Philippians Chapters 3 & 4
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.
- Regarding Paul's words, "rejoice in the Lord!":
- Deuteronomy 8:10 ... thou shalt bless Jehovah thy God... -Moses
- Job 1:21 ... Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah. -Job
- Psalm 34:1 I will bless Jehovah at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. -David
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus... -Paul
- Gratitude enriches our worship, as we offer praise and thanks to God for His many blessings and even trials.
Philippians 3:2 Beware of the dogs; beware of the evil workers; beware of the false circumcision.
- Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false emissaries, deceitful workers, masquerading as Messiah’s emissaries.
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Messiah Yeshua, ...
- We see below where the literal, physical "covenant of circumcision" originated, and continued even to the time of Yeshua, among the Jews.
- Acts 7:8 He{Jehovah} gave him{Abraham} the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.(see also Gen17:9-14 )
- Joshua 5:2 At that time Jehovah said unto Joshua, Make thee knives of flint, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 3 And Joshua made him knives of flint, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
- Luke 1:59 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child{Yeshua}...
- Below, we see that non-Jews can have a symbolic circumcision - "circumcision is that of the heart", and effectively be "a Jew who is one inwardly", "who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Messiah Yeshua".
- Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.
- Colossians 2:11 In him{Messiah} you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah,
Philippians 3:3-5 ... and have no confidence in the {works of the} flesh; 4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh{Paul's works}. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
- Above, Paul speaks of his previous boasting of his good works, but look what he says about that next =>
Philippians 3:7-9 However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Messiah. {in another translation, Paul said, "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless"} 8 Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse,{garbage} that I may gain Messiah 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which is from God by faith,
- 1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua the Messiah his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- So, when Yeshua cleanses "us from all unrighteousness", as John said above, are we righteous? Yes. Is it our righteousness? No. Why? Paul answers in Philippians 3:9 above, saying, "not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which is from God by faith".
Philippians 3:10-12 that I may know him{Yeshua} and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death, 11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Messiah Yeshua.
- Regarding "becoming conformed to his death", Paul also said =>
- Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Messiah, and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.
Philippians 3:13-16 Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Messiah Yeshua. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let’s walk by the same rule. Let’s be of the same mind.
- Philippians 2:5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Messiah Yeshua,
- And, what that mind that was in Jesus? John 3:34-36 "For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." Here, we see that Jesus speaks the words of His Father. In that way, he has the mind of His Father.
Philippians 3:17-21 Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example. 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Messiah, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 21 who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
Philippians 4:2-3 I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord. 3 Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Messiah Yeshua.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always rejoice. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Messiah Yeshua toward you.
- John 14:13-14 Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it. (Jesus)
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Do the things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
- Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh within himself, so is he...
- Paul emphasizes the significance of thoughts in shaping a person’s character and behavior. We should think on good things rather than the bad...
Philippians 4:10-13 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. 12 I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. 13 I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.
- John 15:1-7 I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 2 Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. (Jesus)
Philippians 4:14-20 However you did well that you shared in my affliction. 15 You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need. 17 Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account. 18 But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God. 19 My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Messiah Yeshua. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
Philippians 4:21-22 Greet every holy one in Messiah Yeshua. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the holy ones greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
Philippians 4:23 The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with you all. Amen.
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )
-Sid Nash: 08/07/2024. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/PHP3-4.html