Bible Commentaries
Philippians 3

Verse 1

in . App-104 .

Lord. App-98 .

not . App-105 .

grievous = irksome. Greek. oknneros. See Romans 12:11 .

safe . Greek. asphales. See Acts 21:34 .

Verse 2

Beware . App-133 .

evil , App-128 .

concision . Greek. katatome. Only here. The verb katatemno Occurs in the Septuagint of heathen mutilations. Leviticus 21:5 . 1 Kings 18:28 . Paul regards the circumcision of the Judaizers as a mere ordinance, no better than a heathen one. Compare Romans 2:26-29 . 1 Corinthians 7:19 , Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:6 ; Galatians 6:15 .

Verse 3

the circumcision . i.e. the true circumcision. Greek. peritome. Note the Paronomasia ( App-6 ) Katatome , peritome.

worship . App-137 and App-190 .

God. App-98 . All the texts have Theou., instead of Theo, making it dependent upon pneumati, and reading, "worship by the spirit of God", i.e. the new nature. App-101 . Compare Romans 8:9 .

and rejoice = rejoicing, or glorying.

Christ Jesus . App-98 .

have , &c. = not ( App-105 ) trusting ( App-150 .)

Verse 4

I might , &c. = having myself confidence ( App-150 .) in the flesh also. Here Paul takes the Judaizers on their own ground.

If. App-118 .

any other man = any ( App-123 .) other ( App-124 .)

that . . . trust . Literally to have confidence.

trust . App-150 .

Verse 5

Circumcised = In circumcision, as in Philippians 3:3 .

of. App-104 .

stock . Greek. genos . 1 Corinthians 12:10 (kind). Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:14 (nation).

the Hebrews. Omit "the". He refers to his parents, both Hebrews.

as touching = according to. App-104 .

Pharisee. App-120 .

Verse 6

Concerning, touching. App-104 .

church. App-186 .

righteousness . App-191 .

blameless = found blameless, i.e. before men. Compare Acts 24:20 .

Verse 7

gain. Greek. kerdos. See Philippians 1:21 . Note the seven gains in verses: Philippians 3:5 , Philippians 3:6

counted . Same as "esteem", Philippians 2:3 .

loss. Greek. zemia . See Acts 27:10 .

for. App-104 .Philippians 3:2 .

Christ . App-98 .

Verse 8

excellency = excelling. Greek. huperecho. See Philippians 2:3 .

knowledge. App-132 .

Lord. App-98 .

suffered , &c. Greek. zemioo . See 1 Corinthians 3:15 .

be dung = to be dung. Greek. skubalon. Only here.

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

win = gain. kerdaino . Occurs sixteen times, translated gain except here, and 1 Peter 3:1 . First occurance: Matthew 16:26 .

Verse 9

not. App-105 .

mine own , &c. = any . . . of mine.

through . App-104 .Philippians 3:1 .

the faith of Christ = Christ's faith. See Hebrews 12:2 .

faith . App-150 .

by. App-104 .

Verse 10

know. App-132 .

power. App-172 .

resurrection . App-178 .

sufferings . Compare 2 Corinthians 1:5-7 . 1 Peter 4:13 .

being made conformable. Greek. summorphoomai . Only here. See Philippians 3:21 .

unto = to.

Verse 11

If . App-118 .

by any means . As Acts 27:12 .

attain . Greek. katantao . See Acts 16:1 .

unto . App-104 .

resurrection = out-resurrection. App-178 . Only here.

