Philippians 3 Study Notes

3:12-16 These verses contain a call to follow Paul’s pattern of living.

3:12-14 Paul acknowledged his imperfection. Not reached the goal and not already perfect indicate the need for growth. Make every effort recalls the athlete’s discipline and focus. Together these reveal that Paul had not yet achieved perfection. Paul aspired to complete salvation through resurrection. Because presents the substance of Paul’s hope—the perfection of the resurrection. Pursue (cp. v. 12), goal, and prize use athletic imagery of the runner’s energy, focus, and reward. “The prize” is God’s heavenly call (to heaven), like a referee calling a winner to the platform to receive the prize.

3:15-16 Paul exhorted the mature (lit “perfect”). The use of the same root word in v. 12 reveals that Paul addressed the false teachers who claimed perfection. Think this way is “value” (cp. 2:1-11; 3:15). Live up to means to walk in order, in rank like a soldier. Whatever truth we have attained is what brought previous success in Christian living.

3:17-21 First, Paul encouraged believers. Imitating me reveals his confidence that he lived correctly before God and man. Paul often urged believers to imitate him (4:9; 1Co 11:1; 1Th 1:6; 2Th 3:8-9). He spoke with tears because of the damage these false teachers brought to God’s work. As enemies of the cross, they were inflated with their own spiritual abilities (cp. v. 3) rather than trusting Christ. Paul described them four ways. First, their end is destruction (not annihilation but eternal judgment). Second, their god is their stomach reflects their preoccupation with Jewish dietary laws. Third, their glory is in their shame means focusing inappropriately on the genitals (circumcision). Fourth, they focused on earthly things, unable to see beyond the present time.

True believers differ from these false teachers. Citizenship was rare and prized, and the Philippians were justifiably proud of their Roman citizenship. “Citizenship” in heaven reminded the church of the existence of a greater society and culture. Military images continue with the Savior from heaven. Roman citizens called the emperor “savior”; Christians expect their deliverer from heaven. The body of our humble condition refers to the body limited by finitude, frailty, finiteness, and sin. Christ will change the body into the likeness of his glorious body. Physical bodies will become glorified bodies in the image of Christ. Salvation has three stages: conversion, moral perfection at death, and the transformation of the body through resurrection at the second coming of Christ.