Philippians 3:20 - Exposition

For our conversation is in heaven . The word "our" is emphatic; the apostle refers back to Philippians 3:17 : "Follow us, not those enemies of the cross; our conversation is in heaven; they mind earthly things." The A.V. has this same word "conversation" in Philippians 1:27 , where the Greek ( πολιτεύεσθε ) is the verb corresponding with the noun ( πολιτεῦ΄α ) which occurs here. The verb is used in the sense of a certain mode of life or conversation, as in Acts 23:1 , but it does not appear that the noun ever bears that meaning. The rendering" citizenship" also seems deficient in authority. In classical Greek the word has three meanings:

The last seems the most suitable here. The unworthy Christians mentioned in the last verse mind earthly things; but our city, our country, our home, is in heaven: there is the state of which we are citizens; there is the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn, whoso names are inscribed in the roll of the citizens of the heavenly city. Our real home is there now ( ὑπάρχει ); comp. Ephesians 2:19 , "Ye are no longer strangers and foreigners, but ye are fellow-citizens of the saints" (comp. also Hebrews 11:10 , Hebrews 11:16 and Hebrews 13:14 ; Galatians 4:26 ). From whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ ; rather, we eagerly wait for (comp. Romans 8:23 , Romans 8:25 ; Galatians 5:5 ) t he Lord Jesus Christ as a Savior ; comp. Isaiah 25:9 , "This is the Lord; we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."