Answers for a study in the book of Philippians: Chapter 3

Review and Bible Study

 Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

1.  Review of Class Topics:

With your table group, discuss today’s apologetics presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting, or asking any questions.

Answers will vary…

2.  Review of Daily Devotional:

How is it going with your devotional? Are you having any difficulty with reading on a daily basis? Are there any questions you have, or anything that stands out to you as a life application that you’d like to share? Do you need some help, or suggestions, for a Biblical book to use?

Answers will vary…

Class Bible study: The Book of Philippians

Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.

Read Philippians 3:1-21 with your table group then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

3.  What does Paul tell them to beware of, and why? What might be an example of that today?

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;”  Philippians 3:1-2

• Paul is warning the Philippians of false teachers as this was becoming a problem for various reasons including those who wanted monetary gain, and those who were Judaizers.
  • Those who wanted monetary gain were scammers and played off of those like Paul, Peter and the other disciples, charging people for miracles and other deceptive practices and they did not follow the teachings of Jesus and His Apostles.
  • Those who were Judaizers were saying things such as, you need to become Jewish before you can become a Christian, or that only Jews could be saved unless you became a Jew through the following of the Law, and the like.
• This is why Paul was warning of the “false circumcision” because true circumcision was of the heart (spiritual) instead of physical circumcision (the Old Testament requirement for Jews in promise of the New Covenant) because Jesus had fulfilled this Old Covenant, making it possible for all to come to salvation through His sacrifice and resurrection in defeat of death and Satan.

Examples we can see from today:

Answer may vary…

• An example could come from any of the “works” based faiths or religions that require the person to do something in order to earn salvation. We see this in cults like Islam, Mormonism, or Jehovah’s Witness, and religions like Catholicism and even some Protestant denominations.
• Jesus’ sacrifice is nullified if we have to “do” something to earn salvation. Reference John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 8:1-4, among others.

4. In the Old Testament, circumcision was the sign of a believer in the Covenant (Promise) of God for Israel. What does Paul say is the sign of “true circumcision” in the believer today?

“for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh”  Philippians 3:3

• Paul says that true circumcision is “in the Spirit of God and Jesus,” and this is because Jesus fulfilled all that was promised in the Old Covenant.
• The Old Covenant (Testament) pointed to Jesus; and the Law (including circumcision) not only pointed to Jesus, but showed people that they could never fulfill the perfection required by God to be in His presence – Note: God’s holiness is not to be taken for-granted. We do not understand, nor appreciate, the holiness of God and what is truly required to stand before Him.
• Jesus now stands in the gap for us by fulfilling what was required in the Law for perfection; there is nothing we can do, or could ever do, to fully meet that requirement, therefore we must put our trust in Him.

5.  In an effort to combat “Judaizers” (those who said you must become a Jew, before you become a Christian) Paul lists his own credentials. What does he say about his credentials (his life’s work as a Jew) compared to knowing Christ and attaining God’s righteousness?

“although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead”  Philippians 3:4-13

• Paul points out that even though his credentials are excellent, better than most, he views all of it as rubbish compared to his relationship with Jesus.
• From the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: “Lists of virtues and/or advantages were common, including when praising someone. Speakers often reasoned by comparing figures, under appropriate circumstances, even comparing oneself with others. Praising oneself was deemed acceptable if the grounds were justifiable, such as refuting others’ grounds for boasting.”
• Paul admits that he does not have righteousness on his own, derived by the Law (no one can if he couldn’t with all of his credentials), but his righteousness comes directly from God on the basis of faith in what Jesus did.
• Paul also admits that he is not perfect, as we all are not in this human body, but that he is pressing on in his walk with the LORD, constantly forgetting his past (because we are forgiven) as he keeps focused on what lies ahead in eternity.

6.  How does Paul compare his Christian walk to that of an athlete in training? Cross-reference by reading 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 Timothy 4:7-11; and 2 Timothy 4:7-8. (Reminder: This is not to attain salvation, but an after-salvation walk as a Christian).

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”  Philippians 3:12-16

• From the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: “Speakers commonly used athletic illustrations figuratively; Paul’s goal is the future resurrection. Even aged philosophers normally confessed that they were merely making progress toward perfection. Greek runners often ran in a straight line and back, but to win, a runner must keep his eyes ahead, not glancing back to what is behind.”

This life is practice, for the next one! Paul uses this analogy quite often in his Epistles.

• ^“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
• “But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” 1 Timothy 4:7-11
• “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

7.  What does Paul says about those who are not walking with Christ in contrast to those who are walking with Christ (what are their lives focused on)?

“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”  Philippians 3:17-21

• Paul speaks of those who are enemies of the cross of Christ and whose end is destruction – they are those whose god is their appetite, whose glory is in their shame, and who set their minds on earthly things.
• In contrast, those who walk with Christ should copy Paul and his co-laborers’ walk and set their minds on heavenly things and everything opposite the enemies of Christ, waiting for Jesus to return because our citizenship is in heaven.

8.  Memory verses: Recite Philippians 1:9-10; Matthew 22:37-39; and add Philippians 3:14.

^“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ” Philippians 1:9-10

“And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”  Matthew 22:37-39

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14

Please continue to join us as we read and study the Bible as part of our Christian Apologetics’ class each week!

Note: Class presentation, videos, reflections and Bible study questions are posted on the weekend – Bible study answers (like these) are posted mid-week.

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Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15