Phili 3:1-3 | TNotes | STEP | 3:1 rejoice in the Lord: This theme is resumed in 4:4 (see also 1:18 ; 2:17-18 , 28 ; 4:10 ). • The phrase these things (literally the same things ) is ambiguous: it may refer to (1) the immediately preceding encouragement to rejoice in the Lord ; (2) the earlier encouragement to follow Christ’s example (2:1-18 ); (3) Paul’s exhortation in general; or (4) the following warning about threats to their faith.

3:1 ^a rejoice in the Lord: This theme is resumed in 4:4 ^b (see also 1:18 ^c; 2:17-18 ^d, 28 ^e; 4:10 ^f).

• The phrase these things (literally the same things) is ambiguous: it may refer to (1) the immediately preceding encouragement to rejoice in the Lord; (2) the earlier encouragement to follow Christ’s example (2:1-18 ^g); (3) Paul’s exhortation in general; or (4) the following warning about threats to their faith.
Summary for Phil 3:2-11: 3:2-11 ^h Paul warns the believers against being influenced by Jewish Christians who argued that circumcision is necessary for salvation. He then talks about his own conversion from Judaism to Christ. 3:2 ⁱ those dogs, ... those mutilators: Here Paul reverses the traditional Jewish practice of referring to Gentiles as dogs (cp. Mark 7:27-28 ^j). Paul’s strongest insults are directed against Jews who preached that Gentiles must be circumcised in order to be saved (cp. 2 Cor 11:13-15 ^k; Gal 1:6-9 ^l; 5:1-6 ^m, 12 ⁿ).
3:3 ^o Circumcision was understood as identifying the true people of God (see Gen 17:10-14 ^p), but those who put their trust in Christ are the ones who are truly circumcised in heart (see Rom 2:28-29 ^q; cp. Jer 4:4 ^r; Eph 2:11 ^s; Col 2:11-13 ^t).