Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Philippians 3:18

Textus Receptus:
πολλοι γαρ περιπατουσιν ους πολλακις ελεγον υμιν νυν δε και κλαιων λεγω τους εχθρους του σταυρου του χριστου

King James:
(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:

Comments:
For many walk: The others to whom Paul refers here are those who not only err, but also somehow entice believers to follow them. While tolerance is lauded in Western culture, discernment and often exclusion is what is needed. The nature of these false leaders' errors is in the next verse.

weeping: Paul's grief at the error of the leaders he describes here is consistent with God's own attitude toward those who need to be judged. Ezekiel 18:23, 31-32.

Expanded Paraphrase:
But you must be particular about whom you follow. Not everyone who appears to serve Christ really follows Him. I have spoken to you over and over again about many who are walking as the enemies of the very thing they ought to embrace--the cross of Christ. I am not glad to be right about them; rather I weep both for the cause of Christ and for their condition and impending judgment.

Reference:
Ezekiel 18:23, 31-32 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves , and live ye.

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