{"id":2023,"date":"2011-05-03T16:30:16","date_gmt":"2011-05-03T23:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?page_id=2023"},"modified":"2017-09-12T09:08:30","modified_gmt":"2017-09-12T16:08:30","slug":"chapter-3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/commentary\/philippians\/chapter-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Breaking with the past<\/span><\/h3>\n

1:\u00a0Finally, my brethren, rejoice<\/strong> in the Lord…<\/span><\/p>\n

He exhorts the Philippians again, as he has throughout this letter, to joy.<\/p>\n

1: …To write the same things to you is not irksome to me, and is safe for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

The reference to “writ[ing] the same things”<\/span><\/em> could refer to what Paul has just said, but I think it is more likely to\u00a0refer to what he is about to write. It’s unclear as to whether Paul had previously warned them in another letter (cf Polycarp’s testimony) or when he was with them in person.<\/p>\n

Paul says that he’s going to be repeating himself here, but that it’s okay because he’s doing it out of love for the Philippians, for their spiritual safety. Given everything else we know about the Philippians I would imagine that Paul\u00a0was pretty confident in the Philippian’s fidelity to the Gospel, but out of fatherly care for the this church he can’t help but say something.\u00a0It brings to mind parent calling out “Drive safely! Be careful!”<\/em> when a child leaves for university \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

But love will not allow me to be\u00a0silent where you are concerned, so I am taking this opportunity to exhort you…\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– Letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians, Chapter 3<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Many times we hear sermons and homilies where we don’t “learn” anything in the sense that we aren’t told any new new information. However, I think this verse of Paul’s letter to the Philippians reminds us that we should not tire of being exhorted to virtue\u00a0and warned against dangers and vice.<\/p>\n

As Dr. Johnson said, people need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed. <\/span><\/p>\n

– Mere Christianity (Book III), C.S. Lewis<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2: Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil-workers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This abrupt change in subject has lead some scholars to conclude that Philippians is, in fact, two or three letters that Paul sent to that church which have been stitched together, as discussed in the introduction<\/a>. However, it is equally possible that Paul just thought of something else to talk about!<\/p>\n

In Paul’s time, the Pharisees would often describe Gentiles (non-Jews) as “dogs”, yet here Paul repurposes the term to refer\u00a0to a group we know as the “Judaizers”. These were those\u00a0who believed in Jesus to some degree, but insisted that Gentiles must become Jews before becoming Christians. As we mentioned in the\u00a0introduction<\/a>,\u00a0the Philippian congregation was predominantly Gentile…<\/p>\n

The Judaizers insisted Gentiles follow the requirements\u00a0of the Old Covenant such as keeping kosher. In particular, the Judaizers demanded that men be circumcised and Paul plays on the word “mutilate” here to. This viewpoint stands in direct contrast to the letter sent out by the Apostles after the Council of Jerusalem<\/a> in AD 50. Paul speaks out against Judaizers many times in his letters, particularly in his letter to the Galatians<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3: For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit,\u00a0and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul explains that Christians are the “true circumcision”<\/span> and in his letter to the Colossians<\/a> he explains that this is baptism, the “circumcision not performed by human hands”<\/span>. The promise of a better circumcision was foretold by Moses<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The word “flesh”<\/span><\/em> is used in several different ways in Scripture and here it refers to our fallen nature, man without God.<\/p>\n

4: Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul has said that Christians put no confidence in the flesh, but says that if anybody<\/strong> were to have confidence in it, Paul would be the best qualified…<\/p>\n

5-6: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee, <\/span><\/span>as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul lists his credentials.\u00a0For me this list is like someone saying\u00a0“I’m not only American, I came over on the Mayflower”:<\/p>\n

1. Paul has been\u00a0“circumcised”<\/span>. He had fulfilled the ritual requirements of the Mosaic Law.<\/p>\n

2. Paul is an “Israel[ite]”<\/span>. He was part of God’s chosen people, a descendant of Jacob (later renamed Israel).<\/p>\n

3. Paul belonged to “the tribe of Benjamin”<\/span>. Benjamin was one of the twelve sons of Jacob and had the distinction of being the only one born in the Promised Land. Other distinctions were that King Saul came from that line and it was also the tribe which marched into battle first.<\/p>\n

4. He is a “Hebrew”<\/span>. This meant that he spoke Aramaic and was a descendant of Eber, the great-grandson of Shem. The phrase “Hebrew of Hebrews” is an application of a idiom indicating perfection, zeal. In this sense, “The Song of Songs” is the best of songs.<\/p>\n

5. Paul belonged to the “Pharisee”<\/span> party. This was a very rigorous\u00a0group within Judaism at the time of the First Century..<\/p>\n

6. He was a “persecutor of the Church”<\/span>. During his early career, Paul distinguished himself by\u00a0his zeal for Judaism, so much so that he vigorously persecuted the new group which appeared who later came to be known as “Christians”.<\/p>\n

Paul is saying that if the Judaizers want to say that Paul doesn’t know what he’s talking about then they clearly don’t know who he is! If you wanted that way to salvation Paul would have had them beat!\u00a0Paul now goes on to say how he regards such things…<\/p>\n

Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/span><\/em>
\nQ1.<\/strong> What might be our version of these things?<\/p>\n

Assignment<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nIn Philippians 3 Paul lists his impressive list of credentials and achievements.\u00a0I’d therefore invite you to spend a bit of time and write down on a piece of paper all of your credentials and achievements – personal and professional – all the things you value and take pride in.<\/p>\n

7-11: But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

In comparison to Christ, Paul considers all his achievements and accolades as nothing.It’s not that these things were\u00a0bad, it’s just that, in comparison to Jesus, they just don’t compare! In comparison to Jesus, everything else fades into insignificance!<\/p>\n

Memory Verse<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/em>But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ\u00a0<\/span>– Philippians 3:7<\/span><\/p>\n

Memory Verse<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/em>Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord\u00a0– Philippians 3:8<\/span><\/p>\n

Assignment<\/strong><\/span><\/em>
\nReturn to the list you made in the previous assignment\u00a0and prayerfully work through those items and write beneath each one\u00a0“But whatever gain I had, I count… as loss for the sake of Christ”<\/span>. Honestly ask yourself where you place this achievement in comparison to knowing Jesus.<\/p>\n

Assignment<\/strong><\/span><\/em>
\nWatch the following video…<\/p>\n

\u00a0