Philippians · chapter 3 of 4
Updated on
Philippians 3 warns against putting confidence in the flesh and tells how Paul, who had every religious credential, counted them as loss for the sake of knowing Christ and being found in him with the righteousness that comes through faith. He has not yet reached the goal, but forgets what lies behind and presses on toward the prize of God's call. He reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven, from where we await the Savior.
After speaking of humility and service in chapter 2, Paul returns to a central theme in his letters: where our relationship with God rests. Philippians 3 combines a warning against false teachers with a moving personal testimony and a call to press on with eyes on the goal.
Paul again invites the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord and warns them against those who impose circumcision. He says the true circumcision are those who serve God by the Spirit, glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.
Paul could have more reason than anyone to trust the flesh: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee as to the law, a persecutor of the church in zeal, and blameless as to righteousness under the law. But whatever gain he had, he counted as loss for the sake of Christ; more than that, he counts everything as loss and rubbish because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, that he may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of his own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. He wants to know him, the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, that he may attain the resurrection from the dead.
He does not say he has already obtained it or is perfect, but he presses on to make his own that for which Christ Jesus made him his own. Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, he presses on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. He asks the mature to think this way. He urges them to imitate him and to watch those who walk according to the pattern they have, for many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly and whose glory is in their shame.
Their citizenship, by contrast, is in heaven, from which they await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform their lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject all things to himself.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
What was gain to Paul he counted as loss for the sake of Christ, and he counts everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing him. The supreme value of his life is not his religious record but Christ.
Paul wants to be found in Christ, not with a righteousness of his own based on the law but with the one that comes through faith in Christ. It is the same truth as Romans and Galatians: righteousness is a gift received by faith.
Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, Paul presses on toward the goal, the prize of God's upward call in Christ. The Christian life is a race of perseverance, not a finish line already reached.
Believers' citizenship is in heaven, from which they await the Savior, who will transform their lowly body to be like his glorious body. Their final hope is resurrection and communion with Christ.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Those who serve God by the Spirit, glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. — Philippians 3:3
Answer: The tribe of Benjamin. — Philippians 3:5
Answer: As loss for the sake of Christ. — Philippians 3:7
Answer: The one that comes through faith in Christ, not his own based on the law. — Philippians 3:9
Answer: He forgets what lies behind and strains forward to what lies ahead, pressing toward the goal. — Philippians 3:13-14
Answer: In heaven, from which we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. — Philippians 3:20
Philippians 3 invites us to review where we rest our security: in the résumé, in religious performance, in a record of service. Paul does not despise what is good, but he counts it little compared with knowing Christ. In a small group you can ask what things you put forward as an advantage before God or others and what would change if Christ were your only gain.
The chapter also encourages those who carry a past or failures. Paul forgets what lies behind and presses on. That does not mean denying the past but not letting it define our identity. And the hope of being transformed gives strength to persevere without growing weary.
Philippians 3 shows Paul giving up everything for Christ and pressing toward the goal with the hope of resurrection. In chapter 4, he will close the letter with counsel on peace, joy, gratitude and contentment.
Paul uses strong language for those who imposed circumcision as a requirement for belonging to God. Jews commonly called Gentiles dogs; Paul turns the image around. The text points to a false teaching, not to a group of people because of their origin.
The word is strong and means refuse. Paul does not say his achievements were bad but that compared with knowing Christ they are worth nothing as a basis for salvation. It is a way to express the incomparable worth of Christ.
Paul expresses his hope of sharing in the final resurrection. The phrase does not indicate doubt about his salvation but humility and a way of saying that his goal is to be with Christ. Christians understand the nuance of this verse in different ways.