Study From the Book of Philippians is: Philippians
3:1-11
Paul now turns to another
subject—possibly, as some think, resuming his writing after a break. His subject now is the essential character of
the Christian life from its beginning in justification by faith to its glorious
consummation at the coming of the Lord; and he illustrates the theme from his
own life.
1.
What
three characteristics of the true people of God are given in verse 3? How far
are they true of me?
2.
Examine
carefully the reasons for ‘confidence in the flesh’ which Paul enumerates in
verses 4-6. Are there not many church-goers today who are relying for salvation
on just such grounds as these? What, in contrast to all this, is the position
of the true Christian? What choice does Paul show needs to be made in order to
become one?
3.
Faith
in Christ as the sole ground for acceptance with God led, in Paul’s case, to
intense desire to know Christ; nothing else seemed to him of any value (verses
8, 9). Along what two lines in particular did he want a deeper knowledge (verse
10), and to what end (verse 11)?
Notes
1.
Verse
2. Note the empathic ‘look out’, repeated three times. A word meaning
‘incision’ or ‘mutilation’ is here used instead of ‘circumcision’, because the
circumcision on which they insisted was harmful rather than helpful to
spiritual well-being. Cf. Gal. 5:2-4;
6:12-15.
2.
Verses
3, 4. ‘Confidence in the flesh’: i.e., reliance upon outward privilege and
personal merit. ‘We are the true circumcision’: i.e, the true people of God.
Cf. Rom. 2:17, 23, 28,29.
