Philippians 3:1-11

3/7/22

Scripture

Philippians 3:1-11

Preach

Questions

1. How would you summarise the message of this letter so far? Remember that Philippians 2:5-11, that beautiful poem or hymn about Jesus, is the core of the letter.

2. Do you rejoice in the Lord [v1]? What is the basis of our joy? What is joy a remedy for [2:2]? Can we be joyful whilst suffering?

3. In vv2-3 Paul calls those who would insist on Christians being circumcised the “mutilation”. There is probably a pun in the Greek¹. More importantly what is the significance of being call the “mutilation” [Deuteronomy 23:1]? Paul also calls them “dogs²”! Why is Paul so antagonistic to these false teachers? What is the lesson for us?

4. Who is the real Jew according to Paul, addressing the Jews in the church of Rome [Romans 2:28-29]? Is this Torah [Deuteronomy 30:6]?

5. What could Paul have boasted of [vv5-6]? Paul considers his posh Jewish credentials to be “dung³” [v8], i.e. is something disgusting that you want to dispose of. Is there anything that makes you think you are somehow accepted by God and better than others? Have you got to the point where you can consider it like the overflow from a soakaway [λάκκος] running down the street?

6. Some scholars⁴ think that by “law” Paul is NOT usually referring to the Ten Commandments etc. BUT the “boundary markers” that separated the Jews from the gentiles: kosher, circumcision, tassels on clothing etc. Does this interpretation work here?

7. Below is another way to translate vv9b-11. Does this make Paul sound more like a Jew remembering YHWH’s faithfulness, e.g. our preaching series on the character of God [Exodus 34:6-7]⁵? Please be assured that any particular view of how to read Paul etc is not an official position of LCC. You are free to disagree :-)

More

Philippians at the Bible Project

Faithlife Study Bible

1. Mutilation = κατατομή, katatomi. Circumcision = περιτομή, peritomi.

2. The dog was an unclean animal and was a Jewish term of abuse for a gentile.

3. The Greek is σκύβαλα, skybala, which in modern Greek is the rubbish or refuse. In the first century the singular σκύβαλο, skybalo, was rubbish but the plural σκύβαλα, skybala, was the human excrement in the streets.

4. For example, NT Wright and the wider so-called New Perspectives on Paul theology.

5. The point being made by NT Wright and others is that Paul was a first century Jew not a 16th century Protestant Reformer like Luther. Is it accurate to sat we are “saved by faith” or was this a short hand way to counter the necessity of works and indulgences taught by the medieval Roman Catholic church?