Chapter 3:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 Ephesians Colossians
Philippians 3
Concise Complete
The apostle cautions the Philippians against
judaizing false teachers, and renounces his own former privileges. (1-11)
Expresses earnest desire to be found in Christ; also his pressing on toward
perfection; and recommends his own example to other believers. (12-21)
Verses 1-11
Sincere Christians rejoice in Christ Jesus. The prophet calls the false prophets
dumb dogs,
isaiah
56:10 ; to which the apostle seems to refer. Dogs, for their malice against
faithful professors of the gospel of Christ, barking at them and biting them.
They urged human works in opposition to the faith of Christ; but Paul calls them
evil-workers. He calls them the concision; as they rent the church of Christ,
and cut it to pieces. The work of religion is to no purpose, unless the heart is
in it, and we must worship God in the strength and grace of the Divine Spirit.
They rejoice in Christ Jesus, not in mere outward enjoyments and performances.
Nor can we too earnestly guard against those who oppose or abuse the doctrine of
free salvation. If the apostle would have gloried and trusted in the flesh, he
had as much cause as any man. But the things which he counted gain while a
Pharisee, and had reckoned up, those he counted loss for Christ. The apostle did
not persuade them to do any thing but what he himself did; or to venture on any
thing but that on which he himself ventured his never-dying soul. He deemed all
these things to be but loss, compared with the knowledge of Christ, by faith in
his person and salvation. He speaks of all worldly enjoyments and outward
privileges which sought a place with Christ in his heart, or could pretend to
any merit and desert, and counted them but loss; but it might be said, It is
easy to say so; but what would he do when he came to the trial? He had suffered
the loss of all for the privileges of a Christian. Nay, he not only counted them
loss, but the vilest refuse, offals thrown to dogs; not only less valuable than
Christ, but in the highest degree contemptible, when set up as against him. True
knowledge of Christ alters and changes men, their judgments and manners, and
makes them as if made again anew. The believer prefers Christ, knowing that it
is better for us to be without all worldly riches, than without Christ and his
word. Let us see what the apostle resolved to cleave to, and that was Christ and
heaven. We are undone, without righteousness wherein to appear before God, for
we are guilty. There is a righteousness provided for us in Jesus Christ, and it
is a complete and perfect righteousness. None can have benefit by it, who trust
in themselves. Faith is the appointed means of applying the saving benefit. It
is by faith in Christ's blood. We are made conformable to Christ's death, when
we die to sin, as he died for sin; and the world is crucified to us, and we to
the world, by the cross of Christ. The apostle was willing to do or to suffer
any thing, to attain the glorious resurrection of saints. This hope and prospect
carried him through all difficulties in his work. He did not hope to attain it
through his own merit and righteousness, but through the merit and righteousness
of Jesus Christ.
Verses 12-21
This simple dependence and earnestness of soul, were not mentioned as if the
apostle had gained the prize, or were already made perfect in the Saviour's
likeness. He forgot the things which were behind, so as not to be content with
past labours or present measures of grace. He reached forth, stretched himself
forward towards his point; expressions showing great concern to become more and
more like unto Christ. He who runs a race, must never stop short of the end, but
press forward as fast as he can; so those who have heaven in their view, must
still press forward to it, in holy desires and hopes, and constant endeavours.
Eternal life is the gift of God, but it is in Christ Jesus; through his hand it
must come to us, as it is procured for us by him. There is no getting to heaven
as our home, but by Christ as our Way. True believers, in seeking this
assurance, as well as to glorify him, will seek more nearly to resemble his
sufferings and death, by dying to sin, and by crucifying the flesh with its
affections and lusts. In these things there is a great difference among real
Christians, but all know something of them. Believers make Christ all in all,
and set their hearts upon another world. If they differ from one another, and
are not of the same judgment in lesser matters, yet they must not judge one
another; while they all meet now in Christ, and hope to meet shortly in heaven.
Let them join in all the great things in which they are agreed, and wait for
further light as to lesser things wherein they differ. The enemies of the cross
of Christ mind nothing but their sensual appetites. Sin is the sinner's shame,
especially when gloried in. The way of those who mind earthly things, may seem
pleasant, but death and hell are at the end of it. If we choose their way, we
shall share their end. The life of a Christian is in heaven, where his Head and
his home are, and where he hopes to be shortly; he sets his affections upon
things above; and where his heart is, there will his conversation be. There is
glory kept for the bodies of the saints, in which they will appear at the
resurrection. Then the body will be made glorious; not only raised again to
life, but raised to great advantage. Observe the power by which this change will
be wrought. May we be always prepared for the coming of our Judge; looking to
have our vile bodies changed by his Almighty power, and applying to him daily to
new-create our souls unto holiness; to deliver us from our enemies, and to
employ our bodies and souls as instruments of righteousness in his service.
Chapter 3:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 Ephesians Colossians
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
