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PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3
Phi_3:1-3 Paul exhorteth to rejoice in the Lord, and to beware
of the false teachers of the circumcision,
Phi_3:4-6 showing that as a Jew he had better grounds of
confidence than they.
Phi_3:7-11 But that he disclaimed them all, trusting only to the
justification which is of God by faith, and hoping
to partake of the resurrection through Christ.
Phi_3:12-14 He acknowledgeth his present imperfection, and that
he was still anxiously striving for the prize,
Phi_3:15,16 exhorting others to be like-minded,
Phi_3:17 and to follow his example.
Phi_3:18,19 For many were enemies to the gospel, being earthly minded,
Phi_3:20,21 but his conversation and views were heavenly.
Finally; moreover, or as to what remains, i.e. by way of conclusion to the antecedent matter, and transition to the general exhortation, he here premiseth to the subsequent admonition.
My brethren; willingly repeating the title of brethren, to show the respect he had for them, and to sweeten that he was about to subjoin.
Rejoice in the Lord; he moves them (as we, with almost all, do translate it) not as saluting or bidding them farewell, Luk_1:28 2Co_13:11; but to rejoice in the Lord, as Phi_4:4, either connoting the object matter of their joy, compared with Phi_3:3, or rather the efficient, importing for and according to the will of the Lord, in a manner agreeable to the pleasure of him who affords a ground of rejoicing in the midst of your tribulations and afflictions; considering his mercy, Phi_2:18,27,29, they might taste how good the Lord is, as elsewhere, Psa_37:4 Jer_9:24, with Rom_5:11 2Co_10:17 1Th_5:16 1Pe_1:8; and so not after a carnal and worldly, but spiritual and Christian manner, to cheer up themselves in him, when the world frowns most, Psa_4:6,7.
To write the same things to you; writing of the same things cannot be referred to any other epistles which he wrote to the Philippians, but to those things which, while present with them, he had delivered to them by word of mouth, as Phi_4:9: compare Isa_28:10 Rom_15:15 2Pe_1:12 1Jo_2:21.
To me indeed is not grievous; for my part, I do not do it with regret, nor account it tedious, (as some teachers do), as if I were ashamed of it, that I should do any thing superfluous, or not necessary, in writing again the same things for the matter of them, that I had before preached to preserve you from falling, as others have done, Phi_3:18.
But for you it is safe; because this repetition of the same doctrine, though in another way, is pertinent to your edification, (yea, as some read, it is necessary), it is greatly advantageous for your stability in the faith, and to caution and keep you in safety, from the insinuations of false teachers, that I now give you a brief memorial in writing of those things, that you may be cautioned, and they may not, especially in this day of adversity, slip out of your memories, or be lost.