Monday, May 15, 2006

Philippians 3:19

Textus Receptus:
ων το τελος απωλεια ων ο θεος η κοιλια και η δοξα εν τη αισχυνη αυτων οι τα επιγεια φρονουντες

King James:
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Comments:
whose end is destruction... belly... earthly things: That the telos (end, purpose) of these enemies of the cross is to be destroyed is, in this verse, more a commentary on the nature of things they have chosen than on the unilateral activity of God. Particularly, the "earthly things" they have chosen to value above all else are not just of the earth, but literally "of the surface of the earth." In other words, because they have chosen the passing things of the earth, they will perish with their desire. Compare Galatians 6:7-8 and contrast chapter 1:21.

whose glory is in their shame: Paul may be speaking of the kind of shame John identifies in Revelation 3:18.

mind: Paul uses the same word for mind here that he used in chapter 2:5 to charge believers with having the mind of Christ.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Now their purpose is the very thing which shall be taken from them in the end, so that they have no future but ruin. They serve and long after their own appetites. They treat their most despicable acts as things that ought to be exalted. They have set their minds on the superficial things of the world.

References:
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

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