Philippians
chapter 3

An Exegetical Commentary by the Sangre de Cristo Seminary Class of 1999, edited by Nate Wilson

Jump to commentary on: 3:1-6, 3:7-11, 3:12-16, 3:17-21, 4:1-7

 

Philippians 3:1-6

(Steven R. Hicks)

 

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Textual Notes

Most of the good Greek texts, from earliest times to the Byzantine all say ‘oi pneumati qeou “the spirit of God,” however, there is a significant textual tradition in Greek which particularly affected the early Latin translations which renders qeou in the dative case, qew “who worship God in spirit,” and one of the most ancient texts available to us, papyrus #46, omits qeou all together. There is a lot of evidence pointing to leaving it qeou, and so little evidence to the contrary, and it makes a lot of sense to say “the spirit of God.”

 

Verbals

#	Root	Parsing	Meaning	Syntax
1	cairw	2pl P.A.Imptv.	be glad/rejoice	M.V.
2	grafw	P.A.Inf.	write	Subj.
3	blepw	2pl.P.A.Imptv.	see	M.V.
4	eimi	1pl.P.A.I.	am	Causal
5	latreuw	N.M.P. P.A.Ptc.	serve	Adj
6	kaucaomai	N.P.M. P.Mid.Ptc.	boast	“
7	peiqw	N.P.M. Perf.A.Ptc.	persuade	“
8	ecw	N.S.M. P.A.Ptc.	have	M.V./Conces.
9	dokew	3s P.A.I.	seem	True Cond.
10	peiqw	Perf.Act.Infin.	persuade	Compl.
11	diwkw	N.S.M. P.A.Ptc.	persecute	P.N./Adj.
12	ginomai	N.S.M. A.Mid.Ptc.	become	“

 

Translations

SRH 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice¹ in the Lord. To be writing² the same things to you all is not troublesome to me, but to you all (it is) secure. 2. Watch out³ for the dogs, watch out³ for the evil workmen, watch out³ for the ones who mutilate 3. For it is⁴ we ourselves who are the circumcision who are serving⁵ the Spirit of God and boast⁶ in Christ Jesus and have no confidence⁷ in the flesh 4 Although I myself have confidence⁸ even in flesh, if anyone else has another mind⁹ to have confidence¹⁰ in flesh I have more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day of the offspring of Israel, a tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, according to (the) law, a Pharisee 6. According to zeal, a persecutor¹¹ of the church according to the righteousness in the law, to become¹² blameless. 7 But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

ASV 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision: 3 for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh: 4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. 7 Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

NAS 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe or Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

 

Commentary

3:1 = “Finally” Paul uses this word to end his writings. Put Paul might be changing his mind like a preacher who announces the end a half dozen times (ATR) See 4:8 “a secure measure” (DFZ).

 

“to write the same things” – Paul, who is an excellent teacher, never tires of repeating himself (ATR). Paul must have explained to them all the “things” he is about to mention in v.2 and following, i.e. commands to rejoice (SRH), or perhaps the “things” are the message Timothy and Epaphroditus would say.

 

3:2 – “watch out” or “beware” Used three times for urgency (ATR). Paul is referring to the Judaizers. (Jews who taught Gentiles to obey the ceremonial Jewish law to be saved.) Interestingly enough, the Jews coined the word “dog” to refer to the Gentiles, but Paul uses this same word to refer to the Judaizers!

 

“mutilate” a hapex legomenon talking about circumcision. The Judaizers had been physically circumcised, but they have not had the “circumcision of the heart” (Alford) NIV = “false circumcision” DFZ = “butchers”

 

3:3 Those who have faith in Jesus Christ. Those who have had the circumcision of the heart (See Rom. 2:29). They have the true faith; they are not relying on the removal of the flesh to get them to Heaven (SRH).

 

“spiritual worship” Paul means that which is recommended to us in the Gospel and consists of trust in God and calling upon Him, “self-renunciation and a pure conscience” (Calvin).

