CHAPTER III. _The apostle exhorts the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord_, 1. _And to beware of false teachers_, 2. _Shows that Christians are the true circumcision, who worship_ _God in the Spirit_, 3. _And that himself had more reason to trust in the flesh than any_ _of the Jews_, 4-6. _But... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Philippians 3:2. _BEWARE OF DOGS_] The _Jews_, who have here the same appellative which they formerly gave to the _Gentiles_: because the Gentiles were not included in the covenant, they called _them_ DOGS; and themselves, the _children of the Most High_. Now, _they_ are cast out of the covena... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Philippians 3:3. _WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION_] WE, who have embraced the faith of Christ crucified, are now entered into the new covenant, and according to that new covenant, _worship God in the Spirit,_ _exulting_, καυχωμενοι, _making our boast_ of _Christ Jesus_, as our only Saviour, _having no... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Philippians 3:4. _THOUGH I MIGHT ALSO HAVE CONFIDENCE_] If any of them have any cause to boast in outward rites and privileges, I have as much; yea, _more_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _CIRCUMCISED THE EIGHTH DAY_] This was the time that the law required the males to be circumcised; and we find, from Genesis 17:14, both in the _Samaritan_ Pentateuch and in the _Septuagint_, though the clause is now lost out of the common Hebrew text, that _the male_ _child, which is not c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _CONCERNING ZEAL_] As to my zeal for Pharisaism, I gave the fullest proof of it by persecuting the Church of Christ; and this is known to all my countrymen. _TOUCHING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS_] And as to that _plan_ of _justification_, which justification the Jews say is to be obtained by an obse... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _BUT WHAT THINGS WERE GAIN_] The _credit_ and _respect_ which I had, as being zealously attached to the law, and to the traditions of the elders, _I counted loss for Christ _- I saw that this could stand me in no stead; that all my acts of righteousness were nothing on which I could depend... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _I COUNT ALL THINGS_ BUT _LOSS_] Not only my Jewish privileges, but all others of every kind; with every thing that men count valuable or gainful, or on which they usually depend for salvation. _THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST_] That superior light, information, and blessedness w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _AND BE FOUND IN HIM_] Be found a believer in Christ, _not having mine own righteousness_-not trusting in any thing I have done or could do, in order to my salvation; relying on no scheme of justification, set up either formerly by myself or by others. _BUT THAT WHICH IS THROUGH THE FAITH... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _THAT I MAY KNOW HIM_] To be the true and promised Messiah, and _experience_ all that salvation which he has bought by his blood. _THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION_] In having this _body of my_ _humiliation_ raised from death, and _made like unto his glorious_ _body_. This seems to be the so... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD._] That is, the resurrection of those who, having died in the Lord, rise to glory and honour; and hence St. Paul uses a peculiar word which occurs no where else in the New Testament, εξαναστασις. The words, as they stand in the best MSS., are as follow: εις τη... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY ATTAINED_] Ουχ ὁτι ηδη ελαβον· _For I have not yet received_ the prize; I am not glorified, for I have not finished my course; and I have a _conflict_ still to maintain, and the issue will prove whether I should be crowned. From the beginning of the 11th to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED_] Whatever gifts, graces, or honours I may have received from Jesus Christ, I consider every thing as incomplete till I have finished my course, got this crown, and have my body raised and fashioned after his glorious body. THIS _ONE THING_ I DO] Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK_] κατα σκοπον διωκω. _I_ _pursue along the line_; this is a reference to the _white line_ that marked the ground in the stadium, from the _starting_ place to the _goal_, on which the _runners_ were obliged to keep their eye fixed; for they who transgressed or _went... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _AS MANY AS BE PERFECT_] As many as are _thoroughly_ _instructed_ in Divine things, who have cast off all dependence on the law and on every other system for salvation, and who discern God calling them from _above_ by Christ Jesus; _be thus minded_; be intensely in earnest for eternal life... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _WHERETO WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED_] Let us not lose that part of the race which we have already run, _let us walk by_ _the same rule_-let us keep the _white line_ continually in view, _let_ _us mind the same thing_, always considering the glorious prize which is held out by God through Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _BRETHREN, BE FOLLOWERS - OF ME_] In the things of Christ let me be your _line_, and my writings preaching, and conduct, your _rule_. _AND MARK THEM_] σκοπειτε. Still alluding to the _line_ in the stadium, keep your eye steadily fixed on those _who walk_-live, _as_ _ye have us_-myself, Ti... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _FOR MANY WALK_, c.] The Judaizing teachers continue to preach, who wish to incorporate circumcision, and other ordinances of the law, with the Gospel. They are _THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST_] They rather attribute justification to the _Levitical sacrifices_, than to the _sacrificia... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _WHOSE END_ IS _DESTRUCTION_] This is the _issue_ of their doctrine and of their conduct. They are here described by _three_ characters: 1. _Their god_ is their _belly_-they live not in any reference to _eternity_; their religion is for _time_; they make a gain of godliness; and live only... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _OUR CONVERSATION IS IN HEAVEN_] Ἡμως - το πολιτευμα· _Our city_, or _citizenship_, or _civil rights_. The word properly signifies the administration, government, or form of a republic or state; and is thus used by _Demosthenes_, page 107, 25, and 262, 27. Edit. _Reiske_. It signifies als... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Philippians 3:21. _WHO SHALL CHANGE OUR VILE BODY_] Ὁς μετασχηματισει το σωμα της ταπεινωσες ἡμων· Who will _refashion_, or _alter the_ _fashion_ and _condition of, the body of our humiliation_; this body that _is dead_-adjudged to death because of sin, and must be putrefied, dissolved, and... [ Continue Reading ]