Immanuel - Mankato Bible Class
Study of Philippians – Lesson 12
April 1, 2001
Philippians 3:1-6

Introduction:

In chapter 2, Paul has encouraged the Philippians to be "Christ-minded" and also spoke of what he had done and planned to do for the Philippian congregation. In chapter 3, Paul now picks up again one of the topics he first mentioned in his greeting and introduction (chapter 1). In chapter 1, Paul had declared the preaching of Christ to be his highest goal, all other concerns paled in relation to it. Now Paul will sharply warn the Philippians against those workers who would seek to take Christ away from them.

Verse 1: As far as the rest is concerned. . .Keep on rejoicing in connection with the Lord! It is not bothersome for me to be writing the same things to you, and for you it is safe (makes you all the more certain).

• This verse serves as a bridge from one section of Paul’s letter to the next. Before continuing to write, Paul again repeats the theme of his letter: KEEP ON REJOICING!! This is not rejoicing in the superficial pleasures of the world, but a true joy IN THE LORD!!
• What is "JOY IN THE LORD" for YOU?
• SAFE = "un-trippable-uppable," not stumbling.
• Paul’s message of Christ-crucified didn’t change. Each time he preached, wrote a letter, communicated with a congregation it was the same. This is not the first (nor last) time he encouraged the Philippians to keep on rejoicing in the Lord in this letter alone! Throughout the entire letter, Paul again and again refers to Jesus Christ or Lord or pronouns referring to Him. Paul’s warnings against those who war against Christ and His Church are also repetitive. "Same old story, Paul…WHY?" Such "consistency" does not appeal to those who have itching ears (cf: 2 Timothy 4:3), but for Paul it is not burdensome because it is the wondrous news of the Gospel that he preaches and seeks to preserve! For the Philippians (and other Christians) it is safe, that is, the preaching of the true Word of God strengthens them against the dangerous attacks of the spiritual enemies and makes them more certain in their faith. Pastors and other spiritual shepherds must be careful lest they fall into "one issue" and thereby neglect other needs/dangers. However, whenever a shepherd faithfully proclaims and applies God’s Word of Truth it will of necessity be "the same things," but it is NOT bothersome/burdensome, rather it is safe.

Verses 2-3: See the dogs! See the evil workers! See the mutilation! For we, on our part, are the Circumcision—the ones who are serving (worshipping) and are boasting in connection with Christ Jesus by the Spirit of God and are not trusting in the flesh.

• WARNING!! DANGER TO SOUL!!: Paul quickly shifts from the encouragement to keep on rejoicing to a dramatic warning against those who would seek to take Christ away from the Philippians. The content and context of Paul’s warning indicates that he was warning against the "JUDAIZERS." The Judaizers were Jew or Gentile converts to Christianity who claimed to believe in Jesus as their Savior, but also taught that the Old Testament Ceremonial Law had to be kept IN ADDITION to faith in Christ in order to have salvation. The Judaizers put special emphasis on circumcision. By their insistence on outward observance of the law (not unlike the Pharisees—a type of "Christian Pharisee"), the Judaizers were guilty of greatly confusing Law and Gospel. The Judaizers were a regular menace to the preaching of the Apostle Paul. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a very urgent and stern plea to the Christians of Galatia that they not forsake the truth he had preached by following the Judaizers. The Judaizers apparently had no congregations of their own, but simply sought to bring their theology into existing Christian congregations. To follow the Judaizers was to be robbed of the freedom which Christ offers and to rely on work-righteousness for salvation.
• SEE: Paul’s command is to "SEE.." "LOOK AT.." but in the context, "WATCH OUT FOR/BEWARE" is certainly understood.
• DOGS: It was not uncommon for the Jews to refer to the Gentiles/heathen as dogs. The image that would come to mind was not that of a friendly pet, but rather large ugly animals that roamed the streets scavenging for scraps (cf: Lazarus’ sores being licked by dogs in Jesus’ parable, Luke 16:21). READ: Psalm 22:16,20; Revelation 22:15.
• EVIL WORKERS: Rather than workers for Christ, those to whom Paul is referring were accomplishing evil. Anything that diminishes Christ is from the Devil and, therefore, evil. READ: Matthew 23:15; 2 Corinthians 11:13; 2 Timothy 2:!5
• MUTILATION: Paul makes use of a play on words. The words translated as "mutilation" and "circumcision" are both compound words with the second part of the compound the same in both cases.

