression of this kind is used to intimate that the greatest adepts in Christianity should be labouring after higher improvements, it must strongly imply the obligations on those in a lower class, to press forward. See Hebrews 5:13. 1 Corinthians 2:6.