Php 3:1
3:1 Finally, {1} my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. {2} To write
    the {a} same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous,
    but for you [it is] safe.

 (1) A conclusion of those things which have been said before,
     that is, that they go forward cheerfully in the Lord.
 (2) A preface to the next admonition that follows, to take good
     heed and beware of false apostles, who join circumcision
     with Christ, (that is to say, justification by works, with
     free justification by faith), and beat into men's head the
     ceremonies which are abolished, instead of true exercises
     of godliness and charity.  And he calls them dogs, as
     profane barkers, and evil workmen, because they neglected
     true works and did not teach the true use of them.  To be
     short, he calls them concision, because in urging
     circumcision, they cut off themselves and others from the
     Church.
     (a) Which you have often times heard from me.

Php 3:2
3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the {b}
    concision.

    (b) He alludes to circumcision; and while they were boasting
        in it, they broke apart the Church.

Php 3:3
3:3 {3} For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the
    spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence
    {c} in the flesh.

 (3) He shows that we ought to use true circumcision, that is,
     the circumcision of the heart, so that by cutting off all
     wicked affections by the power of Christ, we may serve God
     in purity of life.
     (c) In outward things which do not at all pertain to the
         soul.

Php 3:4
3:4 {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:

 (4) He does not doubt to prefer himself even according to the
     flesh, before those perverse zealous urgers of the Law,
     that all men may know that he does with good judgment of
     mind, consider of little worth all of those outward things.
     For he who has Christ lacks nothing, and confidence in our
     works cannot stand with the free justification in Christ by
     faith.

Php 3:7
3:7 But what things were {d} gain to me, those I counted loss
    for Christ.

    (d) Which I considered as gain.

Php 3:8
3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count {e} 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 {f} win Christ,

    (e) He shuts out all works, those that go before, as well as
        those that come after faith.
    (f) That in their place I might get Christ, and from a poor
        man become rich, so far am I from losing anything at
        all.

Php 3:9
3:9 And be found in {g} him, {h} 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:

    (g) In Christ: for those that are found outside of Christ
        are subject to condemnation.
    (h) That is, to be in Christ, to be found not in a man's own
        righteousness, but clothed with the righteousness of
        Christ imputed to him.

Php 3:10
3:10 {5} That I may {i} know him, and the power of his
     resurrection, and the {6} fellowship of his sufferings,
     being made conformable unto his death;

 (5) This is the end of righteousness by faith with regard to
     us, that by the power of his resurrection we may escape
     from death.
     (i) That I may indeed feel him, and have an experience of
         him.
 (6) The way to that eternal salvation is to follow Christ's
     steps by afflictions and persecutions, until we come to
     Christ himself, who is our mark at which we aim, and
     receive that reward to which God calls us in him.  And the
     apostle sets these true exercises of godliness against
     those vain ceremonies of the Law, in which the false
     apostles put the sum of godliness.

Php 3:11
3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the {k} resurrection of
     the dead.

     (k) To everlasting life, which follows the resurrection of
         the saints.

Php 3:12
3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already
     perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that
     for which also I am {l} apprehended of Christ Jesus.

     (l) For we run only as far forth as we are laid hold on by
         Christ, that is, as God gives us strength, and shows us
         the way.

Php 3:15
3:15 {7} Let us therefore, as many as be {m} perfect, be thus
     minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God
     shall reveal even this unto you.

 (7) The conclusion of this exhortation standing upon three
     members: the first is, that those who have profited in the
     truth of this doctrine should continue in it.  The second
     is, that if there are any who are yet ignorant and do not
     understand these things, and who doubt of the abolishing of
     the Law, they should cause no trouble, and should be gently
     waited for, until they also are instructed by the Lord.
     The third is, that they judge the false apostles by their
     fruits: in which he does not doubt to set forth himself as
     an example.
     (m) He said before that he was not perfect.  So that in
         this place he calls those perfect who have somewhat
         profited in the knowledge of Christ and the Gospel,
         whom he sets against the rude and ignorant, as he
         himself expounds in @Php 3:16.

Php 3:18
3:18 {8} (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now
     tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the
     cross of Christ:

 (8) He shows what the false apostles truly are, not from malice
     or ambition, but with sorrow and tears, that is, because
     being enemies of the Gospel (for that is joined with
     persecuting it) they regard nothing else, but the benefits
     of this life: that is to say, that abounding in peace, and
     quietness, and all worldly pleasures, they may live in great
     estimation among men, whose miserable end he forewarned
     them of.

Php 3:19
3:19 Whose {n} end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly,
     and [whose] {o} glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly
     things.)

     (n) Reward.
     (o) Which they hunt after from men's hands.

Php 3:20
3:20 {9} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we
     look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

 (9) He sets against these fellows true pastors who neglect
     earthly things, and aspire to heaven only, where they know
     that even in their bodies they will be clothed with that
     eternal glory, by the power of God.



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