CHAPTER
III
ATTAINING
TO THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION
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Summary—A Warning Against Judaizing Teachers. Paul’s Grounds for
Boasting in the Flesh. All Counted As Loss Compared with Christ. The Great Aim
to Attain to the Glorious Resurrection. Pressing Towards the Prize of the High
Calling. Enemies of the Cross. At the Resurrection Our Present Bodies Changed
to the Likeness of the Glorified Body of Christ.
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1. Rejoice in the Lord.
See 2:5, and 4:4, 10. There might be a little ground for rejoicing in earthly
prospects, but they could rejoice in Christ and the blessed hope of the gospel.
To write the same things. To repeat exhortations made before, either in
person, or sent by messengers to them.
2, 3. Beware of dogs.
Those snarling and snapping like dogs. The Judaizing teachers, who so troubled
the early churches, are meant. See Galatians, chapter 1. Evil workers.
So called because by their false teaching about the necessity of circumcision
they wrought evil. Of the concision. Applied to those who called
themselves the circumcision. It means simply a “cutting,” the class who were
mutilated. It is contemptuous. 3. We are the circumcision. See notes on
Rom. 2:29 and 4:12. The true circumcision is not in the flesh, but of the
heart in the Spirit.
4–6. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. The confidence of the Jews was in the flesh of Abraham.
They said, “We have Abraham to our father” (Matt. 3:9). But if any man had
grounds for relying on the flesh, it was Paul. 5. Circumcised the eighth
day. As enjoined by the law (Luke 1:59). Of the stock of Israel.
Descended from Israel (Jacob), who had the birthright of Isaac and Abraham. Of
the tribe of Benjamin. A tribe descended from the beloved Rachel; a tribe
that remained faithful when the Ten Tribes of Israel seceded, the tribe on
whose soil Jerusalem and the temple stood. A Hebrew of the Hebrews.
Hebrew by race, by religion, by education, and by custom. A Pharisee. A
member of the strictest sect in Israel, “after the straitest manner of the
sect.” 6. Concerning zeal. His zeal for Judaism was demonstrated by the
fact that he was a persecutor of the church. What were his feelings concerning
this part of his career in shown in 1 Tim. 1:13–16. Blameless. Keeping
the letter of the law so as to be blameless in the eyes of my fellow-Jews.
7–11. What things were gain to me. These things which were counted as a gain he now counts as
nothing; nay, as loss, instead of gain for Christ. Instead of saving him, a
trust in them would have been eternal ruin. 8. I count all things but loss.
In comparison with the inestimable value of the knowledge of Christ, all
worldly things are to be regarded as a loss. For whom I have suffered the
loss of all things. In accepting Christ he gave up all the world holds
dear. But he did not long for them; nay, he counted them as a he would count
filth, to be avoided, if only he may win Christ. The one word Christ in
itself embraces every real blessing. 9. And be found in him. In him
“there is no condemnation” (Rom. 8:1). Not having mine own
righteousness. Those in Christ trust not in a legal righteousness, obtained
by keeping the law, but in the righteousness which the gospel provides to those
who accept Christ through faith. That righteousness is the forgiveness of sins,
which is of God by faith. Note that, although the definite article is
omitted in our Versions before faith, the Greek supplies it. “The faith” is
equivalent to “the gospel.” It is faith in Christ acted upon, causing an
acceptance and steadfast obedience to Christ, which secures the righteousness
(forgiveness) of which Paul speaks. 10. That I may know him. By enjoying
his presence in the soul; an experimental knowledge. And the power of his
resurrection. The resurrection demonstrated him to be the Son of God with
power (Rom. 1:4). The mighty power that worked in his resurrection works in
the saints (1) in their resurrection from spiritual death to a new life (Col.
