Philippians 3:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:20-21

The heavenly citizenship and its blessed expectations. The apostle seems to say that these souls, with their earthly instincts, can have no fellowship with us; for we are citizens of a heavenly state. "For our citizenship is even now in heaven." I. THE HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP . 1 . Consider its source. It comes, not by birth or manumission, but by the ransom-price of Jesus Christ. It is in Christ we become "fellow-citizens of the saints and of the household of God" ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:20-21

The blessedness of the Christly. "For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the [a] Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, [who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory] according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue [subject] all things unto himself." The word πολίτευμα which occurs nowhere else in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:20-21

Our heavenly citizenship. The Christian is living in two spheres at the same time. Locally, he is a citizen of the world; spiritually, he is in heaven. Compare our Lord's description of the twofold condition of the apostles whom he was leaving—they were "in the world" and yet they were "in him" ( John 16:33 ). These spheres are not of necessity opposed the one to the other, but they become so when the lower attempts to usurp the place which belongs to the higher. I. THE DIFFICULTY... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philippians 3:20

For our conversation is in heaven - That is, this is true of all who are sincere Christians. It is a characteristic of Christians, in contradistinction from those who are the “enemies of the cross,” that their conversation is in heaven. The word “conversation” we now apply almost entirely to oral discourse. It formerly, however, meant conduct in general, and it is usually employed in this sense in the Scriptures; see the notes at Philippians 1:27, where the verb occurs, from which the noun here... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Philippians 3:20-21

Philippians 3:20-21. For our conversation is in heaven We that are true Christians are of a very different spirit, and act in a quite different manner. The original expression, πολιτευμα , rendered conversation, is a word of a very extensive meaning, implying our citizenship, our thoughts, our affections, are already in heaven; or we think, speak, and act, converse with our fellow-creatures, and conduct ourselves in all our intercourse with them, as citizens of the New Jerusalem, and as... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:17-21

A guide for behaviour (3:17-21)Jewish false teachers tried to make the Philippians keep laws; other false teachers said they could do as they liked. Paul warns the Philippians to believe neither. They will learn the standards of Christian behaviour by following the example of Jesus and those who live like him. Those who allow themselves to follow the natural desires of their bodies and their minds are not disciples of Jesus Christ, but enemies (17-19). Christ’s people are interested in things... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philippians 3:20

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... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Philippians 3:20

For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.Citizenship ... in heaven ... Russell pointed out that this illustration "was drawn from the fact that the Philippians' citizenship was in Rome. Paul developed the same idea in Hebrews 13:14."[33]Whence also we wait for a Saviour ... The Second Coming is the background of this. Paul represents himself and the Philippians as living in a state of expectancy, awaiting the coming of the Son of God from... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Philippians 3:20

Philippians 3:20. For our conversation is in heaven;— They who have occasion to make use of this text, commonly attempt to mend our translation, asserting that the word πολιτευμα should not be rendered conversation, but citizenship. Thus Beza, the common French translation, and that printed at Mons, have rendered it. Diodati agrees with ours, but puts citizenship in the margin. The Vulgate, Syriac, Low Dutch, and Castalio render it as we do; and after all that the critics have said upon this... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Philippians 3:20

20. our conversation—rather, "our state" or "country"; our citizenship: our life as citizens. We are but pilgrims on earth; how then should we "mind earthly things?" (Philippians 3:19; Hebrews 11:9; Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 11:13-16). Roman citizenship was then highly prized; how much more should the heavenly citizenship (Acts 22:28; compare Luke 10:20)? is—Greek, "has its existence." in heaven—Greek, "in the heavens." look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ—"We wait for (so the same Greek is... read more

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