DANGERS AND HOPES OF THE PRESENT SITUATION _V. Interjected Warnings (Philippians 3:1)_ § 11. PHILIPPIANS 3:1. FINALLY (lit. 'For the rest'), MY BRETHREN, brings the close of the letter in sight (see Intro.); the Apostle has only a few supplementary counsels to give—prefaced by the REJOICE IN THE LO... [ Continue Reading ]
By contrast with anti-Christian Jews, WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION, WHO WORSHIP BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD (whose worship is inspired by the Holy Spirit), AND GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS (not in Moses, the Temple, etc.), AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN FLESH (in any external privilege or performance). Here the Apostle str... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH I (one of the emphasised 'we' of Philippians 3:3) MIGHT HAVE CONFIDENCE INDEED IN THE FLESH—who had a better right to presume upon outward prerogative? Amongst the seven points of superiority enumerated in Philippians 3:5, four came to Saul by birth, three by acquisition. THE EIGHTH DAY was t... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US, SO MANY AS BE PERFECT (the true 'initiates,' in contrast with those alluded to in Philippians 3:12), BE THUS MINDED—as much as to say, 'Those really deep in Christian knowledge will think in this way' (Philippians 3:10). The perfect recognise the distance of the goal; they are the last to co... [ Continue Reading ]