Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

diverted from that which God intends to be primary in his life to concentrate on that which is
secondary. (J. Pentecost) Repetition is profitable, but many are so difficult to please, that they cannot
hear the same thing a second time, and in the mean time, they do not consider that what is inculcated
upon them daily is with difficulty retained in their memory ten years afterwards. (J. Calvin) What
happened in the Galatian churches, Paul was trying to forestall in the church at Philippi. (K. Wuest)
Spiritual meat requires digestion, and therefore repetition. Good things always sink through our
mind as water through a sieve. (J.S. Exell) In words that are rather enigmatic Paul employs an
impersonal construction by way of apology to inform the Philippians that certain things about which
he is writing in this letter are repetitive. Rather surprisingly he asserts that such repetition is not
irksome to him, but is safe for his readers. (P. O’Brien) The apostle is facing a very dangerous and
devious doctrinal defection as he writes this word to the Philippians. He is dealing with a false
teaching that would set aside Jesus Christ from His rightful place of preeminence in a believer’s life
and would make the believer himself the center of life. While these false teachers would not be so
crass as to state it that way, that is the heart of their doctrine. Will a man glory in Christ or will a
man glory in himself – in what he is and what he has maintained? (J. Pentecost)
When I first began to study what the Bible has to say about joy I was surprised to discover how
many times joy is associated with a mature knowledge of God’s Word. David said, “The precepts of
the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart” (Psalm 19:8). Psalm 119:14 declares, “I rejoice in
following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.” Jesus said, “If you obey My commands, you
will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have
told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:10-11).
These verses teach that joy is to be found in a knowledge of God’s character and commandments
and that these are to be found in His Word. If you have not known much of this joy, the reason may
be a neglect of a study of Scripture ... In this life neither you nor I will ever master all the great truths
of Scripture. The Word of God is inexhaustible, like God Himself, and if our joy depended on such
mastery, we would never actually experience it. Instead, our joy depends on our relationship to God
and our life with Him. However, if there is to be the joy in the Christian life that there ought to be,
there must be a deep and growing experience of the basic truths upon which that life is founded. If
you are a Christian, you should draw close to God, you must feed on Scripture, and God will fill you
with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. (J. Boice)
Philp. 3:1 In addition (Acc. Gen Ref.; as far as the rest is
concerned, finally), my (Gen. Rel.) brethren (Voc. Address),
keep on having inner happiness (cai,rw, PAImp.2P, Iterative,
Command; having a relaxed mental attitude, joy) in the Lord
(Loc. Sph.). To repeatedly write (gra,fw, PAInf., Iterative,
Substantival subjective clause, Articular; repetition is the
price of knowledge) these same (Acc. Spec.) things (Acc. Dir.
Obj.) to you (Dat. Adv.) is (ellipsis) to be sure (emphatic
particle; indeed) not (neg. particle) boring (Pred. Nom.;
troublesome, tedious, irksome, tiring) to me (Dat. Disadv.),
but (adversative) for your (Dat. Adv., Poss.) sound
foundation (Pred. Nom.; safety, security, to keep you from