Philippians Chapter 3
Originally posted Tuesday September 2, 2008
Philippians Chapter 3:1b-11
Breaking with the Past
Noting
the benediction of vs. 1a we
can see that vs. 1b begins
part of a second letter to the Philippians. It opens with Paul's reference to a
previous letter he had written to the church. In this passage Paul is
addressing earlier concerns about the influence of Jewish Christians still
harboring the hope of convincing Gentile Christians to be circumcised. His
re-emphasis on this issue is not troublesome because he recognizes, as
with the Galatians, the vulnerability of the new Christian community to being
swayed by such outside pressures. After all, if these intruders were
Jewish Christians they might have been part of the earliest
groups of Jews who were converted. They might even have been eyewitnesses to
Jesus' ministry lending credibility to their version of the Gospel. Paul
will make every effort to convince them of the validity of the
Gospel he had first preached to them. In his mind this would be an added
"safeguard," a reminder of what they had first believed.
In
that light he warns the Philippians to "beware of the dogs" who
are the "evil workers...who mutilate the flesh." As he has written
before (Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 5:6) it
is the circumcision of the heart that matters. Therefore, he can claim
that "we" - he and the Philippians, "who worship in the
Spirit" and "have no confidence in the flesh" are the true circumcision. His way of
phrasing this argument is interesting for he has used "circumcision"
as a noun representing a category of worshipers of God. It is not explicit but
certainly implied that at the least those who rely on circumcision as a safeguard
to God's Kingdom are worshipping in vain.
If
anyone one should have any confidence in circumcision Paul would have
considerable room for boasting. He has all the necessary credentials as a
"member of the people of Israel." He was circumcised according
to the law, born of "Hebrew" parents, a zealous Pharisee who
persecuted the church and a righteous man according to the law. That is
quite the biographical vitae. But now he understands how little
any of this matters by comparison to his life in Christ as his Lord. He
knows he could never have achieved true righteousness through
giving obedience to the law. It is the righteousness that comes from
God for those who have professed their faith in Christ that brings life in
resurrection. It is to his own resurrection, to becoming like
Christ, that he looks forward when he can fully know Christ through his
own suffering of death.
Philippians Chapter 3:12-4:1
Pressing toward the Goal
Paul
may have felt he was boasting a bit too much about the certainty of his
own resurrection as he dictated that last line. As a Jew he recognizes he
has no claim on what God will do for him. His faith gives him assurance but he
always keeps in mind the necessity of his own continued faith, his own
continued walking in the Spirit and remaining in Christ. So he hesitates,
knowing that he has not reached that goal of perfection. He knows he cannot let
down his guard or waver in the level of faith he has already
attained, but must "press on to make [perfect faith his] own." He
cannot be concerned with his own past but will look to what lies
ahead, the "prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus (Jesus'
return)."
He
urges the Philippians to be of one mind, to imitate him and the example of
others who have done so. There is no room for smugness, thinking they have
reached the pinnacle of faith in Christ and can now coast on their own
achievement. The world will always tug on their certainties, push for a little
compromise here and there, offer a more relaxed alternative set of values.
Paul has warned them of those who "live as enemies of the cross." He
defines these enemies as those whose "end is destruction"
because their "minds are...on earthly things"
and their "god is the belly." Paul is not specific about
who these enemies are. But his reference to their god being the belly and their
minds being set on earthly things may refer to those Christians who have
taken their freedom from the law with far too much liberality. We read of
examples of sexual immorality in 1
Cor 5 and of issues over food and continued worship of idols.
These certainly would relate to "earthly things" and over indulgence
which would be incompatible with the Christina life, thus making such people
"enemies of the cross." While they find "their glory" in a
false freedom Paul exhorts the Philippians to the higher standard of those who
hold "their citizenship... in heaven" and whose earthly
body will one day be transformed to a heavenly body. This is what
Paul wants them to keep upmost in mind, always "standing firm in the Lord."
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