of the dead . All the texts read, "the one from (Greek. ek) the dead", making the expression emphatic. App-189 . The term resurrection of the dead ( anastasis nekron) is of frequent occurrence (Matthew 22:31 .Acts 17:32 ; Acts 23:6 . 1 Corinthians 15:12 , 1 Corinthians 15:13 , 1 Corinthians 15:21 , 1 Corinthians 15:42 .Hebrews 6:2 , &c.), and includes the resurrection to life, of the just, and the resurrection to judgment, of the unjust (John 5:29 . Acts 24:15 .Daniel 12:2; Daniel 12:2 ). Resurrection from the dead (ek nekron) implies the resurrection of some, the former of these two classes, the others being left behind. See Luke 20:35 .Acts 4:2 . Paul had no doubt of attaining to this, as may he seen from 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 , written some ten years before. The exanastasis must therefore mean a further selection of some before the anastasis of 1 Thessalonians 4:14 , and Paul was not yet sure of attaining to this. Perhaps he had the assurance when he wrote 2 Timothy 4:7 . It is noteworthy that there is no reference to any living ones being caught up, or any parousia of the Lord here, as in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 , 1 Thessalonians 4:16 ,

Verse 12

as though = that.

had. Omit.

attained = received.

perfect = perfected. App-125 .

follow after . Same as Philippians 3:6 (persecuting), and Philippians 3:14 (press).

apprehend . Greek. katalambano. See John 1:5 .Ephesians 3:18 , The Greek adds "also",

for. App-104 .

also , Read after "apprehended".

am = was.

of = by. App-104 .

Verse 13

not . Many texts read "not yet".

reaching forth . Greek. epekteinomai. Only here.

Verse 14

press . Same as "follow after", Philippians 3:12 .

toward App-104 .

mark . Greek. skopos . Only here.

for . App-104 ., but the texts rend eis ( App-104 .),

prize . Greek. brabeion. Only here and 1 Corinthians 9:24 .

high calling = the calling above, or on high (Greek. ano , see John 8:23 ). No shout, or voice of archangel or trampet here, as in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 .

Verse 15

perfect. App-126 .

be thus minded = have this in mind. Greek. phroneo, as in verses: Php 16:19 .

be . . . minded . Same word.

otherwise . Greek. heteros . Only used thus here. Compare App-124 .

reveal . App-106 .

even = also.

Verse 16

whereto = to ( App-104 .) which (point).

attained . = come, as Matthew 12:28 .

rule . Greek. kanon . See 2 Corinthians 10:13 , but the texts omit "rule", &c.

Verse 17

be . Literally become.

followers together. Lit fellow-imitators. Greek. summimetes, Only here.

mark. Greek. skopeo. See Luke 11:35 .

ensample. Greek. typos , pattern.

Verse 18

Philippians 3:18-19 = These verses form a Parembole, App-6 .

Verse 19

end . Compare Romans 6:21 . 2 Corinthians 11:15 .Hebrews 6:8 .

destruction . Same as "perdition", Philippians 1:28 .

god. App-98 .

belly . Compare Romans 16:18 ,

earthly . See Philippians 2:10 .

Verse 20

conversation . Greek. politeuma , Only here in N.T. It sec, in the Septuagint and in 2 Macc. 12.7. The seat of the government of which we are citizens (Greek. polites), and of which we have both rights and responsibilities. Compare the verb, Philippians 1:27 .

is = exists even now. Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48 .

heaven = heavens. See Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

from. App-104 .

whence = which, singular, referring to politeuma .

also . To follow "Saviour".

look for = eagerly wait for. Greek. apekdechomai. See Romans 8:19 .

Jesus Christ . App-98 .

Verse 21

change = transform, or change the fashion of. Greek. meta schematizo. See 1 Corinthians 4:6 .

vile body = body of humiliation (Greek. tapeinosis. See Acts 8:33 ).

that it may be, The texts omit.

fashioned like = (to be) conformed. Greek. summorphos. See Romans 8:29 , Compare Philippians 3:10 above. Notice the use of and contrast between schema, fashion, in metaschematizo, and morphe, form, in summorphos, and Compare Philippians 2:8 .

His glorious body , the body of His glory. according to. App-104 .

working . Greek. energeia. See Ephesians 1:19 .

whereby He is able = of His ability.

subdue = subject. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:27 , 1 Corinthians 15:28 .