Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Philippians 3:15

Textus Receptus:
οσοι ουν τελειοι τουτο φρονωμεν και ει τι ετερως φρονειτε και τουτο ο θεος υμιν αποκαλυψει

King James:
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Comments:
as many as be perfect: There is a sense of perfection (completeness) among those who realize they are not perfect (complete.) Verse 12 is where Paul makes the contrasting statement about himself--that he is not perfect. Chapter 1:6 implies one reason why a person who is not complete is complete. But in this context, the explanation is in the next verse--that is, there are some things Christ has completed (perfected) in the believer and other things He is in the process of completing in the believer.

God shall reveal even this unto you: Paul makes it clear here that God addresses specific deficiencies in believers' lives as the need arises. Of course, God may use scripture, other believers, or His Spirit in the believer to reveal where they are errantly minded. The point is only that He will do it, making much of the evaluation and judgment believers perform on each other unnecessary at best and no less than a hindrance or distraction at worst.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Those of us who have been transformed by Christ and are secure in Him should regard what Christ has already done. If there are areas in your life where things other than Christ are taking first priority, God will let you know about it.

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