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Philippians 3:3-11

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

3. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 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 Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 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 suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, 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 righteousness which is of God by faith: 10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Philippians 3:3-11 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Philippians 3:3

Theological / Devotional

We. Emphatic in the Greek. The apostle contrasts himself and the Philippians with the Judaizers.

Circumcision. That is, circumcised ones. The sentence may be summarized as follows: “We are the circumcised ones who are Christians.” Is Paul saying, “We [not other Jews] are the Christian circumcised ones”? No; he is addressing Gentiles (see on v. 2). Then he must mean: “Beware of those who would circumcise you. For we are [constitute] the circumcised ones — we who are Christians, who worship God in the Spirit, and have no confidence in the flesh.” This agrees with Paul’s other statements that true circumcision is spiritual, not of the flesh but of the heart, by the putting off of sin, and is available to Gentiles in Christ (Rom. 2:25-29; Col. 2:11, 13). The Gentiles saved by grace, though called uncircumcised, are no longer “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,” but citizens (Eph. 2:8-13, 19). For the relation of Gentile Christians to the Israel of the covenants, promises, and prophecies see Vol. IV, pp. 35, 36.

Worship. Gr. latreuo, “to serve,” used especially of service rendered to God (see Matt. 4:10; see on Rom. 1:25).

God. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the following reading of the clause, “who worship by the Spirit of God.”

In the spirit. See in John 4:23, 24. Those of the true circumcision offer spiritual worship to God and are not satisfied with the ordinances and traditions of men. We Christians, Paul says, have not only the true circumcision but also the only true worship.

Rejoice. Gr. kauchaomai, “to boast,” “to glory” (see on Rom. 5:2).

Have no confidence. That is, have not trusted.

In the flesh. The Judaizers, against whom Paul warns, had great confidence in their lineage and in the things they did in an effort to gain salvation. For Paul’s interpretation of the phrase “in the flesh” see Phil. 3:4-6; see on 2 Cor. 11:18; Gal. 6:13, 14. To his mind the flesh was in conflict with all that was spiritual.

By SdaBc