Philippians 3:2-21
Summary for Phil 3:2-11: 3:2-11 a 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 b those dogs, ... those mutilators: Here Paul reverses the traditional Jewish practice of referring to Gentiles as dogs (cp. Mark 7:27-28 c). 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 d; Gal 1:6-9 e; 5:1-6 f, 12 g).3:3 h Circumcision was understood as identifying the true people of God (see Gen 17:10-14 i), but those who put their trust in Christ are the ones who are truly circumcised in heart (see Rom 2:28-29 j; cp. Jer 4:4 k; Eph 2:11 l; Col 2:11-13 m).
3:4 n in my own effort (literally in the flesh): Paul uses flesh here for self-reliance and human effort in contrast to reliance on Christ and empowerment by the Spirit.
Summary for Phil 3:5-6: 3:5-6 o If anyone could rely on Jewish credentials, Paul could: He practiced the strictest obedience to the Jewish law and was extremely zealous for the Jewish religion. 3:5 p circumcised when I was eight days old: See Gen 17:12 q; Lev 12:3 r; Luke 1:59 s; 2:21 t.
• Paul was a member of the Pharisees, the Jewish sect known for its strict observance of the law (see Acts 23:6 u; 26:5 v).
3:6 w I harshly persecuted the church (see Acts 8:1-3 x; 9:1-2 y, 21 z; Gal 1:13 aa): His actions demonstrated his zeal for Judaism, to which the Good News of Jesus was seen as a threat.
• Paul’s righteousness, as judged by human standards, was another indication of his zeal for the law (see also Gal 1:14 ab; for Paul’s later Christian view, cp. Rom 3:23 ac; 7:14-25 ad).
Summary for Phil 3:7-8: 3:7-8 ae As a Christian, Paul now regarded these things (3:5-6 af) as worthless because of what Christ has done: A believer’s relationship with God is defined by knowing Christ (cp. 3:10 ag; John 17:3 ah) and nothing else. The only important thing is to gain Christ, thus receiving the gift of eternal salvation (cp. John 3:16 ai; 1 Jn 5:11-13 aj). By comparison, all other things are meaningless garbage (or excrement).
3:9 ak Paul here summarizes the contrast between his understanding of salvation and that of his opponents (3:2 al).
• Believers become one with Christ by trusting him for salvation and sharing his life (cp. John 15:1-5 am).
• We become righteous, not by observing the law of Moses, but through faith in Christ. This is God’s way of making us right with himself: Salvation cannot be earned, but only received as a free gift (see Rom 1:17 an; 3:21-26 ao; 4:5-8 ap; Gal 2:16 aq; Eph 2:8-9 ar).
3:10 as to know Christ: In knowing him, a person knows and is accepted by God (cp. 3:7-8 at; John 1:12-13 au; 17:3 av).
• Believers experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead, both now and in eternity (see Rom 6:4-14 aw; 8:10-11 ax; Col 3:1-4 ay).
• to suffer with him, sharing in his death: Joined to Christ, a believer has the privilege of experiencing his life and death (see Phil 1:29 az; 2 Cor 4:10-12 ba; Col 1:24 bb; 1 Pet 4:13-16 bc).
3:11 bd To experience the resurrection from the dead is to be saved from judgment and receive eternal life (see Rev 20:4-6 be). Paul was aware of God’s holiness and the severity of the final judgment (Rev 20:11-15 bf); he knew he must persevere in his pursuit of Christ and salvation (cp. Gal 5:5 bg).
Summary for Phil 3:12-4:1: 3:12–4:1 bh Using himself as an example, Paul encourages the Philippians to pursue Christ and the hope of heaven with determination and strength.
Summary for Phil 3:13-14: 3:13-14 bi the race: See study note on 2:16.
• Paul was willing to give up everything else for the ultimate goal, the heavenly prize of eternal life.
3:15 bj Those who are spiritually mature (cp. 1 Cor 2:6 bk; 3:1 bl) will share Paul’s perspective that eternal things are most important in life (Phil 3:12-14 bm; cp. 2 Cor 4:16-18 bn).
3:16 bo hold on to the progress we have already made: There must be no slipping or reversal; as believers, our conduct must be consistent with our spiritual understanding.
3:17 bp pattern your lives after mine: Paul’s serious pursuit of Christ and the life to which God had called him (3:7-14 bq; 4:9 br; 1 Cor 4:6 bs, 16-17 bt; 11:1 bu; 2 Thes 3:7-9 bv) contrasts markedly with that of the enemies of Christ who are described next (Phil 3:18-19 bw).
3:18 bx The identity of the enemies is not known; they might have been (1) Jews or Jewish Christians proud of their circumcision (as in 3:2 by), whose emphasis on observant Judaism contradicted the cross of Christ; (2) pseudo-believers living a worldly, immoral life (cp. 3:19 bz); or (3) professing believers who had rejected Paul’s cross-centered view of the Good News. Christ’s crucifixion as a criminal was scandalous and offensive to many (see 1 Cor 1:23 ca; cp. Rom 9:33 cb; 1 Pet 2:8 cc).
3:19 cd Their god is their appetite may refer to their greed, their sensuality, or their self-interest (cp. Rom 16:18 ce).
• they brag about shameful things: This is best understood as a reference to immorality rather than to pride in being circumcised.
• Eternal destruction is the ultimate judgment of God for those who reject Christ and live self-centered, sinful lives (see 2 Thes 1:8-9 cf; cp. Phil 1:28 cg; Matt 7:13 ch; Rom 9:22 ci; 1 Cor 1:18 cj; 2 Thes 2:10 ck; 1 Tim 6:9 cl; 2 Pet 2:3 cm, 13 cn; Jude 1:10 co; Rev 11:18 cp).
• They are unable to see beyond this life (cp. John 12:25 cq; 1 Jn 2:15-17 cr).
3:20 cs By contrast, believers who know their home is in heaven (see Eph 2:19 ct) with the Lord Jesus Christ fill their minds with thoughts of heaven (see Col 3:1-2 cu; cp. 1 Cor 15:19 cv; 1 Pet 2:11 cw) and Christ’s return (see 1 Cor 1:7 cx; Titus 2:13 cy).
3:21 cz change them into glorious bodies: See 1 Cor 15:42-54 da; cp. Rom 8:23 db.
• he will bring everything under his control: See 1 Cor 15:24-27 dc.
Philippians 4:1-3
4:1 dd stay true to the Lord (literally stand in the Lord): Cp. 1:27 de.• Their continuing faithfulness to Christ was a deep source of joy to Paul and the crown for his hard work (see 1 Thes 2:19-20 df).
Summary for Phil 4:2-9: 4:2-9 dg Before closing, Paul addresses a small conflict in the church and writes a few words of encouragement. 4:2 dh because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement: The Lord’s people are to live together in harmony (see 2:2 di; 1 Cor 1:10 dj; Eph 4:1-3 dk, 31-32 dl; Col 3:12-15 dm). The nature of the dispute between Euodia and Syntyche is unknown.
4:3 dn my true partner or loyal Syzygus: The Greek word suzuge is either a proper name or a description; this person is unknown.
• Nothing more is known of Clement.
• Those whose names are written in the Book of Life are true believers, destined to receive eternal life (see Luke 10:20 do; Rev 3:5 dp; 13:8 dq; 17:8 dr; 20:12 ds, 15 dt; 21:27 du; cp. Exod 32:32 dv; Ps 69:28 dw; Dan 12:1 dx).
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