Mutilation = kata + tome ~ "to cut down; mutilate"
vs.
Circumcision = peri + tome ~ "to cut around; circumcise"

God had commanded circumcision as part of the Old Testament ceremonial law, but Christ has fulfilled that law and it is no longer binding. Circumcision no longer served the purpose it once had, so it was unnecessary. Therefore, the physical circumcision of the Judaizers was really a physical mutilation in God’s eyes because it had no spiritual value. In fact, the way circumcision was put forth by the Judaizers it was spiritually destructive. The "True Circumcision," is and always has been (even in the Old Testament) those who are serving the One True God with a true heart and relying completely on God’s grace through our Savior…not on one’s own works of the flesh. READ: John 8:33

See supplement at end of this lesson for a special study of God’s design and command regarding circumcision

• Paul used some very stern language in referring to the Judaizers. It is an evidence of his zeal for proclaiming and preserving the truth of Christ. Martin Luther was also criticized for being overly blunt at times. Luther comments on this in the following quote. Do you agree with Luther’s observations? How do they apply/not apply to our own present day defense of God’s Word in the world?

LUTHER:

"It is true, I have, by and large sharply inveighed against ungodly doctrines and have not been slow to bite my adversaries, not because of their bad morals but because of their ungodliness. Of this I am so unrepentant that I have resolved to continue in this burning zeal and to despise the judgment of men, after the example of Christ, who in His zeal called His adversaries a generation of vipers, blind, hypocrites, children of the Devil (Matthew 23:13; 17:33; John 8:44). And Paul calls the sorcerer a child of the Devil full of all subtlety and all mischief (Acts 13:10); and some false apostles he calls dogs, deceivers, and adulterers of the Word (Philippians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 11:13). If these sensitive ears had heard this, they would probably say that no one could be more biting and immoderate than Paul. Who is more biting than the prophets? But nowadays, of course, our ears are made sensitive by the mad multitude of flatterers that as soon as we find that we are not praised in all things, we cry out that people are vicious; and when we cannot ward off the truth under any other guise, we escape it under the pretext of the snappishness, impatience, and immoderateness of its defenders. What good does salt do if it does not bite? What good does the edge of the sword do if it does not cut? Cursed be the man who does the work of the Lord deceitfully! (Jeremiah 48:10).

• Why might the Judaizers have been a particular threat to a relatively new Christian congregation like the one in Philippi?
• Are there present-day examples of those who preach and/or follow the same course as the Judaizers did in Paul’s day?

Verses 4-6: Although I, myself, have confidence even in the flesh. If someone else supposes he has (reason for) confidence in the flesh, I have it all the more!: With regard to circumcision—an 8^th day one; out of the nation of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; Hebrew out of the Hebrews; according to the law – a Pharisee; according to zeal – persecuting the church; according to righteousness (the righteousness that is in connection with the law)—blameless (cf: 2:15)…

• CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH: For the sake of argument, Paul allows for boasting in the flesh. If that were the case, Paul would have more reason to boast than any of his opponents. If the Judaizers wanted to start comparing merits according to externals and the flesh, they couldn’t win. With a resume like Paul’s, it wouldn’t perhaps surprise anyone if he DID boast in the flesh…and Paul once did do just that. However, since his conversion, Paul has learned where true boasting lies. Verse 7 begins with "BUT…" In vv.4-6 Paul gives reasons to boast in the flesh, BUT he counted them as rubbish so that He might have Christ (more on this in the next lesson).
• In verse 2, Paul referred to evil WORKERS—they weren’t lazy. While a Pharisee, Paul demonstrated incredible zeal and enthusiasm for what he thought was serving God—how wrong he was! What examples are there in the world of those "zealous for the Lord" but with a misdirected zeal? Where do WE direct our energy correctly…incorrectly?

God’s Word & Design Concerning…

CIRCUMCISION

• Circumcision a sign of covenant:
• God’s side of the covenant: Genesis 17:6-8
• Abraham’s side of the covenant: Genesis 17:9-14
• Circumcision also became part of God’s Old Testament Law: Leviticus 12:3
• God commanded nation-wide circumcision with the "new" generation of Israelites: Joshua 5:2-7
• Circumcision was always a SIGN—an external testimony—to God’s covenant of grace with His people. It was NEVER an act of work-righteousness:
• Old Testament: Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; 6:10
• New Testament: Romans 2:25-29; 3:30; 4:7-12; 1 Corinthians 7:18-19
• New Testament "Christian Circumcision": Colossians 2:11-12; Ephesians 2:11,13
• Circumcision became a doctrinal issue in the early New Testament Church and was addressed in the Jerusalem Council ~ a synodical convention is a modern day parallel: Acts 15:1ff (cf: Acts 11:1ff)
• Paul exposes the Judaizing error and rebukes the Galatians in order to keep them from being pulled into it: Galatians 5:2-6, 6:13-15.
• Circumcision vs. no circumcision is part of Christian freedom to be used wisely in accordance with God’s Word, the situation, and the sanctified prayerful decision of God’s people: Galatians 2:3-5 (Paul did NOT circumcise Titus); Acts 16:3 (Paul DID circumcise Timothy).