Philippians 3:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:2

"Dogs." Jews regarded the Gentiles as dogs ( Matthew 15:22 , et seq. ) . The unclean feeding of these animals—the scavengers of Eastern cities—was supposed to be analogous to the Gentile freedom in eating all kinds of meats. St. Paul turns the tables, and calls the Judaizers who feed upon carnal ordinances dogs in comparison with Christians who live on the higher spiritual food. I. CONTEMPTUOUS LANGUAGE MAY BE OCCASIONALLY PERMITTED IN CONTROVERSY . It is a most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:2-3

Serious warning against errorists. The apostle, after counselling the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord, somewhat abruptly recalls the case of errorists of the Judaistic type, who, though not at Philippi, were not far from its boundaries. He deems it "safe" to give timely warning: "Beware of the dogs, of the evil-workers, of the concision." I. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JUDAIST ERRORISTS . 1 . They were " dogs " in the Jewish sense , that is , impure and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:2-3

Identity not to be found in continuity of form, but in harmony of the inner spirit. I. USELESSNESS OF OUTWARD FORMS WHEN THEIR SPIRIT HAS PASSED OUT or THEM . The Judaizing party clung to their circumcision as if it were their title to acceptance with God. St. Paul shows that, since the substance, of which circumcision was the shadow, has been bestowed upon men, to insist upon the outward form was to forfeit the reality of which it was the forecast. The truly... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philippians 3:2

Beware of dogs - Dogs in the east are mostly without masters; they wander at large in the streets and fields, and feed upon offals, and even upon corpses; compare 1 Kings 14:11; 1Ki 16:4; 1 Kings 21:19. They are held as unclean, and to call one a dog is a much stronger expression of contempt there than with us; 1 Samuel 17:43; 2 Kings 8:13. The Jews called the pagan dogs, and the Muslims call Jews and Christians by the same name. The term dog also is used to denote a person that is shameless,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Philippians 3:2

Philippians 3:2. Beware of dogs Unclean, unholy, rapacious men, who, though they fawn and flatter, would devour you as dogs. He probably gave them this appellation also, because they barked against the doctrines of the gospel, and against its faithful teachers, and were ready to bite and tear all who opposed their errors. Our Lord used the word dogs in the same sense, when he commanded his apostles not to give that which is holy to dogs. Perhaps, by calling them dogs, the apostle... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:1-16

3:1-21 THE WAY TO PERFECTIONPaul’s testimony (3:1-16)At this point Paul repeats warnings that he gave the Philippian church some time earlier concerning Judaisers. He calls the Judaisers ‘dogs’ because they like to ‘cut the flesh’ of people; that is, they insist that they must circumcise Gentiles before those Gentiles can be saved. The true people of God, whom Paul calls the ‘true circumcision’, are not those who have carried out a ceremony to put a mark in their bodies, but those who have... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philippians 3:2

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 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Philippians 3:2

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision.Here is more repetition, the threefold "beware" being one of the most dramatic warnings in Scripture. What a tragedy is the butchering of this text by so-called translators. The RSV, for example, changed this to "Look out for the dogs!" As Foy E. Wallace, Jr., said, "This is an example of ruining the language and literary quality of the Scriptures."[8] "Beware" is a far better word in this place than "look out for."Dogs ...... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Philippians 3:2

Philippians 3:2. Beware of dogs,— This may very possibly be an allusion to Isaiah 56:10-12. Comp. Philippians 3:19. Titus 1:11-12.Romans 16:18; Romans 16:18. Galatians 6:12-13. The Jews used to call the Gentiles dogs, and perhaps St. Paul, directed by the Spirit of God, may use this language, when speaking of their proud bigots, by way of just retaliation. Comp. Revelation 22:15. We read of a custom at Rome, to chain their dogs at the doors of their houses, and to put an inscription over them;... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Philippians 3:2

2. Beware—Greek, "Have your eye on" so as to beware of. Contrast "mark," or "observe," namely, so as to follow :-. dogs—Greek, "the dogs," namely, those impure persons "of whom I have told you often" (Philippians 3:18; Philippians 3:19); "the abominable" (compare Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15; Matthew 7:6; Titus 1:15; Titus 1:16): "dogs" in filthiness, unchastity, and snarling (Deuteronomy 23:18; Psalms 59:6; Psalms 59:14; Psalms 59:15; 2 Peter 2:22): especially "enemies of the cross of... read more

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