Spiritual joy. "Finally, brethren, rejoice in the Lord." The key-note of the Epistle still recurs. I. THE NATURE OF JOY IN THE LORD . It is to make him the object of our joy: 1 . For what he is in himself, the God of love and light and blessing. 2 . For what he is to us: The world rejoices in creation and sees no joy in God, but the believer finds the joy of the Lord to be his strength ( Nehemiah 8:10 ). II. THE DUTY OF REJOICING IN THE LORD ... read more
Sameness. I. ITS NECESSITY . In ordinary life there must be much of sameness. The same duties, occupations, interests, events, occur from day to day. The same temptations have to be met by the same spiritual weapons. This is very clearly scan when our duties are concerned with the training and teaching of others. The same faults must be rebuked, the same advice given, the same disappointments experienced. II. ITS TEDIOUSNESS . Many feel this keenly and long for a greater... read more
(See on Philippians 4:4 .)—W.F.A. read more
Holy joy. I. THE CHRISTIAN 'S PRIVILEGE . 1 . It is in the Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord," the apostle says. The Lord, who once gave himself for us, gives himself to us now. "Behold," he says, "I stand at the door, and knock." If we listen to his voice, and open the door of our heart, he is ready to enter, to bless us with his sacred presence, to abide with us for ever. In his presence there is fullness of joy. We can know it only by experience. "The love of Jesus, what it is,... read more
Spiritual Judaism. Having called upon the Philippians for public spirit, he now speaks, as if about to close the Epistle, about joy in the Lord. Inasmuch, however, as the Judaizers were abroad, he deems it best to insert a parenthesis, which the world could ill spare, about the true people of God and the progress towards the " citizenship " of heaven. This third chapter is a magnificent parenthesis, in which the spiritual life is laid bare from its inception to its glorious close. In... read more
Rejoicing, eschewing, and imitating. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord," etc. These verses present three subjects for reflection—the Being to rejoice in, the men to avoid, the worship to imitate. I. THE BEING TO REJOICE IN . "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." "The Lord" means undoubtedly Jesus Christ, the Savior of all men. But why rejoice in him? 1 . Because of his-peerless excellence. He is the morally beautiful. Every moral virtue is united,... read more
The true circumcision. Contemplated close of the Epistle. "Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." It would seem that, at this point, the apostle contemplated bringing the Epistle to a close. He intimates that, in addition to what he has already said, he has only this further to say. He falls back on what has already been noticed as the key-note of the Epistle. Addressing them as his brethren, he calls upon them to rejoice in the Lord. He recognized no joy but what was in the Lord. We... read more
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision . The connection is, as given in Philippians 3:3 , Rejoice in the Lord, not in the flesh; have confidence in him, not in the ceremonies of the Jewish Law. Compare the same contrast in Galatians 6:13 , Galatians 6:14 . There is certainly something abrupt in the sudden introduction of this polemic against Judaizing, especially in writing to Philippi, where there were not many Jews. But there may have been circumstances,... read more
"Dogs." Jews regarded the Gentiles as dogs ( Matthew 15:22 , et seq. ) . The unclean feeding of these animals—the scavengers of Eastern cities—was supposed to be analogous to the Gentile freedom in eating all kinds of meats. St. Paul turns the tables, and calls the Judaizers who feed upon carnal ordinances dogs in comparison with Christians who live on the higher spiritual food. I. CONTEMPTUOUS LANGUAGE MAY BE OCCASIONALLY PERMITTED IN CONTROVERSY . It is a most... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:1
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord . This word "finally" ( τὸ λοιπόν is frequently used by St. Paul to introduce a practical conclusion after the doctrinal portion of his Epistles: thus it occurs again in Philippians 4:8 , and also in 2 Corinthians 13:11 ; Ephesians 6:10 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:1 . Some render χαίρετε "farewell;" but "rejoice" seems more suitable here. The golden thread of spiritual joy runs through this Epistle. "Rejoice in... read more