“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. [For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, (that they are) the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
“Be joint-imitators of me, brothers, and fix-your-eyes-on the-(ones) thus walking as you have us for a pattern; for many are-walking, [of-whom I many-times told you, but now even weeping tell (you)], (as) the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end (is) destruction, whose god (is) the belly, and the glory in their shame, the-ones minding earthly-(things). For our citizen-life (or, citizenship) exists-already in (the) heavens, from whence also we-are-eagerly-awaiting (as) Savior, (the) Lord Jesus Christ, who shall-transform (or, change-the-fashion-of) our body of humiliation, into-conformity to His body of glory, according-to the working of-His ability even to subdue all-(things) to Him.”
Philippians 3:17-2117Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:17‑21)
We saw in our last chapter, that Paul exhorted the saints: “Only unto what we have succeeded in reaching, (let us) walk in the same steps.” We saw the word for walk in this passage means to walk in a line, as a line of soldiers, each keeping step with the other. In Gal. 5:2525If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) we find the same word, and there the Word tells us: “By the Spirit we should keep in step.” If each man exactly copies the man ahead of him, then all will be in step. And, remember, the Spirit dwells in each true believer: and so can keep us in step, if we will but heed Him. This is just what the Apostle is telling us now:
“Be joint-imitators of me, brothers.”
I do not think ‘imitator’ is a good word here. The Greek word is the one from which we get ‘mimics’, and this would be excellent, if it did not have a nasty meaning attached to it. Even ‘copyist’ has not an entirely good meaning, but it does give the thought fairly well.
I think what Paul is telling the Philippians (and us) is that we each one should copy him: and in 1 Cor. 11:11Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1), he writes: “Be ye followers” (it is the same word as here): “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ”. That is the secret. Paul follows Christ: copies Him, ‘mimics’ Him, if we can say it reverently: and we all are to be joint-imitators’ of Paul. This is the only place in the New Testament we find this word, ‘joint-imitator’, and it includes all the saints. It tells us we are not only to “keep step,” but we are also to “keep rank,” like the men of Zebulon, long ago: fifty thousand of them could keep rank, (1 Chron. 12:3333Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart. (1 Chronicles 12:33)), so that should encourage the little companies of the saints to do the same. You remember Peter told us that Christ left us an example “that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:2121For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:21)). That is exactly what the Apostle Paul was doing; and he calls us to be joint-imitators’ of him, in this path. In this way we will keep step and keep rank.
More eyes may be watching our steps than we realize: what a responsibility that we do not lead their feet astray! What a responsibility to see that we are faithful followers— imitators— of Christ, following His steps. You will recall that in verses 12 and 14 Paul spoke about pressing on. The word is dioko, and means also to press after. In the New Testament we often find it: there are many things we are to press after. Four times it tells us to press after peace; three times after love; twice after faith, and twice after righteousness; once each after godliness, patience, meekness, holiness, hospitality, and that which is good: besides those already mentioned in Philippians 3. But there is a stronger word than dioko, “I-press-after”: it is kata-dioko, meaning “I-earnestly-press-after.” It is used only once in the New Testament, and that is in Mark 1:3636And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. (Mark 1:36), where the disciples woke up to find their Lord had risen up great while before day, and had departed into a solitary place to pray: “and Simon and they that were with him earnestly-pressed-after Him.” As far as I know we are never told to `press-after’ Christ: but we are given this beautiful example of His disciples of old who earnestly-pressed-after Him: and if we truly love Him, will not we be joint-imitators of them? Meanwhile, let us give heed to be `joint-imitators’ of Paul, as he exhorts us in verse 17.
Again we get that sweet word ‘brothers’, again telling of the earnestness and importance of the Apostle’s appeal. This word really belongs to the portion we have just been considering: “Be-joint-imitators of me, brothers.” It might have seemed as though Paul was setting himself above the saints in Philippi, so he quickly reminds them that he and they are all brothers: all one family.
Now he continues: “And fix-your-eyes-on the-ones walking as you-have us for-a-pattern.” “Fix-your-eyes-on” (vs. 17) is the same word we found in chapter 2:4, where he told them not to fix their eyes each on his own interests, but each on the interests of others also. So there are some things on which we should fix our eyes, and some things on which we should not fix them. The word translated ‘goal’ in the 14th verse of our chapter is from the same word; as the goal is the spot on which the racer has his eye fixed. Now the Apostle tells the saints to have their eyes on the ones thus walking as you have us for a pattern, or model. Paul had said, “Be joint-imitators of me,” now he speaks of us, perhaps this includes Timothy, Luke, Epaphroditus: all well known to the saints in Philippi. Notice Paul does not tell them to have their eyes on “us.” The ones they were to fix their eyes on were saints in the assembly at Philippi who were walking as they had these dear servants of the Lord for a pattern. How good to know there were saints in Philippi whom Paul could commend in this lovely way. And I doubt not Christ has His own faithful ones in many places today: perhaps poor and despised: as Christ Himself was down here: perhaps not recognized even by their brethren: but these are the ones on whom we are to fix our eyes.
“For many are-walking, (of whom I many-times told you, but now even weeping tell you) as the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and the glory in their shame, the-ones minding earthly-things.”
The reason they were to fix their eyes on the saints having Paul and his friends for a pattern was that there were many who were walking very differently. The word used for walk here and in verse 17 indicates walking alone, and there is no thought of following in line. In the early verses of this chapter we saw that the enemy was seeking to bring in those who taught circumcision and the law of Moses, as the means of salvation. Now we come to those who go to the other extreme. The ‘narrow road’ has two sides, and often in our eagerness to avoid one side, we may fall into the ditch on the other side. These men were ‘enemies of the cross of Christ’. It does not say they were enemies of Christ, but to take up the cross and follow Christ was the last thing they desired. But there is no other way of safety except by the cross; so ‘their end is destruction’. This word is the key note of 2 Peter 2: false teachers who bring upon themselves swift destruction. Their god was their stomach: their stomachs had first place in their lives. Are there not such today? And they had their minds on things of earth. These people evidently had come in among the Christians, and there may have been no gross evil, as men see it, in their lives, that would call for excommunication. Their daily walk may have been better than some who were true believers: for it was a day in which all sought their own. They may have attended the meetings regularly, and even taken the Lord’s Supper: yet, their end was destruction.
There is no ground, as far as I know, to suppose that any of these people were living in Philippi; rather the reverse, as apparently the saints there did not know of them, apart from what Paul had told them when he was with them, and again in this Epistle. But the true saints needed to be warned against them. Their conduct made Paul weep, as he wrote of them. Like Joseph, Paul was a “great weeper.” The first epistle to Corinthians was written with “many tears.” He often wept as he brought the gospel to the Eph. 14According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4) am sure the epistle to the Galatians was blotted with untold tears. And now he weeps even as he writes to his beloved brethren in Philippi. (2 Cor. 2:44For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. (2 Corinthians 2:4); Acts 20:3131Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. (Acts 20:31)).
Actually we know that in the days of the early Church those known as Gnostics were in some cases `practical libertines’, walking very much as the Apostle describes here. Others, it is true, were ascetics, but many made a god of their bellies.
My reader is probably thinking, “This has nothing to do with me: why spend time thinking of such persons?” The Spirit of God is the One Who has given us this grave warning; and I believe that many of us in our day might do well to lay to heart His words. Never, I suppose, has there been such luxury and extravagance amongst the Lord’s own people, as there is today in some quarters. It is doubtless a mark of this present evil age: but the tragedy is that the saints of God, who should be marked by holiness— separation from such things— have, on the contrary, become seriously affected by them. I know that the very ‘atmosphere’ which we breathe today is saturated with this spirit of luxury; but there were fish— should I not say, there are fish?— that have both fins and scales. (Lev. 11:99These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. (Leviticus 11:9)). Such fish can swim against the current, and can pass through filth without it’s affecting them. But, let me repeat it, I believe most of us do well to take earnest heed to this most solemn warning, as well as to the warning of the aged Apostle John: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:2121Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21)). How sad if the idol is my stomach!
There are quite a few words in the Greek New Testament with the thought of luxury in them: streniao (Rev. 18:7, 97How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. (Revelation 18:7)
9And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, (Revelation 18:9)) tells of ‘insolent luxury’: luxuriated is the way the new Interlinear Greek Testament translates it. Truphao (James 5:55Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. (James 5:5)) tells of ‘the effeminacy of luxury’: lived daintily. Spatalao (1 Tim. 5:66But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. (1 Timothy 5:6); James 5:55Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. (James 5:5)) tells of `the wastefulness of luxury’: lived riotously. Aselgeia is ‘the wantonness of luxury’ (translated `luxury’ by Ronald Knox in Gal. 5:1919Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (Galatians 5:19): one of the works of the flesh). We find it four times in Peter’s epistles. The New Testament utterly condemns all this sort of thing. There we often read of ‘prayer and fasting’: what do we know of it today?
