The Philippians and Paul, and all true believers, belong to a different camp, that of the true circumcision. Paul was referring to the circumcision of the heart that happens when a person trusts in Jesus Christ. The alternative is trusting in self and in rite-keeping for salvation ( Romans 2:25-29; Colossians 2:11; Colossians 2:13; cf. Leviticus 26:41; Deuteronomy 10:16; Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Ezekiel 44:7). The true circumcision refers to believers in the church, not that the church is the "new Israel." [1][source]
Paul used two Greek verbs that are very similar. Peritemnein means to circumcise, and katatemnein means to mutilate. Peritemnein describes the sacred sign and work of circumcision, but katatemnain, as in Leviticus 21:5, describes forbidden self-mutilation, such as castration and the like. So Paul says, You Jews think that you are circumcised, but really you are only mutilated. [2][source]
Paul used three terms to describe the false teachers ( Philippians 3:2). He used three others to characterize the true circumcision. We worship (Gr. latreuein) God in the Spirit. The alternative is going through certain physical rituals (cf. John 4:23-24). Probably Paul meant that the Holy Spirit initiates worship with the result that love and service follow (cf. John 14:17). [3] Those who rely on rites and ceremonies to make themselves acceptable to God do not have the Spirit of God. They are not believers in the gospel. [source][source][source]
Second, we glory in Christ Jesus. That Isaiah , we look to Him as the one who makes us acceptable to God rather than looking to works (cf. Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17). We focus on Him and find our satisfaction in Him because He is our Savior. [source][source][source]
Third, we put no confidence in the flesh to make us acceptable to God. The New Testament writers used the term "flesh" (Gr. sarx) in one literal and in two metaphorical senses. Literally it refers to our bodies ( Luke 24:39; et al.). Figuratively it refers to all that we were in Adam (before our salvation; Romans 7:5; Romans 8:9; et al.) and to our human nature (cf. Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:17; et al.). Here Paul probably meant our human nature, what we can do without divine enablement, naturally. We do not have confidence that anything we do to our bodies, or anything we do, will make us acceptable to God but realize that trusting in Jesus Christ is what is necessary. We have no confidence in what we are by nature to make us acceptable to God. We understand that we cannot save ourselves, and we acknowledge that God must save us. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Philippians 3:1-12 - Losing All To Know Christ
Precept must be on precept, line on line. The false teachers who dogged Paul's steps insisted on rigid conformity to Judaism, with its rabbinical accretions, as the condition of being saved by Christ. Paul's answer was that he had gone through all the requirements of Judaism, but had found it absolutely unsatisfactory and inefficient to subdue the sin of his soul. But in Christ he had found everything he needed. What had been gain to him now seemed but dross. He had found the pearl of great price, and was only too glad to sacrifice all else to purchase and keep it, as the talisman of complete victory.
The essence of Judaism was not external but within. True circumcision was deliverance from the self-life, and that could only be gained by the Cross of Christ. The "Israelite indeed," like Nathanael, had three traits of character-his worship was spiritual, he gloried in the Crucified, and he was delivered from reliance upon the self-life. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to teach us to know Jesus in the intimacy of personal fellowship, to feel the pulse of His resurrection life, to experience the power of His death, and to realize the whole of His divine program. For this we might be more than content to trample on our boasted pride. [source]
Chapter Summary: Philippians 3
1He warns them to beware of the false teachers; 4showing that himself has greater cause than they to trust in the righteousness of the law; 7which he counts as loss, to gain Christ and his righteousness; 12acknowledging his own imperfection and pressing on toward the goal; 15He exhorts them to be thus minded; 17and to imitate him, 18and to decline carnal ways
Greek Commentary for Philippians 3:3
For we [ημεις γαρ] We believers in Christ, the children of Abraham by faith, whether Jew or Gentile, the spiritual circumcision in contrast to the merely physical (Romans 2:25-29; Colossians 2:11; Ephesians 2:11). See note on Galatians 5:12 for αποτεμνειν apotemnein (to cut off) in sense of mutilation also. [source]
By the Spirit of God [πνευματι τεου] Instrumental case, though the dative case as the object of λατρευω latreuō makes good sense also (worshipping the Spirit of God) or even the locative (worshipping in the Spirit of God). No (ουκ ouk). Actual condition rather than μη mē with the participle. In the flesh Technical term in Paul‘s controversy with the Judaizers (2 Corinthians 11:18; Galatians 6:13.). External privileges beyond mere flesh. [source]
No [ουκ] Actual condition rather than μη mē with the participle. [source]
In the flesh [εν σαρκι] Technical term in Paul‘s controversy with the Judaizers (2 Corinthians 11:18; Galatians 6:13.). External privileges beyond mere flesh. [source]
Worship God in the spirit [πνεύματι Θεῷ λατρεύοντες] The correct reading is θεοῦ ofGod. Render, as Rev., worship by the Spirit of God. Worship. See on Revelation 22:3. Paul uses the Jews' word which denoted their own service of Jehovah as His peculiar people. Compare Acts 26:7. A Jew would be scandalized by the application of this term to Christian worship. [source]
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: σάρξ
Sense: flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts.
Greek Commentary for Philippians 3:3
We believers in Christ, the children of Abraham by faith, whether Jew or Gentile, the spiritual circumcision in contrast to the merely physical (Romans 2:25-29; Colossians 2:11; Ephesians 2:11). See note on Galatians 5:12 for αποτεμνειν apotemnein (to cut off) in sense of mutilation also. [source]
Instrumental case, though the dative case as the object of λατρευω latreuō makes good sense also (worshipping the Spirit of God) or even the locative (worshipping in the Spirit of God). No (ουκ ouk). Actual condition rather than μη mē with the participle. In the flesh Technical term in Paul‘s controversy with the Judaizers (2 Corinthians 11:18; Galatians 6:13.). External privileges beyond mere flesh. [source]
Actual condition rather than μη mē with the participle. [source]
Technical term in Paul‘s controversy with the Judaizers (2 Corinthians 11:18; Galatians 6:13.). External privileges beyond mere flesh. [source]
The abstract term for those who are circumcised. In the Old Testament, circumcision was a metaphor for purity. See Leviticus 26:41; Deuteronomy 10:16; Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 44:7, etc. [source]
The correct reading is θεοῦ ofGod. Render, as Rev., worship by the Spirit of God. Worship. See on Revelation 22:3. Paul uses the Jews' word which denoted their own service of Jehovah as His peculiar people. Compare Acts 26:7. A Jew would be scandalized by the application of this term to Christian worship. [source]
Rev., better, glory. Compare Jeremiah 9:23, Jeremiah 9:24, and 1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17. [source]
External privileges of every kind. [source]