Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

developed and widely spread in the sub-apostolic age. The word Gnosticism reminds us of this; for
while many Gnostics were severe ascetics, others were practical libertines. (H. Moule) Paul refers to
conduct that should be considered shameful. It designates excesses of all kinds, especially sexual
ones. These enemies of the cross of Christ boast of their liberty and freedom. They behave as they
choose, and their immoral practices are shameful ... What determines the whole pattern of living of
the opponents referred to here is ultimately the earthly sphere of sin. (P. O’Brien)
The word here translated "belly" also means "inmost parts" and could stand for the seat of human
emotion. Then the sense would be that these Christians put ultimate faith in how they feel, thus
making their belly into a god. (J. Koenig) The satisfaction of carnal appetites and selfish desires
stands first in their lives. (F. Foulkes) These boasting opponents are charismatic figures in the church
who claim to be a special breed of Christians who have "arrived." (R.P. Martin) They are proud of
what they should be ashamed of. (F.F. Bruce) Every error is false emancipation from Christ and His
Word and His will, the Judaistic error eminently so; every error thus enslaves us to our own lower
nature, lets that dictate as “god.” Error is not merely intellectual. The intellect is only its tool. Its
source is in “the flesh,” the depravity in us. (R. Lenski) When persons (unbelievers) who have
embraced legalism die, they go to Hades to await the final resurrection, the Great White Throne
Judgment, and consignment to the eternal lake of fire. (R. Gromacki)
Here it is not false teaching, as in verse 2, but evil living; libertines, not Judaizers, are now in view.
These enemies claim the benefits of the cross, but deny its power in their life. Pretending to the skies
they grovel in earth’s corruption. (H. Hewlett) So effective is our power source that we are not
surprised that Satan would mount a concentrated assault against this divine provision. With insidious
cunning he has distorted the doctrines pertaining to the Holy Spirit by counterfeiting bona fide
functions of the past and linking them to human emotion and arrogance to consolidate his evil
sedition. Satanic doctrines influence people to vie for spiritual status by claiming to speak in
tongues, hear voices, see visions, perform miracles, heal the sick – all in a welter of emotionalism.
The Church Age ministry of God the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with such practices. The pursuit
of such ecstatic experiences in the name of spirituality obscures the truth and blasphemes against
God. Christianity is a system of thinking – thinking the truth – and the Holy Spirit provides the
power that, first, aids our concentration in learning doctrine, and second, enhances our ability to
apply in all the gates the doctrines we know. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.)
Philp. 3:19 Whose (Gen. Appos.; relative pronoun) end (Subj.
Nom.; termination of their life) is (ellipsis) ruin (Pred.
Acc.; the sin unto death, not a reference to hell; the
beginning of four characteristics of reversionism), whose
(Gen. Appos.) god (Subj. Nom.) is (ellipsis) their (Poss.
Gen.) emotions (Pred. Acc.; emotional revolt of the soul,
apostate Christians; metonym: not a reference to physical
anatomy) and (continuative) whose (Gen. Appos.) fame (Subj.
Nom.; glory) is (ellipsis) by means of (due to) their (Poss.
Gen.) dishonor (Instr. Means; shame, disgrace, complete lack
of integrity), who (Subj. Nom.) continue to hold opinions
(frone,w, PAPtc.NPM, Durative, Attributive) which (Acc. Dir.