2:13; Eph. 1:19–23). It is therefore a present power. (2) It works also when
they are lifted from the dead to eternal life. Consciousness of the victory
over sin is the earnest of the ultimate triumph over death. And the
fellowship of his sufferings. Christ’s life is the plan of that of the
saint. Like him, we take the cross, are crucified with him (Rom. 6:6), are
baptized into his death (Rom. 6:3), are planted in the likeness of his death,
and are risen with him (Col. 3:1). In all these we look to the suffering
Savior, and are conformed to his death. Not only do we take the form
of his sufferings, but we sympathize with him. If the obedience is from the
heart, there is a partaking of his sufferings. 11. If by any means I might
attain to the resurrection from the dead. This great consummation of a
glorious resurrection to a heavenly life is worth attaining by every sacrifice,
and by every possible means.
12–14. Not as though I had already attained. Had already obtained the great prize. It still requires
effort. The prize is at the end of the race. Or am already made perfect.
He never claimed to have received such a state; nor does he intimate any where
that such a state is ever reached on earth. But follow after. Press on,
as one who must push forward. If so be that I may apprehend. The idea
is, I press on in the hope that I shall lay hold upon the prize. That.
He will seek to lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold of him at
conversion, viz., his eternal salvation. 13. I count not myself yet, etc.
The prize is yet before. Constant effort is still required. This one thing I
do. His whole life is given to one purpose. Forgetting the things which
are behind. Especially the things which he once counted gain (verse 7),
and even all the hardships and sufferings of the apostolic lot. And reaching
forth. The image is of one so eager for what is before him that hands and
body are stretched to lay hold of it. 14. I press on toward the goal.
His eye is upon the goal and he presses through every difficulty to reach it. Unto
the prize. This is the prize offered to those in the high calling of the
saints in Christ. A crown was bestowed in an earthly race when the goal was
reached. This prize is “the resurrection from the dead” (verse 11) and an
eternal crown.
15, 16. As many as be perfect. It cannot mean perfect in the absolute sense, for in verse
12 he declares that he is not perfect, and surely the Philippians were not in
advance of the apostle who admonishes them. Meyer says the Greek word here (teleioi)
means mature, well developed, not children in Christ. Let such as are so far
advanced be thus minded. Show the spirit indicated in verses 7–14. If
… ye be otherwise minded. If you have not the mind to count all else as
refuse in contrast with Christ, etc., God shall reveal it to you; will
bring you to this state of mind. Of course this clause shows that he does not
address those whom he believes to be “perfect.” 16. Only, whereunto we
have already attained. The meaning is, Those who have not reached the
status I have described, let them make the right use of all the light, ability
and knowledge they have obtained.
17–21. Be followers of me.
Compare 1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1. Mark them which walk so. Not only follow my
example, but note those who do not follow it. 18. For many walk. There
is a class who walk far otherwise, who cause him great sorrow. Of whom I
have told you often. Probably, when he was preaching at Philippi, or
visiting there (2 Cor. 2:13). This class had come into the church, but had
not left off their pagan vices. Now tell you weeping. Because of the
evil such offenders do. Enemies. Such persons are the worst enemies of
Christ. One church member who arouses a scandal can wound the cause of Christ
more than a dozen scoffers. 19. Whose end is destruction. Their final
fate must be eternal ruin (2 Peter 2:3). Whose God is their belly.
They obey their sensual appetites. Whose glory, etc. They glory in
shameful things. Mind earthly things. Instead of setting their
affections on the things that are above (Col. 3:1). 20. For our
conversation is in heaven. Our citizenship. See Revision. We are citizens
of heaven itself, our country, from which we are now absent, and which we are
seeking. Hence we ought to mind heavenly things. There our Lord dwells, and
from thence he will come. 21. Who shall change our vile body. Our lowly
body shall undergo a change to fit it for heaven. It will take the form of his
glorified body, such as was seen at the Transfiguration. Compare 1 Cor.
15:43–52; 2 Cor. 5:1–4; 1 John 3:2. According to the working. This
change shall be effected in harmony with that mighty power which shall subdue
all things to his sway.
Excerpt from:
The People's New Testament
by Barton
Warren Johnson
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