The Meaning of Philippians 3:19 Explained

Philippians 3:19

KJV: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

YLT: whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who the things on earth are minding.

Darby: whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and their glory in their shame, who mind earthly things:)

ASV: whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whose  end  [is] destruction,  whose  God  [is their] belly,  and  [whose] glory  [is] in  their  shame,  who  mind  earthly things.  ) 

What does Philippians 3:19 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The context does not specify whether these people were Christians or not, but antinomianism was common among both groups in Paul"s day, as it is today. [1] Consequently we should probably understand "destruction" in a general sense. The same Greek word (apoleia) occurs in Philippians 1:28 where it probably refers to unbelievers and eternal destruction. Nevertheless believers can experience discipline, and even premature physical death as discipline, if they continue to resist the will of God ( Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 11:30; 1 John 5:16).
Three characteristics mark these people (cf. Philippians 3:2-3). First, they give free rein to the satisfaction of their sensual appetites and do not restrain the flesh (cf. Romans 16:18; 1 Corinthians 6:13; Jude 1:11). Second, they find satisfaction and take pride in things that they do that should cause them shame (cf. Ephesians 5:12). Third, they involve themselves almost totally in physical and material things, things pertaining to the present enjoyment of life, to the exclusion of spiritual matters. In short, their ritualistic observances had taken God"s place in their lives. They had become idolaters.
"He [2] is probably describing some itinerants, whose view of the faith is such that it allows them a great deal of undisciplined self-indulgence.... In any case, they have not appeared heretofore in the letter, and do not appear again. They have served their immediate purpose of standing in sharp relief to Paul"s own "walk" and to his heavenly pursuit, so crucial to this letter, and toward which Paul now turns once more as he begins to draw this appeal to an end." [3]

Context Summary

Philippians 3:13-21 - Pressing On "unto The Prize"
The nearer the saint comes to the perfect life, the farther he feels from it. It is only when we have climbed the foothills that we realize how lofty the mountain summits are. But there is no need for discouragement. We have eternity before us, the expanding landscape of truth is our inspiration, and the loving Spirit of God bears us upward on eagle's wings. Our Savior had a distinct purpose in view when He apprehended us. Its full scope was only known to Him; let us strive that we may not fail to realize His ideal. We can do this best by forgetting past failures, past sins, and past successes, and pressing on toward the goal. Will not the prize be the Lord Himself? Let us always remember that God's call is upward. This will help us when there seems collision between two duties.
Instead of judging another, let us walk together along the path of obedience. Those who leave the narrow track and still profess godliness are greater enemies to the Cross than avowed antagonists. We are citizens of the skies, who come forth to spend a few hours each day on earth. This is our inn, yonder is our true home. Thence Jesus will come to complete the work of salvation by giving us a body like His own. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 3

1  He warns them to beware of the false teachers;
4  showing that himself has greater cause than they to trust in the righteousness of the law;
7  which he counts as loss, to gain Christ and his righteousness;
12  acknowledging his own imperfection and pressing on toward the goal;
15  He exhorts them to be thus minded;
17  and to imitate him,
18  and to decline carnal ways

Greek Commentary for Philippians 3:19

Whose god is the belly [ου το τεος η κοιλια]
The comic poet Eupolis uses the rare word Κοιλιοδαιμων — Koiliodaimōn for one who makes a god of his belly and Seneca speaks of one who abdomini servit. Sensuality in food, drink, sex then as now mastered some men. These men posed as Christians and gloried in their shame. [source]
Who mind earthly things [οι τα επιγεια προνουντες]
Anacoluthon. The nominative does not refer to πολλοι — polloi at the beginning, but with the accusative τους εχτρους — tous echthrous in between. See note on Mark 12:40. [source]
Belly []
Romans 16:18. So the Cyclops in Euripides: “My flocks which I sacrifice to no one but myself, and not to the gods, and to this my belly the greatest of the gods: for to eat and drink each day, and to give one's self no trouble, this is the god for wise men” (“Cyclops,” 334-338). [source]
Glory []
That which they esteem glory. [source]
Earthly things [τὰ ἐπίγεια]
See on 2 Corinthians 5:1. Compare Colossians 3:2. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 3:19 mean?

whose - end [is] destruction - God [is] the belly and - glory [is] in the shame of them those things earthly minding
ὧν τὸ τέλος ἀπώλεια θεὸς κοιλία καὶ δόξα ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ αὐτῶν οἱ τὰ ἐπίγεια φρονοῦντες

ὧν  whose 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τέλος  end  [is] 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: τέλος  
Sense: end.
ἀπώλεια  destruction 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀπώλεια  
Sense: destroying, utter destruction.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
θεὸς  God  [is] 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
κοιλία  belly 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: κοιλία  
Sense: the whole belly, the entire cavity.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δόξα  glory 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: δόξα  
Sense: opinion, judgment, view.
ἐν  [is]  in 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐν 
Sense: in, by, with etc.
αἰσχύνῃ  shame 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: αἰσχύνη  
Sense: the confusion of one who is ashamed of anything, sense of shame.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
οἱ  those 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τὰ  things 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐπίγεια  earthly 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἐπίγειος  
Sense: existing upon the earth, earthly, terrestrial.
φρονοῦντες  minding 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: φρονέω  
Sense: to have understanding, be wise.