Philippians 3

(1)  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
(2)  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
(3)  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
(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:
(5)  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
(6)  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
(7)  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
(8)  Yea doubtless, and I count 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 win Christ,
(9)  And be found in him, 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:
(10)  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(11)  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
(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 apprehended of Christ Jesus.
(13)  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
(14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(15)  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
(16)  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
(17)  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
(18)  (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:
(19)  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
(20)  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
(21)  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

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Study Questions

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1. What was Paul’s “final” exhortation? What was it that was not grievous or troublesome for him but was a safeguard or safe for the Philippians? Verse 1.

2. Who were the dogs? Was “dogs” a complimentary term? Verse 2.

3. What is the relation of the term “concision” to circumcision? Who were the evil workers and why beware of them? Verse 2.

4. Who makes up the true circumcision? According to Paul, what are three characteristics of those who make up the true circumcision? Verse 3.

5. How well would Paul have measured up with others in fleshly distinctions and honors of men? Verse 4.

6. Why mention his circumcision, his stock, and his tribe? What is meant by “a Hebrew of Hebrews”? What was the attitude of Pharisees toward the Law? Verse 5.

7. How did Paul prove his zeal for the law? What was his claim to moral perfection from a Pharisaic standpoint? Verse 6.

8. How did Paul regard those things that were gain to him under the Law? Verse 7.

9. How did Paul regard all things when they were compared to Christ? What do the tenses of the verbs “counted” and “count” indicate about the time? Verse 8.

10. What three things did Paul seek to gain by counting all things as loss? Verses 8-9.

11. What is a synonym for righteousness? Is righteousness of the law really attainable? How is the righteousness that Paul sought obtained? Verse 9.

12. What three things did Paul want to know as a result of being in Christ? Was it Paul’s hope that he could die for Christ? Verse 10.

13. By the phrase “the resurrection of the dead” did Paul mean more than simply the resurrection of the fleshly body? Verse 11. (See Acts 24:15)

14. Had Paul attained his life’s objectives? Who had apprehended or laid hold on Paul? What did Paul seek to apprehend? Verse 12.

15. Did Paul think he had apprehended? What two things did Paul do to enable him to grasp the goal of his life? Verse 13.

16. What was the one thing that Paul strove to do to reach the supreme goal of his life? What is the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus? Verse 14.

17. Is the term “perfect” used in a relative sense or an absolute sense? What should those who want to be “perfect” do? Verse 15.

18. The Revised Version states “by that same rule let us walk.” What two things does Paul desire the Philippians to do? Verse 16.

19. What does the word “together” indicate in following Paul? What is an ensample and who were to be his reader’s ensamples? Verse 17.

20. Were all who professed to be Christians worthy of being imitated? The cross is evidently a figure, a part put for the whole. To what does the figure refer? Verse 18.

21. What was the destruction or end of the enemies? What were their three characteristics and what do they mean? Verse 19.

22. James Moffatt translated this: “We are a colony of heaven.” How would this be a translation of citizenship? Verse 20.

23. What is “our vile body.”? Verse 21.

24. Who is coming from heaven to change “our vile body” and what will it be like? Verse 21.