Philippians — Chapter 3

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1Finally, 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.

2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4Though 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:

5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13Brethren, 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,

14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

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:

19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe.

2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision:

3for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:

4though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:

5circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

7Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

8Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,

9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, [even] that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:

10that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;

11if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.

12Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.

13Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing [I do], forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,

14I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:

16only, whereunto we have attained, by that same [rule] let us walk.

17Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.

18For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and [whose] glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

20For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21who 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 subject all things unto himself.

1Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!

3For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials

4—though mine, too, are significant. If someone thinks he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials, I have more:

5I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee.

6In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless.

7But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.

8More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things —indeed, I regard them as dung!—that I may gain Christ

9and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.

10My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death,

11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12Not that I have already attained this—that is, I have not already been perfected—but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

14with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.

16Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained.

17Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.

18For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

19Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.

20But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.

2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.

3For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;

4though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:

5circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

6concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

7However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ.

8Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ

9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

10that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death;

11if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

13Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,

14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.

16Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind.

17Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example.

18For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,

19whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.

20For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

21who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Paul counts all his former religious credentials as rubbish compared to knowing Christ, presses toward the prize of the upward call, and warns against enemies of the cross — declaring "our citizenship is in heaven" from which we await our Savior.

Authorship & Background

Author: Paul the Apostle (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 3 is Paul's spiritual autobiography — his testimony of trading religious credentials for Christ. He warns against Judaizers ("dogs," "evil workers," "the concision," v.2), then lists his impressive Jewish pedigree only to declare it all "dung" compared to knowing Christ (v.8). The chapter moves from Paul's past (vv.4-7) to his present pursuit (vv.8-14) to his future hope (vv.20-21).
Warning Against Judaizers (vv.1-3): Paul warns against those who insist on circumcision for salvation. He calls them "dogs" (a term Jews used for Gentiles — now reversed), "evil workers," and "the concision" (mutilation, not true circumcision). True circumcision is of the heart (v.3).
Paul's Credentials Counted Loss (vv.4-11): Paul had the best Jewish resume imaginable (vv.5-6). But he counted it all loss — "dung" (v.8) — for the surpassing value of knowing Christ. His goal: know Christ, gain Christ's righteousness by faith, share in His sufferings and resurrection (vv.8-11).
Pressing Toward the Goal (vv.12-16): Paul hasn't arrived — he's still pressing forward. "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" (v.13). One thing: press toward the prize (v.14).
Citizens of Heaven (vv.17-21): Our citizenship is in heaven (v.20). We await Christ's return, when He will transform our bodies to be like His glorious body (v.21).

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik covers the warning against Judaizers, Paul's credentials, the surpassing value of knowing Christ, pressing toward the goal, and heavenly citizenship.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Pressing Forward" on vv.13-14 (MTP Vol. 15, No. 862) "This one thing I do. Not these forty things I dabble in — this ONE thing. Paul was a focused man. Forgetting what is behind — not dwelling on past failures or past successes. Reaching forward — straining every muscle toward what lies ahead. Pressing toward the mark — like a runner whose eyes are fixed on the finish line. Are you pressing, or are you coasting?" Sermon: "Counting All Things Loss" on v.8 (MTP Vol. 35, No. 2094) "I count all things but loss — not just my sins but my righteousness. Not just my failures but my achievements. Not just my shame but my glory. ALL things are loss compared to the excellency of knowing Christ. The best things in the world are dung next to Him. Have you made that exchange?"

Videos

The Bible Project — Philippians Overview

Animated overview of the book's literary structure, themes, and theological message. Excellent visual introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)

Reflection

  • 1. "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss" (v.7). What are your "gains" — achievements, credentials, reputation — that you might be tempted to trust in instead of Christ? Can you count them as loss?
  • 2. "That I may know him" (v.10). Paul's supreme desire after decades of ministry: to KNOW Christ more. Is knowing Christ your deepest desire, or has something else taken first place?
  • 3. "The fellowship of his sufferings" (v.10). Are you willing to share in Christ's sufferings? What does that look like in your life? Do you avoid suffering at all costs, or embrace it as participation in Christ's life?
  • 4. "This one thing I do" (v.13). Paul was focused — one thing. What is your "one thing"? Or are you scattered among many things? What would change if you had Paul's singular focus?
  • 5. "Forgetting those things which are behind" (v.13). What past failures or past successes are you still dwelling on? How do they hinder your forward progress? Can you let them go?
  • 6. "Our conversation is in heaven" (v.20). Do you live like a citizen of heaven or like someone whose home is here? How does heavenly citizenship change your priorities, values, and daily decisions?