“1<\/strong> Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is<\/em> not tedious, but for you it<\/em> is<\/em> safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “2<\/strong> Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3<\/strong> For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4<\/strong> though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5<\/strong> circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of<\/em> the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6<\/strong> concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “7 <\/strong>But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8<\/strong> Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9<\/strong> and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is<\/em> from the law, but that which is<\/em> through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10<\/strong> that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11<\/strong> if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:1-11)<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is<\/em> not tedious, but for you it<\/em> is<\/em> safe.”<\/strong> (Philippians 3:1)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n By this point in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he has encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord 4 times, this being the 5th. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We have to remember that Paul wrote this while under house arrest in Rome. Our circumstances do not determine our level of joy because our joy does not come from this world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why Jesus said, “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We often lose sight of the great gift the Lord has given us. We should consistently remind ourselves of the “good tidings of great joy” the angels promised that the Lord Jesus would bring (Luke 2:10)<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All of Paul’s letters to the churches carry the same theme, outline, and message. He almost always writes the same things to the churches. Rarely, do we find Paul mentioning something new, or something that he hasn’t already taught them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reason for this is that Paul wants to remind them of what they have been given and to encourage them to continue to walk in it. In this verse, Paul calls this reminder a “safeguard” and that it is not tedious for him to write it to them over and over again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The only exception to this is when Paul is directly addressing an issue that has arisen within the church. Things like doctrinal issues, questions, and sinful activity taking place. Other than these few things Paul will write the same things to the churches to ensure safety in their walk with Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!” <\/strong>(Philippians 3:2)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In this verse, Paul is not telling the Philippians that they should beware of unbelievers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We are called to reach out to unbelievers and evangelize them with love. Now, of course, we should be cautious in certain circumstances, this is why Jesus said, “Be harmless as doves and as shrewd as serpents.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n But Paul is not speaking of unbelievers in this verse, he is warning the Philippians of those that appear to be followers of Jesus but have twisted intentions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I believe each one of these descriptions is not referring to different groups of people, but the same group. The “dogs”, “evil workers”, and “the mutilation” are all the same class of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They are the Jews that taught that you must be circumcised and obey the Old Testament law if you are to be saved. They were adding works to salvation and mixing it together and calling it the Gospel and Paul says that we are to beware of such people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul even says in a letter that he wrote to the Galatians that if anyone preaches a different Gospel than what he has preached they should be accursed (Galatians 1:8-9)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Salvation does not come by works, it comes by repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nPhilippians 3:1 Meaning <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Philippians 3:2 Meaning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n