New Testament Commentary - Philippians 3

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 3 Paul sacrifices all things for Christ—True ministers set examples of righteousness.
1 FINALLY, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the ^acircumcision, which ^bworship God in the spirit^a, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the ^cflesh.	3^a we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit Paul here plays upon the fact that the true children of Abraham are not those who are of the physical circumcision of the flesh, but that the true children of Abraham are those who worship God in the spirit of true worship, that being of a contrite heart, who have written the name of God in the fleshy tables of the circumcised heart, and do truely live according to the spirit being led by the Holy Spirit rather than relying upon the law to justify themselves.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an ^aHebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a ^bPharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Paul's Dichotomy Paul had lived a life of contradiction. He was of that elite group of the Jews who had the world at their hypocritical mercy. That is, as a Jewish Pharisee, Paul lived considering himself a top of the human heap of humanity before God with all others below his distainful gaze. And Paul was a masterful and true Pharisee, living the letter of the law in all things, which was in it self a contradiction to living righteously in Christ, by the primany business of Paul was to zealously persecute the true belivers in Jesus Christ even unto death. But according to the 'law' of the Jews, Paul was considered blameless and justified in such wicked acts. And herein lies the folly of living the letter of the law, for the law once written can be twisted into wickedness and still by the letter of the law be justified. And this is the abomination of men who do not live by the spirit unto righteousness. If anything haunted Paul the most, this was it. This was the thorn in Paul's side. He had persecuted and murdered the saints of God, such as Stephen. Thus here Paul is in a mode of self confession and example unto righteousness, that the 'law' in and of itself DOES NOT constitute righteousness. It is only in living by the spirit that the law has life unto righteousness. In this did Christ fulfill the law, raising it to that higher level unto righteousness, in that the law is only unto righteous fulfillment when it is lived in the spirit perspective unto righteousness. Thus Christ did not destory the law but he did fulfill the law, raising it to a higher level of righteous adherence to live it not by the letter of the law, but by the spirit of the law unto righteousness. And in this way were all things made new, putting away the old 'interpretations of men' of the law and putting in the only true interpreter unto righteousness, the Spirit of Truth to be one's guide in how to interpret and then live the law unto righteousness. By the letter of the law as practiced by the Jews, Paul was justified in the murder of the saints of God, By the spirit of the law, Paul would have known better and not have proceeded to commit such wickedness.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have ^asuffered the ^bloss of all things, and do count them but ^cdung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the ^arighteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the ^afellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the ^adead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already ^aperfect: but I ^bfollow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before^a, 14 I ^apress toward the mark for the ^bprize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be ^aperfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.	13^a forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before Paul is a perfect example of repentance and forgiveness in action. Like the Lamanites who did murder and kill the Nephites according to the false traditions of their fathers, so was Paul. Like unto King Lamoni and the Lamanite converts of Ammon in the Book of Mormon, Paul had commited much sin in ignorance, considering his understanding as a Pharisee to be the truth of the matter. Paul, like the people of Ammon, had been taken out of the darkness of such false traditions and into the light of the truth. And though Paul, like unto the people of Ammon, had committed gross sins, even unto murder, they were forgive Paul, as they were forgiven the People of Ammon, due to their false state of mind and ignorance in the false traditions of the people, the Lamanite people in respect to the people of Ammon and the Jews in respect to Paul. Thus Paul was a perfect example of 'forgetting' those gross acts of the wicked things committed which were past, and his reaching forth or forward unto those things which were now set before him, even to become as it were a disciple of Christ, as was the case also of the two Alma's of the Book of Mormon, who were turned from their gross wickedness in ignorance unto the light of true and devotion to God in righteousness. This is the example for all to so turn from their sins, leaving them behind them, for there is nothing gained by living in the memory of sin, and pressing forward unto the righteousness and glory of God, thus becoming a new man in the name of Christ, Jesus.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be ^afollowers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ^bensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose ^aend is destruction, whose God is their belly, ^band whose glory is in their ^cshame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the ^aSaviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall ^achange our ^bvile body, ^cthat it may be fashioned like unto his glorious ^dbody, according to the working whereby he is able even to ^esubdue all things unto himself.