 

Only those who have trusted their lives to Jesus Christ can boast of their salvation. The Judaizers boast, but it is false doctrine, for they boast only because of the law (SRH, Calvin).

 

We must find all our fulfillment in our Lord Jesus. Only in Him can we be satisfied and truly rejoice. Any reliance upon fleshly things -- any stock put in my talents, my possessions, my friendships, or even my future -- is doomed for the fire. But if I wholeheartedly focus on Jesus Christ and never spend a second doing anything for myself, but meditate on Him, knowing what He wants and doing it, God will provide the abilities, resources, encouragement, etc., that is needed to take care of me. Of course, only a perfect man could really do this, but God, help me to come as close as possible to this ideal. By Your almighty power, change me so that I can truly, wholeheartedly, and unceasingly rejoice in You! (NW 1987)

 

3:4 Paul is saying, “Hey, if I wanted to, I could boast, because I also have followed the Law; As a matter of fact, if you were to compare us, I would be far superior to them!”

 

3:5 Paul tells why he is superior:

• he was circumcised on the eighth day
• he is the offspring of Israel -- not a proselyte.
• as a matter of fact, he tells us what tribe his family descended from – the tribe of Benjamin (same as David).
• “Hebrew of Hebrews” – uses the oldest term to say, “my parents were Hebrew; I know the customs and the language – I am not a Hellenistic Jew”
• He is a Pharisee – you don’t get any better than that!

 

3:6 Paul says, “I was a zealot; I persecuted the church; I was blameless in the sight of the law. I was a ‘super-duper’ Pharisee!” (ATR, Clark, SRH) This is Paul’s “B.C.” mentality, not his Christian mentality (DFZ).

 

What confidence do I have in my flesh? Christian family, musical talent, Bible knowledge, friends, physical appearance, athletic ability, intelligence, education… These are good things that God has given for my benefit, but as soon as they make me proud or self-confident, they are dangerous. Lord, I count all these things -- and all worldly distractions -- as loss to Your sake. Lord Jesus, I want to know you more and more and be found “in” You – integrated into Your being in character, attitude, and action. Lord, let me not rely on anything else but You as the source of ceaseless companionship, eternal security, surpassing joy, and perfect example (NW 1987)

 

 

Syn-Logical Flow

v1 Finally, my brothers,

rejoice in the Lord.

To be writing the same things to you all

1)      is not irksome to me,

2)      but it is safe for you all

v2

v3.                                                    For it is we ourselves

·        who are the circumcision

·        who are serving the Spirit of God and

·        boast in Christ Jesus and

·        have no confidence in the flesh

v.4 Although I myself have confidence even in flesh, if anyone else has another mind to have confidence in flesh I have more:

v5

1. Circumcised the eighth day
2. of the offspring of Israel,
3. a tribe of Benjamin,
4. a Hebrew of Hebrews,
5. according to (the) law, a Pharisee
6. v6. According to zeal, a persecutor of the church
7. according to the righteousness in the law, to become blameless.

v7 But whatever things were gain to me (1-7 above), these things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

 

Main Point

THEN: Watch out for the Judaizers so they do not suck you into their false doctrine and boasting.

 

NOW: We have nothing to boast about except in Christ alone, so watch out for false teachers and our own selfish tendencies.

 

Application

1. Be aware of false doctrines and teaching and watch out.

2. It doesn’t matter what you have done someone will always be better

3. Boast only avout what Jesus Christ has don, not what you have done (which is “squat”)

4. There are times when yo need to repeat a message (DFZ)

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Philippians 3:8-11

(Dwight F. Zeller)

 

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Verbals

#	Root	Parsing	Meaning	Syntax
1	hgeomai	1s P.Dep.I.	count, reckon	M.V.
2	eimi	P.A.Inf.	be	DO/Compl
3	‘uperecw	Acc.S.N. P.A.Ptc.	hold above	Obj.Prep.
4	zhmiow	1s Aor.Psv.I.