The Epistles · Chapter 3 of 4

Philippians 3

Paul warns against those who trust in outward religion and lists his own impressive credentials, only to count them all loss for the sake of knowing Christ. He desires the righteousness that comes by faith, not his own, and longs to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. Pressing on toward the goal, he urges believers to imitate him and to await the Savior who will transform their bodies.

What happens in Philippians 3

Paul tells the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord and warns sharply against those who insist on circumcision and confidence in the flesh. He lists his own credentials: circumcised the eighth day, of Israel, of Benjamin, a Pharisee, zealous, blameless under the law. Yet whatever these once gained him, he now counts as loss, indeed as refuse, compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord. He wants to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness from the law but the righteousness that comes through faith.

His deep desire is to know Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings. Paul insists he has not yet arrived but presses on toward the prize of God's upward call. He urges the mature to follow his example, weeping over the enemies of the cross. Believers, he says, are citizens of heaven, awaiting the Savior who will transform their lowly bodies to be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3 in context

In this chapter of Philippians, written from prison, Paul confronts the same danger that threatened the Galatians: teachers urging confidence in circumcision and law-keeping. Against them, Paul offers his own testimony, recounting his stellar religious pedigree only to renounce it entirely for the sake of Christ.

The chapter reveals Paul's driving passion to know Christ and his forward-leaning posture of pressing on, and it ends by lifting the readers' eyes to their heavenly citizenship and future hope.

Main themes of Philippians 3

Philippians 3 (KJV)

1Finally, 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. 2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4Though 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: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea 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, 9And 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: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12Not 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. 13Brethren, 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, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let 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. 16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17Brethren, 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: 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who 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.

Verses to carry from Philippians 3

“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,”Philippians 3:8

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”Philippians 3:10

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”Philippians 3:14

Reflection

What are you tempted to trust for your standing before God, whether achievements, background, or moral effort? Paul counted all such things as loss to gain Christ. Let your deepest ambition be to know him, and lean forward like a runner toward the prize, resting in a righteousness that comes by faith alone.

A prayer from Philippians 3