1) The document provides an overview and analysis of chapter 3 verses 1-21 of Paul's letter to the Philippians. 2) Paul's priority in the letter was to safeguard the joy of the church by warning them about those who threaten their joy in Christ, and by explaining that true joy comes from knowing Christ rather than earthly accomplishments or status. 3) Paul contrasts those who are enemies of Christ, with earthly minds and destruction as their destiny, from believers whose citizenship and hope is in heaven and who will receive glorious resurrected bodies.

1. Ode to Joy
A Study in the Epistle to the
Philippians
Part 6
Phil 3:1-21
By Samuel E. Ward
1

2. Introduction
If you were in jail, what sort of letter would
you write to your Christian friends?
Would it focus on the difficulties--the
poor food, cramped quarters and lonely
isolation?
Paul's letter to the Philippians, written
from prison, has no hint of self-pity. The
letter radiates joy--joy that Christ was
proclaimed, joy in fellowship with the
Philippian Christians and, above all, joy
in Jesus himself.
– J. Alec Motyer
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3. Our own outline of Philippians to this point
reflects the truth of Motyer’s assessment of
the book’s message.
I. This Letter Is an Expression of Paul’s Joy in
the Philippians, Phil 1:1-11.
II. This Letter Is an Explanation of Paul’s Joy
in Suffering for the Gospel He Gave Them,
Phil 1:12-30.
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4. III. This Letter Is an Exhortation to the
Philippians to Complete Paul’s Joy in
Them, Phil 2:1-18.
IV. This Letter Is Evidence of Paul’s
Commitment to See Their Joy in Christ
Continue,
Phil 2:10-30.
We find, also, that . . .
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5. V. This Letter Is an Expose’ of Those
Who Threaten the Joy and Freedom
They Have in Christ, Phil 3:1-21.
A. Paul’s Priority Was to Safeguard the Joy of
the Church, Phil 3:1.
(Phil 3:1 NIV) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in
the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the
same things to you again, and it is a
safeguard for you.
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6. B. Paul’s Warning Was to Be on the Alert
Against Those Who Threaten Their Joy, Phil
3:2.
(Phil 3:2 NIV) Watch out for those dogs, those
men who do evil, those mutilators of the
flesh.
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7. C. Paul’s Experience in Christ Brought a New
Perspective to the Source of True Joy,
Phil 3:3-10
1. The Old Testament circumcision connected
people to the Old Testament Covenant
through a physical rite—it was temporary
and applied only to Israel.
2. The New Testament circumcision connects
people to the New Covenant in Christ by
identification with Christ by faith in His
atoning death—it is eternal and applies to all
who believe in Christ.
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8. (Phil 3:3 NIV) For it is we who are the
circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit
of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who
put no confidence in the flesh--
8

