Free Bible Commentary
“Philippians 3:1-7”
Categories: Philippians“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. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 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, 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: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”
---End of Scripture verses---
The “same things” that Paul wrote about again in verse one likely harken back to his admonition for them to stand “firm in one spirit together for the faith of the gospel” against their “opponents” (1:27-28). Here he actually identified their common “adversaries” as “the dogs,” “the evil workers,” “the false circumcision” (verse 2). This was the element among the church that had professed belief in Christ but tried to bind circumcision and other aspects of the Law of Moses upon the brotherhood. Paul wrote in Galatians 6:12 that their motivation for doing this was to avoid being “persecuted for the cross of Christ.”
Paul referred to these “evil workers” as “false brethren” in Galatians 2:4. Even though we do not experience this particular form pressure to conform to religious error in the church today, we still must be on our guard against anyone who would try to teach us false doctrine or attempt to coerce us into doing something that we know is wrong or not commanded by God. We are responsible for serving and worshiping God “in the Spirit” (verse 3), or according to the truth of the Holy Spirit’s revelation, and for glorifying Christ Jesus in all that we do.
Paul gave up all of his privilege and power in the Jewish community in order to believe and obey the truth, and glorify Christ in his life and in his death (1:20). He had much more to put “confidence” (verse 4) in than the false brethren did, so his influence for good should have overridden the evil influence of the false circumcision in the minds of the Philippians. Paul was actually at the very “top of the food chain” in Judaism (verses 5-6). But he willingly forsook everything that was coveted and esteemed by the pride and lust of mankind in order to gain Christ and please God.
Paul weighed the whole world in the balances against the “surpassing value of knowing Christ” (verse 8), and the world came up lacking. He willing suffered the “loss” of everything that he had once held dear, but he really didn’t lose anything of lasting value in the deal. He wisely exchanged an eternal crown of life for some brief and fleeting earthly possessions and prestige. What do you need to turn loose of for Christ that you have yet to give up? Whatever it is, it is not worth it!
Please read Philippians 3:8-11 for tomorrow.
Blessings!
- Louie Taylor
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