3
Forγάρweἡμεῖςareἐσμενthe circumcision,ἡ περιτομήwhoοἱworshipλατρεύοντεςby the Spiritπνεύματιof Godθεοῦandκαὶboastκαυχώμενοιinἐνthe MessiahΧριστῷJesusἸησοῦandκαὶdo notοὐκput confidenceπεποιθότεςinἐνthe flesh,σαρκὶ
Philippians 3:3
Study it in the app“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and boast in the Messiah Jesus and do not put confidence in the flesh,”
Paul: we worship by God's Spirit and put no confidence in the fleshPraise and worship
With the Greek beneath
Philippians 3:3, word by word
- areἐσμενesmen
be
To be: says who or what something is.
Where else “esmen” appears- the circumcisionπεριτομήperitomē
circumcision of heart
God cleansing the heart within.
Where else “peritomē” appears- worshipλατρεύοντεςlatreuontes
worship, serve
Serve, worship: serve God in worship.
Where else “latreuontes” appears- by the Spiritπνεύματιpneumati
Spirit
God himself at work, giving life and dwelling in believers.
Where else “pneumati” appears- of Godθεοῦtheou
God
The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.
Where else “theou” appears- boastκαυχώμενοιkauchōmenoi
boast
Boast, take pride in something; in a good sense, glory or rejoice in it.
Where else “kauchōmenoi” appears- the MessiahΧριστῷChristōi
Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
Where else “Christōi” appears- JesusἸησοῦIēsou
Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
Where else “Iēsou” appears- put confidenceπεποιθότεςpepoithotes
be confident
To be sure of something, rely on someone.
Where else “pepoithotes” appears- the fleshσαρκὶsarki
sinful nature
The human nature that opposes God's Spirit.
Where else “sarki” appears
Translation note· on the manuscripts
Many manuscripts read “we who worship God in spirit”; the apparatus used does not record it.
The context
2Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for the mutilation.
3 · This verse (above)
4though I myself have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has confidence in the flesh, I have more:
To study Philippians 3 in a group
1. What it says
What things that Paul once counted as gain does he now count as loss, and why (v. 4-8)?
2. What it means
Paul says, "forgetting the things behind and straining toward the things ahead" (v. 13). What do you think that means?
3. How I live it
Paul keeps pressing on without claiming to be perfect (v. 12-14). What small step can you take today in something you want to grow in?