9. 3. Paul offers an explanation of the difference
between relying on self and relying on Christ
in finding God’s grace and salvation.
a. If personal pedigree and devotion to the law
could gain God’s favor, Paul was more than
qualified, Phil 3:4-6.
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10. (Phil 3:4b-6 NIV) If anyone else thinks he has
reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have
more: {5} circumcised on the eighth day, of
the people of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to
the law, a Pharisee; {6} as for zeal,
persecuting the church; as for legalistic
righteousness, faultless.
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11. He was confirmed as Israelite at the earliest
possible time.
He was a member of the tribe that produced
Israel’s first king and the only tribe that
allied itself with Judah when the kingdom
split.
He was a model Hebrew—not influenced by
assimilating with other cultures whether
Greek or Roman.
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12. He was ultra-conservative in regard to the
interpretation of the Law as a Pharisee.
He was zealous in seeking to stamp out
Christianity, viewing it as a false cult.
He was blameless in His personal adherence
to the Law.
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13. b. But personal pedigree and devotion to the
Law does not save, Rom 3:19-23.
(Rom 3:19-23 NIV) Now we know that
whatever the law says, it says to those who
are under the law, so that every mouth may
be silenced and the whole world held
accountable to God. {20} Therefore no one
will be declared righteous in his sight by
observing the law; rather, through the law
we become conscious of sin.
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14. {21} But now a righteousness from
God, apart from law, has been made
known, to which the Law and the Prophets
testify. {22} This righteousness from God
comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all
who believe. There is no difference, {23} for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God,
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15. That is why Paul is willing to throw away any
claim to personal righteousness and
worthiness before God based on status or
position, and simply accept Christ’s. He was
willing to be a “nobody” for Christ—a
servant to a benevolent, merciful, and
gracious Master, Phil 3:7-9.
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16. (Phil 3:7-9 NIV) But whatever was to my profit
I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. {8}
What is more, I consider everything a loss
compared to the surpassing greatness of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose
sake I have lost all things. I consider them
rubbish, that I may gain Christ {9} and be
found in him, not having a righteousness of
my own that comes from the law, but that
which is through faith in Christ--the
righteousness that comes from God and is by
faith.
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17. c. The real gain Paul sought was not to be
found in earthly pursuits, but in experiencing
a life that so empowered by Christ that it
was worth following Him even in suffering
and death, Phil 3:10-11.
(Phil 3:10-11 NIV) I want to know Christ and
the power of his resurrection and the
fellowship of sharing in his
sufferings, becoming like him in his
death, {11} and so, somehow, to attain to
the resurrection from the dead.
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18. (Mat 16:26 NIV) What good will it be for a man
if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his
soul? Or what can a man give in exchange
for his soul?
(Rom 8:17-18 NIV) Now if we are children,
then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs
with Christ, if indeed we share in his
sufferings in order that we may also share in
his glory. {18} I consider that our present
sufferings are not worth comparing with the
glory that will be revealed in us.
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19. d. To Paul, life was all about experiencing the
full extent of the Lord’s purposes for his
life, Phil 3:12-16.
From the beginning, Paul’s mission was about
being God’s witness to the world of what
Paul had heard from Christ
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20. (Acts 22:12-15 NIV) "A man named Ananias
came to see me. He was a devout observer
of the law and highly respected by all the
Jews living there. {13} He stood beside me
and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!'
And at that very moment I was able to see
him. {14} Then he said: 'The God of our
fathers has chosen you to know his will and
to see the Righteous One and to hear words
from his mouth. {15} You will be his witness
to all men of what you have seen and
heard.”
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21. It was in the carrying out of his mission to be a
witness for Christ that Paul would grow
toward perfection, press for the prize
waiting for him in heaven, and be willing to
serve and suffer whatever would come his
way in that pursuit, Phil 3:12-14.
(Phil 3:12-14 NIV) Not that I have already
obtained all this, or have already been made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that
for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
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22. {13} Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to
have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:
Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, {14} I press on toward
the goal to win the prize for which God has
called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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23. 3. Paul explains that his attitude toward service
to Christ is the model for all Christians
(Phil 3:15-17 NIV) All of us who are mature
should take such a view of things. And if on
some point you think differently, that too
God will make clear to you. {16} Only let us
live up to what we have already attained.
{17} Join with others in following my
example, brothers, and take note of those
who live according to the pattern we gave
you.
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24. This attitude of always pressing for the best
that Christ has for us even in the face of
suffering on the way to receiving the
heavenly prize is . . .
a. a mature attitude—for grown-up Christians .
b. a developing attitude—for growing
(maturing) Christians.
c. an active attitude—for being involved in
growing (nurturing) others to become
Christians or edifying those who are.
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25. 4. Paul contrasts the enemies of Christ with
that of believers, Phil 3:18-4:1.
(Phil 3:18-21 NIV) For, as I have often told you
before and now say again even with
tears, many live as enemies of the cross of
Christ. {19} Their destiny is destruction, their
god is their stomach, and their glory is in
their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
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26. {20} But our citizenship is in heaven. And we
eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord
Jesus Christ, {21} who, by the power that
enables him to bring everything under his
control, will transform our lowly bodies so
that they will be like his glorious body.
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27. a. The enemies of Christ
Their destiny is destruction
Their god is their stomach
Their glory is their shame
Their mind is on earthly things
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28. b. The believers in Christ
Their citizenship is in heaven.
Their hope is in Christ’s return from heaven.
Their destiny is to have glorious bodies like
Christ’s after He takes control of everything.
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29. It is little wonder, then, that Paul was willing to
commit himself to Christ even in the face of
mortal danger. This is why he could write
with conviction . . .
(Phil 3:14 NIV) I press on toward the goal to
win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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30. What I call a good patient is one
who, having found a good physician, sticks
to him till he dies.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes
Paul had found the Great Physician
and was going to stick to him until
he died and beyond.
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