Philippians 3:3

English Standard Version

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Contextual Overview

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we: Genesis 17:5-11, Deuteronomy 10:16, Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 9:26, Romans 2:25-29, Romans 4:11, Romans 4:12, Colossians 2:11

worship: Malachi 1:11, John 4:23, John 4:24, Romans 1:9, Romans 7:6, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:26, Romans 8:27, Ephesians 6:18, Jude 1:20

rejoice: Philippians 3:7-9, Psalms 105:3, Isaiah 45:25, Jeremiah 9:23, Jeremiah 9:24, 1 Corinthians 1:29-31, Galatians 6:13, Galatians 6:14

have: Philippians 3:4-6, 1 Peter 1:23-25

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:10 - Every Leviticus 23:40 - rejoice Leviticus 26:41 - their uncircumcised Deuteronomy 27:7 - rejoice Judges 9:19 - rejoice 1 Samuel 2:1 - My heart 1 Samuel 14:6 - uncircumcised 1 Chronicles 15:25 - with joy 2 Chronicles 6:41 - thy saints Psalms 32:11 - Be glad Psalms 106:5 - rejoice Psalms 149:2 - let the Song of Solomon 1:4 - we will be Song of Solomon 8:1 - I would Isaiah 25:9 - we will Isaiah 27:6 - General Isaiah 41:16 - thou shalt rejoice Jeremiah 4:2 - and in him Jeremiah 31:31 - with Ezekiel 28:10 - the deaths Joel 2:23 - rejoice Luke 1:33 - the Luke 1:46 - General John 1:47 - Behold John 3:10 - and knowest Acts 7:51 - uncircumcised Acts 8:39 - and he Acts 10:35 - in Acts 15:1 - Except Acts 15:31 - they rejoiced Romans 2:17 - thou art Romans 2:26 - General Romans 2:29 - spirit Romans 3:30 - General Romans 5:11 - but we Romans 7:25 - thank God Romans 9:7 - because Romans 14:17 - peace Romans 16:17 - cause 1 Corinthians 1:31 - General 1 Corinthians 10:18 - Israel 1 Corinthians 15:31 - protest 2 Corinthians 10:17 - General 2 Corinthians 11:17 - foolishly 2 Corinthians 11:21 - whereinsoever Galatians 6:16 - the Israel Ephesians 2:11 - Uncircumcision Philippians 1:26 - General Philippians 2:1 - any consolation Philippians 3:1 - rejoice Philippians 3:2 - the Titus 1:10 - specially James 1:9 - rejoice 1 Peter 1:6 - ye greatly 1 Peter 1:8 - believing Revelation 19:7 - be glad Revelation 19:10 - worship

Cross-References

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Gill's Notes on the Bible

For we are the circumcision,.... And not they; they have the name, and we the thing, or that which legal circumcision was a shadow of, namely, circumcision of the heart; which lies in being pricked to the heart under a true sense of sin; in having the hardness of the heart removed, and the iniquity of it laid to open view; in pain and contrition of heart about it, joined with shame for it, and loathing of it, the consequence of which is, a putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, Colossians 2:11, according to the former conversation; and also in a renouncing a man's own righteousness in point of justification before God, and acceptance with him. All which is the work of God, and not man, and is therefore called the circumcision made without hands, Colossians 2:11; it has God, and not man, for its author; and its praise is of God, and not of men; and its seat is in the heart and spirit, and not in the flesh; and such whose hearts are circumcised to love the Lord their God, and fear him, are the true circumcision:

which worship God in the spirit. The object of worship is "God", and him only; not a creature animate or inanimate, stocks or stones, beasts, birds, men, or angels; only God, Father, Son, and Spirit: that the Father is to be worshipped, is not disputed, see John 4:21; and the Son is to be worshipped with the same worship the Father is; since he is in the form of God, and equal to him, is the Creator of all the Lord of angels and men, and is to be, and is worshipped by both; prayer is made unto him, baptism is administered in his name, and trust and confidence are placed in him; and so is the Holy Ghost, he being equally God with the Father and the Son, and therefore the same homage is to be given to him as to them: and so some indeed read the words here, "which worship God the Spirit"; or the Spirit, who is God. "Worship" is either inward or outward; inward worship lies in the exercise of grace on God, as of faith, hope, love, fear, c. outward worship is the performance of certain external actions required by God, and both are to be performed: and it is also either private or public private worship is in the closet, or in the family, and consists of praying, singing of praises, c. public worship lies in tire observance of the outward ordinances of preaching, praying, hearing singing, c. in the church of God even all such ordinances as God has appointed, which are recorded in the Scriptures, and are confirmed by the authority of Christ. The manner in which worship is to be performed, is "in the Spirit" either in and with the Spirit of God, without whose grace and assistance no part of it can be performed well. And the Alexandrian copy reads, "which worship in the Spirit of God"; and so the Complutensian edition, and several copies. Or in and with our own hearts and spirits, which should be engaged in every part of religious worship with much attention, diligence, and fervency; or in a spiritual manner, in opposition to the carnal worship of the Jews, and the bodily exercise of formal professors; and which lies in drawing nigh to God with true hearts, sincere and fervent ones, with grace in them, and that in exercise:

and rejoice in Christ Jesus; or "glory in" him, and make their boast of him; for a different word is here used from that in Philippians 3:1. Such who have a true sense of themselves, and a spiritual sight of Christ, will not glory in themselves, in their wisdom, strength, riches, or righteousness, but in Christ, in his wisdom and strength, in his riches and righteousness, and in his person and grace only:

and have no confidence in the flesh; in any carnal descent, or birth privilege, as to be of the seed of Abraham, of the of Israel, or of such a tribe, or family, or born of such a parent; nor in circumcision, or any of the carnal ordinances of the ceremonial law; nor in any civil, moral, legal, and external righteousness, for so to do is but to make flesh an arm; or indeed to trust in anything out of Christ, or short of him; and all this makes up the character and description of a true believer in Christ.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For we are the circumcision - We who are Christians. We have and hold the true doctrine of circumcision. We have that which was intended to be secured by this rite - for we are led to renounce the flesh, and to worship God in the spirit. The apostle in this verse teaches that the ordinance of circumcision was not designed to be a mere outward ceremony, but was intended to be emblematic of the renunciation of the flesh with its corrupt propensities, and to lead to the pure and spiritual worship of God. In this, he has undoubtedly stated its true design. They who now urged it as necessary to salvation, and who made salvation depend on its mere outward observance, had lost sight of this object of the rite. But this, the real design of circumcision, was attained by those who had been led to renounce the flesh, and who had devoted themselves to the worship of God; see the notes at Romans 2:28-29.

Which worship God in the spirit - See the notes at John 4:24; compare Genesis 17:10-14.

And rejoice in Christ Jesus - See Philippians 3:1. That is, we have, through him, renounced the flesh; we have become the true worshippers of God, and have thus attained what was originally contemplated by circumcision, and by all the other rites of religion.

And have no confidence in the flesh - In our own corrupt nature; or in any ordinances that relate merely to the flesh. We do not depend on circumcision for salvation, or on any external rites and forms whatever - on any advantage of rank, or blood. The word “flesh” here seems to refer to every advantage which any may have of birth; to any external conformity to the law, and to everything which unaided human nature can do to effect salvation. Or none of these things can we put reliance for salvation; none of them will constitute a ground of hope.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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 confidence in the flesh-in any outward rite or ceremony prescribed by the Jewish institutions.