Philippians 3:2 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philippians 3:1-3

It seems the church of the Philippians, though a faithful and flourishing church, was disturbed by the judaizing teachers, who endeavoured to keep up the law of Moses, and mix the observances of it with the doctrine of Christ and his institutions. He begins the chapter with warnings against these seducers. I. He exhorts them to rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 3:1), to rest satisfied in the interest they had in him and the benefit they hoped for by him. It is the character and temper of sincere... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 3:2-3

3:2-3 Be on your guard against the dogs; be on your guard against the evil workers; be on your guard against the party of mutilation; for we are the truly circumcised, we who worship in the Spirit of God; we whose proud boast is in Jesus Christ, we who place no confidence in merely human things. Quite suddenly Paul's accent changes to that of warning. Wherever he taught, the Jews followed him and tried to undo his teaching. It was the teaching of Paul that we are saved by grace alone, that... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 3:2-3

(iii) Lastly, he calls them, the party of mutilation. There is a pun in the Greek which is not transferable to English. There are two Greek verbs which are very like each other. Peritemnein ( Greek #4059 ) means to circumcise; katatemnein means to mutilate, as in Leviticus 21:5 , which describes forbidden self-mutilation, such as castration. Paul says, "You Jews think that you are circumcised; in point of fact, you are only mutilated." What is the point of this? According to Jewish... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:2

Beware of dogs ,.... By whom are meant the "judaizing" teachers, who were for imposing the works and ceremonies of the law upon the Gentiles, as necessary to salvation; and they have the name retorted on them they used to give to the Gentiles; see Matthew 15:26 ; nor should they think it too severe, since the Jews themselves say F16 Misn. Sota, c. 9. sect. 15. , "the face of that generation (in which the Messiah shall come) shall he, כפני הכלב , "as the face of a dog". The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:2

Beware of dogs - The Jews, who have here the same appellative which they formerly gave to the Gentiles: because the Gentiles were not included in the covenant, they called them Dogs; and themselves, the children of the Most High. Now, they are cast out of the covenant and the Gentiles taken in; therefore they are the dogs, and the Gentiles the children. Evil workers - Judaizing teachers, who endeavored to pervert the Gospel. The concision - Κατατομην· The cutting or excision; not ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1-3

Holy joy. I. THE CHRISTIAN 'S PRIVILEGE . 1 . It is in the Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord," the apostle says. The Lord, who once gave himself for us, gives himself to us now. "Behold," he says, "I stand at the door, and knock." If we listen to his voice, and open the door of our heart, he is ready to enter, to bless us with his sacred presence, to abide with us for ever. In his presence there is fullness of joy. We can know it only by experience. "The love of Jesus, what it is,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1-3

Spiritual Judaism. Having called upon the Philippians for public spirit, he now speaks, as if about to close the Epistle, about joy in the Lord. Inasmuch, however, as the Judaizers were abroad, he deems it best to insert a parenthesis, which the world could ill spare, about the true people of God and the progress towards the " citizenship " of heaven. This third chapter is a magnificent parenthesis, in which the spiritual life is laid bare from its inception to its glorious close. In... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1-3

Rejoicing, eschewing, and imitating. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord," etc. These verses present three subjects for reflection—the Being to rejoice in, the men to avoid, the worship to imitate. I. THE BEING TO REJOICE IN . "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." "The Lord" means undoubtedly Jesus Christ, the Savior of all men. But why rejoice in him? 1 . Because of his-peerless excellence. He is the morally beautiful. Every moral virtue is united,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1-16

The true circumcision. Contemplated close of the Epistle. "Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." It would seem that, at this point, the apostle contemplated bringing the Epistle to a close. He intimates that, in addition to what he has already said, he has only this further to say. He falls back on what has already been noticed as the key-note of the Epistle. Addressing them as his brethren, he calls upon them to rejoice in the Lord. He recognized no joy but what was in the Lord. We... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:2

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision . The connection is, as given in Philippians 3:3 , Rejoice in the Lord, not in the flesh; have confidence in him, not in the ceremonies of the Jewish Law. Compare the same contrast in Galatians 6:13 , Galatians 6:14 . There is certainly something abrupt in the sudden introduction of this polemic against Judaizing, especially in writing to Philippi, where there were not many Jews. But there may have been circumstances,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philippians 3:1-3

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 3:2-3

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philippians 3:2-3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:2

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