Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, November 20th, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

King James Version

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Circumcision;   Joy;   Righteous;   Works;   Worship;   Scofield Reference Index - Flesh;   The Topic Concordance - Circumcision;   Confidence;   Flesh;   Worship;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Circumcision;   Joy;   Trust;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Circumcision;   Flesh;   Holy spirit;   Spirit;   Worship;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Boasting;   Church, the;   Flesh;   Galatians, Theology of;   Humility;   Servant, Service;   Spirit;   Spirituality;   Works of the Law;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Joy;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Circumcision;   Flesh;   Philippians, the Epistle to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Flesh;   Philippians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ephesians, Epistle to;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Circumcision;   Confidence;   Holy Spirit;   Justification;   Minister Ministry;   People ;   Philippians Epistle to the;   Pride;   Quotations;   Trust;   Type;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Circumcision;   13 To Worship, Serve;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Concision;   Confidence;   Philippi;   Philippians, the Epistle to;   Worship;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for October 27;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
But we are the ones who have the true circumcision—we who worship God through his Spirit. We don't trust in ourselves or anything we can do. We take pride only in Christ Jesus.
Revised Standard Version
For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For we are circucision which worshippe god in the sprete and reioyce in Christ Iesu and have no confidence in the flesshe:
Hebrew Names Version
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Messiah Yeshua, and have no confidence in the flesh;
New American Standard Bible
for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh,
New Century Version
We are the ones who are truly circumcised. We worship God through his Spirit, and our pride is in Christ Jesus. We do not put trust in ourselves or anything we can do,
Update Bible Version
for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:
Webster's Bible Translation
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
English Standard Version
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
World English Bible
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
beware of the concision, For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Weymouth's New Testament
For we are the true circumcision--we who render to God a spiritual worship and make our boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in outward ceremonies:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For we ben circumcisioun, which bi spirit seruen to God, and glorien in Crist Jhesu, and han not trist in the fleisch,
English Revised Version
for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:
Berean Standard Bible
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh-
Contemporary English Version
But we are the ones who are truly circumcised, because we worship by the power of God's Spirit and take pride in Christ Jesus. We don't brag about what we have done,
Amplified Bible
for we [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, set apart for His purpose and] are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory and take pride and exult in Christ Jesus and place no confidence [in what we have or who we are] in the flesh—
American Standard Version
for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:
Bible in Basic English
For we are the circumcision, who give worship to God and have glory in Jesus Christ, and have no faith in the flesh:
Complete Jewish Bible
For it is we who are the Circumcised, we who worship by the Spirit of God and make our boast in the Messiah Yeshua! We do not put confidence in human qualifications,
Darby Translation
For *we* are the circumcision, who worship by [the] Spirit of God, and boast in Christ Jesus, and do not trust in flesh.
International Standard Version
For it is we who are the circumcisionperitome (a cutting around)">[fn] - we who worship in the Spirit of Godworship God in the Spirit">[fn] and boast in Christ Jesus. We have not placed any confidence in the flesh,Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; John 4:23-24; Romans 2:29; 4:11-12; 7:6; Galatians 6:14; Colossians 2:11;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For the circumcision are we, who serve Aloha in the spirit, and glory in Jeshu the Meshiha, and confide not on the flesh.
Murdock Translation
3 For we are the [fn] circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Jesus the Messiah, and place no reliance on the flesh.
King James Version (1611)
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and reioyce in Christ Iesus, and haue no confidence in the flesh.
New Living Translation
For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,
New Life Bible
The act of becoming a Jew has nothing to do with us becoming Christians. We worship God through His Spirit and are proud of Jesus Christ. We have no faith in what we ourselves can do.
New Revised Standard
For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh—
Geneva Bible (1587)
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirite, and reioyce in Christ Iesus, and haue no confidence in the flesh:
George Lamsa Translation
For we are the true people of circumcision, who worship God in Spirit, and glory in Jesus Christ, and yet do not rely on things of the flesh.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, we, are the circumcision, who in the Spirit of God, are doing divine service, and are boasting in Christ Jesus, and, not in flesh, having confidence, -
Douay-Rheims Bible
For we are the circumcision, who in spirit serve God and glory in Christ Jesus, not having confidence in the flesh.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirite, and reioyce in Christ Iesus, and haue no confidence in the fleshe:
Good News Translation
It is we, not they, who have received the true circumcision, for we worship God by means of his Spirit and rejoice in our life in union with Christ Jesus. We do not put any trust in external ceremonies.
Christian Standard Bible®
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—
Lexham English Bible
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and do not put confidence in the flesh,
Literal Translation
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, and who glory in Christ Jesus, and who do not trust in flesh.
Young's Literal Translation
for we are the circumcision, who by the Spirit are serving God, and glorying in Christ Jesus, and in flesh having no trust,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
for we are the circumcision, euen we that serue God in the sprete, and reioyce in Christ Iesu, and haue no confidence in the flesh,
Mace New Testament (1729)
for we are the genuine sons of Abraham, who worship God in the spiritual manner, and value no other dependance than that on Jesus Christ, without confiding in any external advantages:
New English Translation
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials
New King James Version
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, [fn] rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
Simplified Cowboy Version
True circumcision comes from worshiping God in the Spirit. That means relying on what Jesus did instead of what we can do. We have no confidence in ourselves, but all the confidence in the world in God.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
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,
Legacy Standard Bible
For we are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

Contextual Overview

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

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

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Genesis 3:13
And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Genesis 3:17
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Genesis 20:6
And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
1 Chronicles 16:22
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
Job 1:11
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 2:5
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 19:21
Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
1 Corinthians 7:1
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile