Chapter 3, Verse 2 “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.”
What is safe for the Philippians is a three-part warning from Paul. Full of sarcasm, Paul’s warning is pointed towards one group of people. It is obvious they are well known to Paul and not particularly liked by the apostle. The three terms he uses to describe them are all extremely negative. Jews were not fond of dogs and referred to Gentiles as such. This group Paul is talking about are not Gentiles but Jews so the use of the term ‘dog’ is significant.
Secondly, he refers to them as evildoers. Jews prided themselves on being keepers of the law. Non-keepers were the evildoers so Paul is making a scathing claim about this group of Jewish Christians. By trying to force their Gentile brethren to keep the law of the flesh they do evil rather than good. Notice that each of these three warnings are actual reversals of what the Jews thought of themselves.
Lastly, he warns them against those who are mutilators. Circumcision was from a word that meant to cut around. Mutilation was from a word that meant cut into pieces. Obviously, the key issue here is circumcision. Paul’s background is circumcision but he rejects the idea that Gentile Christians should be required to submit to that Jewish rite. As we will see, Paul is separating the idea of a fleshly requirement from a spiritual one.
Task for Today: Keep in mind that if you have been baptized into Christ your heart has undergone circumcision. You are called to a spiritual oriented life not a fleshly one. Live as a spiritually circumcised child of God. It’s a case of rendering our hearts and not our garments. Today, set your sight on things above. Endeavor to live in the spiritual world.
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