Title: Paul's Warning Against Adversaries/Philippians 3
Paul's warning against adversaries
Philippians 3
1. Paul's warning and self-defense (1-14)
① Those who oppose the truth
⑴ Dogs - At that time, dogs were ferocious and vicious animals that roamed the streets and attacked people. In the Old Testament, it is used as an object of reproach and contempt, and in the New Testament, it is especially seen as a person who opposes the truth of God. Those who disturb the church with false doctrines.
(2) Evils - Those who do evil, claim to be so-called apostles, and destroy the gospel, which refers to fallen evangelists and false apostles.
⑶ Hand Circumcision Hall - This is humorous, and according to the law, it is forbidden to injure the body. Paul is chastising the legalistic circumcisionists by saying that they were those who cut off parts of the body while insisting on circumcision.
② Paul’s self-defense
Previously, Paul was a Jew, a legalist, a Pharisee, and a circumcised man. According to the righteousness of the law, he was blameless, but now he did not seek the circumcision of the flesh, but received the circumcision of his heart through Jesus Christ to enjoy a new life.
③ The attitude of the Christian life
Paul specifically describes how his life changed after meeting Christ. He wanted to give up the boasting of the flesh, and only to please the Lord, and his goal became Christ alone.
2. Stay away from false teachers (15-21)
① Suggestions for spiritual growth
Cherish Christ and the Gospel
Be zealous and run towards your goal
be imitators of me
② Warning against false apostles
False teachers are those who seek to establish self-righteousness and merit because they insist on the works of the law, and this is the enemy of the cross of Christ.
③ The true hope of Christians
citizens of heaven.
A life that only hopes for the sky