You recall that Martha was cumbered about much serving. The Master was coming for a meal, and Martha wanted a meal that would be worthy of Him. What does the Lord say? “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many: but few are needful, or one.” That is the literal translation of what the Lord said. Our translators have added ‘things’ so as to make good English: but probably what the Lord meant was, ‘many dishes’, or, ‘many courses’, when few dishes’, or ‘even one dish’, only a plate of porridge perhaps, was all that was needed. Should not this have a voice for us today? See also Rom. 16:17,1817Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17‑18).
The Apostle ends the description of these people with the words: “whose glory is in their shame; the ones minding earthly things.” Beloved saints, do not, in many cases, our homes, our furnishings, our cars, our manner of life agree to an appalling extent with this description? And perhaps the saddest part is that we glory in them, when they are in reality our shame. Were we more truly joint-imitators’ of the Apostle, we too would weep.
Verses 18 and 19, which give us this sad description of some in Paul’s day, are a sort of parenthesis; and now we come to verse 20, which seems to follow on directly from verse 17: “Fix your eyes on the ones thus walking as you have us for a pattern.... For our citizen-life is already in the heavens; from whence we are eagerly awaiting as Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The word our at the beginning of this 20th verse is very emphatic. `Our citizen-life’ in the heavens is contrasted with those who ‘mind earthly things’. They are the ones ‘that dwell upon the earth’, of Rev. 3:10; 6:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:10), etc. This Greek expression is used, I believe, 11 times in Revelation. May the Lord help us to seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. May He give us to “set our mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1, 21If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:1‑2)).
“O make us each more holy,
In spirit, pure and meek:
More like to heavenly citizens,
As more of heaven we seek.”
The saints at Philippi would probably understand Paul’s meaning better, and more easily, than we can: for you will remember that Philippi was ‘a colony’ of Rome. (Acts 16:1212And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. (Acts 16:12)). The word ‘colony’ did not have at all the same meaning that we think of today. Rather it was a miniature or copy of Rome, transplanted into the province of Macedonia. It was populated largely by men who had formerly been Roman soldiers, and they were all Roman citizens, with the special privileges that belonged to such. You will remember that Paul was a Roman citizen, ‘free born’. We have already spoken of these things, and pointed out the pride with which they held this citizenship. Paul uses this unique position of the city of Philippi as a figure of the heavenly citizenship of the Philippian saints. And they would understand his meaning better than any other of the saints to whom he wrote.
Not only was their citizenship in Rome, but their laws, their government, their ways, their ‘conversation’, were all Roman: even though they lived in Macedonia. And so is it with us. Our ‘citizen-life’ is (not, ought to be) in heaven. We are:
“Called from above, and heavenly men by birth
(Who once were but the citizens of earth),
As pilgrims here, we seek a heavenly home,
Our portion in the ages yet to come.”
“From whence also we eagerly await (as) Savior, (the) Lord Jesus Christ.”
When first we learned to know the Lord Jesus Christ, we learned to know Him ‘as Savior’. What, then, does it mean when it says that now ‘we eagerly await Him as Savior’? When first we learned to know Him, we knew Him as Savior of our souls— the Savior Who bore our sins: now we eagerly await Him as Savior of our bodies: “Ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly-awaiting the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:2323And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)). It is the very same word we have in Philippians 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20): `eagerly-await’, or, `assiduously and patiently wait for’ (Thayer), and he suggests that we compare the English expression to ‘wait it out’: which, I suppose, means that we go on eagerly awaiting, no matter how long it may be: right on till Him we await appears. This word is used three times in Rom. 820For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Romans 8:20) verses 19, 23, and 25. It is used 8 times in the New Testament, always with a good sense. You will recall the number eight is the resurrection number: just the opposite of dwelling on the earth, or minding earthly things.
There is another rather sweet thing in this verse. Our citizen-life, or citizenship, is in the heavens; the word heavens, is plural, perhaps intimating the vastness of that sphere: but when we read, “from whence also we eagerly await as Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”— the word whence is in the singular, as though it might suggest the Father’s home: not the vast heavens.
