Philippians 3-4
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Chapter 3
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh – Those mutilators of the flesh are those who believed that you had to be circumcised and become a Jew in order to be saved. “Dogs” (kuōn) which is the exact term that the Jews used to speak of gentiles, is used here to speak of the Judaizers. Paul is comparing it with the pagan practices of mutilating the flesh which was forbidden in the law (Leviticus 21:5).
5 circumcised on the eighth day – Paul was circumcised on the eighth day after birth shows that Paul was a pure Jew (Leviticus 12:3), not a proselyte.
of the people of Israel – Paul’s parents were both true Jews, and Paul could trace his heritage back to Abraham (see Romans 11:1; 2 Corinthians 11:22).
of the tribe of Benjamin – Benjamin, was the only one of Joseph’s brothers actually born in the Promised Land. The tribe remained loyal to David’s line when the monarchy split. Israel’s first king, Saul, after whom Paul was named, was from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 10:20-24). Mordecai, Esther’s uncle and the man who helped save the nation, was a Benjamite. The tribes of Benjamin and Judah were the only two tribes to return to Israel after the Exile (Ezra 4:1).
a Hebrew of Hebrews – He spoke the old languages of his race—Hebrew and Aramaic.
in regard to the law, a Pharisee – “Pharisee” means “separated one.” Pharisees scrupulously followed the Old Testament laws as well as their own numerous rules and traditions (see Acts 5:34; 22:3; 23:6; 26:5).
6 as for zeal, persecuting the church – Paul travelled hundreds of miles in order to find Christians, bring them back in chains to Jerusalem, and cast a vote for their deaths (Acts 9:1-2; 22:3-5; 26:9-11). He held the coats of those who stoned an early Christian leader (Acts 7:59–8:1).
as for legalistic righteousness, faultless – As a Pharisee, Paul had to follow the Old Testament law in addition to hundreds of rules and traditions that the Pharisees placed upon themselves.
8 I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ – Rubbish (skubalon) is literally “thrown to the dogs.” See verse 2 above.
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you – Cf. 1Cor 11:1.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ – “Just as the Roman colonists never forgot that they belong to Rome, you must never forget that you are citizens of heaven; and your conduct must match your citizenship.” (Barclay)
Chapter 4
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord – Not much is known about them other than they were church members, not troublemakers from outside the congregation. Their argument was not over a doctrinal issue. If it had been, Paul would have corrected it. They were prominent women, well respected by the Philippian congregation.
3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life – The book of life is the register where God keeps the names of all the redeemed (Ex. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Dan. 12:1; Mal. 3:16–17; Luke 10:20; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27) From eternity past (Matt. 25:34; Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9).
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus – Peace from God: Paul uses this as an introduction to his letters; it reminds us that our peace comes to us as a gift from God (Eph 2:14; 1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2). Peace with God: This describes a relationship that we enter into with God through the finished work of Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1). Peace of God: This is the peace spoken of in Philippians 4:7. It is beyond “all mind”; that is, beyond our power of thinking. The word “guard” (phrourēsei) is a military term that means to surround and protect a garrison or city.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things – Whatever is true(alethe) – (Remember the belt of truth!). Real truth is a characteristic of God (Romans 3:4). And here it means reading, analyzing, and meditating or thinking about and on the truth of the Word of God. Whatever is noble (semnos) – This comes from a word meaning “to revere,” or “to worship.” This word is used to describes the lifestyle required of deacons (1 Tim. 3:8), deaconesses (1 Tim. 3:11), and older men (Titus 2:2). Whatever is right (dikaios) – is an adjective, and should be translated “righteous.” It is those thoughts that meet God’s standards of rightness. Whatever is pure (hagnos) – means free from contamination or blemish; these thoughts are unmixed and unmodified; they are wholesome. In 1 Timothy 5:22 it is translated “free from sin.” Whatever is lovely (prosphiles) – Used only here in the New Testament. It could be translated “sweet,” “gracious,” “generous,” or “patient.” Paul was referring to thoughts of great moral and spiritual beauty, not of evil. Whatever is admirable (euphemos) – It refers to things that speak well of the thinker—If anything is excellent (aretē) or praiseworthy (epainos) – Paul summed up what could have been a lengthy list of the qualities that should describe a believer’s thought life.
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength – Cf. John 15:5
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