Beloved, are we eagerly awaiting as Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ? A dearly loved brother, speaking nearly forty years ago, remarked: “We remember the day when there first dawned on our souls the truth of a coming Savior: it was then so real that every night we prayed that, before we awoke, we might see Him as He is; and in the morning we thought of one thing— that before the evening came, the day of glory might arise for our souls” (F. Lavington). Is the hope as bright and real and true for us?
The Greek word translated ‘transform’ in this verse means to change the outward appearance of that which itself remains the same. It is used of Saul and of Jeroboam’s wife, when they disguised themselves.
(1 Sam. 28:8; 18And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. (1 Samuel 28:8)
8Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? (1 Samuel 1:8) Kings 14:2). Their outward appearance was changed, but they remained the same. ‘The butterfly, prophetic type of man’s resurrection, is immeasurably more beautiful than the grub, yet has been unfolded from it’. (Trench). The outward form of the grub has been changed: it has been ‘unclothed’
(2 Cor. 5:44For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (2 Corinthians 5:4)) from its grub-body; and it has ‘put on’ (1 Cor. 15:53-5453For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:53‑54)) its beautiful garments; but it is still the very same creature, the same life, that was in the grub. Our Lord was “found in fashion as a man” (ch. 2:8). This word ‘fashion’ is the word from which the expression ‘change-the-fashion’ is made. When men saw Him, saw His outward appearance, “there was no beauty that we should desire Him.” To man’s eye, He was only ‘the carpenter’. (Mark 6:33Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (Mark 6:3)). It tells of the outward form only, but not of the inner Being. In His inner Being, He was ‘in the form of God’. This is an entirely different word, telling of the ‘specific character, the inward and essential’. Men found Him only ‘the carpenter’, for they judged by outward appearances: but all the time He was very God.
So the Apostle writes: “Who shall transform (or, change the fashion of) our body of humiliation, into conformity to (or, sharing the form of) His body of glory.” The word translated conformity uses the very same word that was used when the Scripture tells us He was ‘in the form of God’. It is the ‘specific character, the inward and essential’.
Our outward form is changed, truly: but we are still our own selves. Our dear ones who have gone before us to the Father’s House are still themselves, still our own dear ones: their body of humiliation is `transformed’: my beloved wife will be no longer deaf: but she will be her very own self, when I see her again. These poor, weak, mortal bodies are going to be changed ‘into conformity to’, or, are going ‘to share the form of’, ‘His body of glory’. We may not be able to understand it: but we believe it: and if we ask “How?” the answer is, “according to the working of His ability even to subdue all things to Him.” But let us be careful not to ask too many questions as to “How are the dead raised up?”. and “With what body do they come?” or the Lord will answer us, “Thou fool,” as He did in 1 Cor, 15:35-36. But this we do know: “Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:2929For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)). This is the very same word as the Apostle uses in Philippians 3:2121Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21): the only other place in the New Testament where we find it.
And Who changes us in this amazing way? Our Lord Jesus Christ, Whom we eagerly await as Savior. He Who “made the stars also,” (Gen. 1:1616And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. (Genesis 1:16)) can subdue these mortal bodies, and have them ‘put on immortality’. Now, little by little, as we gaze at our beloved Lord in glory, we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory: then, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.
“Our earthen vessels break;
The world itself grows old;
But Christ our precious dust will take
And freshly mold;
He’ll give these bodies vile
A fashion like His own;
He’ll bid the whole creation smile,
And hush its groan.”
And though ‘now we see not yet all things put under Him’, yet let us remember the fight has been fought and won: the foes that are left are vanquished foes. When on the cross our Lord cried
“Tetelestai!”—“It is Finished!”
He knew then that the mighty victory was won. It is finished! The fight was over: even death must yield its prey.
When a conquering Roman general returned to Rome, he would lead a march of triumph through the city: and would shout:
“Tetelestai!”— “It is Finished!”
and the crowds would answer in triumph:
“Tetelestai!”
It was the cry of the Conqueror: and this is just what the last words of chapter 3 of Philippians tell us.
“Tetelestai!” “It is finished!”
“Tetelestai!” All is done!
“Tetelestai!” Cries the Conqueror!
Conflict’s finished! Victory won!
“Tetelestai!” Tetelestai!”
All His foes have been put down!