Paul in this portion of chapter 2 expresses his desire to send those in Philippi, Timothy as his confidant and a bloke named Epaphroditus, as no others are of Timothy's match and quality of mind and spirit. He trusts him to bring the message with clarity and that he can continue Paul's work there. It is Paul's concern that those of another mindset could infiltrate these folk's there, and disrupt what GOD by the Spirit is bring about within them. It is this kind of thing that leads me to think that I should not do as the translators did and cut the full thought off where they did. Because within the first portion of chapter three, Paul speaks of our goal in relation to our new life style, as his great concern, with a warning. For this is why he wanted to send Timothy first. Now I must warn of the strong language used in the renewed mindset portion of this post.
Philippians 2:19-3:1, 2-11 "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all others seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
Beware of dogs (those who appose themselves in themselves), beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. For what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain[1] unto the resurrection of the dead. " (KJV)
Philippians 2:19-3:1, 2-11 "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Look out for the dogs (those who appose themselves in themselves), look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; As to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. For whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ to be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain[1] the resurrection from the dead." (ESV)
Philippians 2:19-3:1, 2-11 "I trust the LORD that I will be able to send you Timothy soon; this will be to me as if I am there personally with you! I have no one here that shares my heart more fully; I know that he will take care of you with utmost concern. Sadly there are many in ministry with selfish agendas. I do not need to tell you anything about Timothy because you already know his worth! We have labored together in this gospel in the closest possible association; we are like father and son in joint partnership. I would like to send him to you immediately, but I am just waithing to see how things here turn out for me. I obviously would be very keen to join him shortly! I trust in the LORD for a positive outcome in my trial. I feel urgent about sending Epaphrodites to you immediately; he is my brother, fellow-worker and co-campaigner. You initially sent him to help me and now I am returning the favor! He longs for you and really misses you. He felt quite distressed when he heard of your concern for him when he was so sick. He nearly died but thank GOD for his mercy, not just for Epaphroditus' sake but for ours also! I cannot imagine the grief we would have suffered had we lost him! I am sending him to you without delay; knowing what joy he will be to you is already such a comfort to me! The immense value of his life is to be celebrated with a massive bliss-party when he arrives! Oh the joy to love one another in the LORD! I so honor his total commitment to the work of Christ; he had no problem to risk his life to serve me on your behalf! The conclusion of your faith is extreme gladness in the LORD. He is our constant reference to bliss! I am not just saying this to be repetitive; joy is our fortress! There is no safer place to be, but to be ecstatically happy! ("Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yehôvâh is our fortress." Nehemiah 8:10)
The circumcision party are the enemies of our faith and freedom! They work with an evil agenda! Be on your guard for them just like you would avoid a vicious hound on the loose! They have their knives in the ready for you! We give "circumcision" its true spiritual meaning! Our worship is not defined by anything external that would even remotely resemble their Law of works and religious rituals! We worship GOD with a pure heart of certainty of our redeemed innocence and rejoice in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Faith-righteousness gives substance to spiritual worship; the flesh occupies the religious mind with its own futile efforts to attain to his righteousness. I am convinced that circumcision or any work of the Law can add nothing to the righteousness that Jesus secured on our behalf. I have more reason than anyone else to rely on my years of diligent and most sincere devotion to the Jewish sentiment and rituals. If gaining GOD'S approval had anything to do with striving and personal efforts I would beat the best in the business! My pedigree is obvious: I received the famous cut when I was 8 days old, exactly as their Law prescribed. I am Israeli by birth; the head of my tribe is Benjamin. I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews! In my observance of the law I belonged to the strictest party; I was proud to be a Pharisee. (Rachel was the darling wife of Jacob; she died while giving birth to Benjamin; also the two tribes that did not revolt were Benjamin and Judah. By saying that he is a Hebrew of the Hebrews Paul emphasizes that his lineage from both parents side was not mixed with any Gentile blood.) The extremities of my fervor were demonstrated in the way I fiercely opposed and persecuted anyone who identified themselves in Christ. (The so-called Ekklesia.) if keeping the Law and these credentials could possibly have given me a blameless standing before GOD, I had it made! The sum total on my religious pedigree and sincere devotion amounted to a big zero! What we have been gifted with in Christ has reduced what once seemed so important, to meaningless information. To esteem the Law is to our loss! faith is our profit. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that every association I have had with that which defined me before as a devout Jew, is by far eclipsed by what I have gained in knowing the Jewish Messiah. Jesus Christ and his masterful redemption defines me now. Religion is like dog pooh; and it stinks, avoid stepping in it! So here I am; found in Christ! I was looking in the wrong place all along! My own duty-and-guilt-driven religious endeavors snared me in the cul-de-sac maze of self-righteousness, sponsored by the Law of works! The faith of Christ reveals my true identity; righteousness defines who GOD believes that I really am. This righteousness is sourced in GOD and endorses his authority of faith. (Faith is a fairy tale if Jesus is not the substance of it!) Oh to comprehend the dynamics of his resurrection! His resurrection is evidence of our righteousness! In the revelation of GOD'S economy of inclusion, i actually co-suffered with him and co-died together with Christ! (Because I was already fully represented in his sufferings, his death and resurrection, i am greatly inspired when faced with contradictions now!) When confronted with death, i actually come [1]face to face with my own resurrection! (The word, [1, G2658 from G2596 and a derivative of G473 ] katantao, is from (G2596 + G473) kata+anti, to come to a place over against, opposite another, face to face. 1Corinthians 15:18-22 (from the Mirror) "No resurrection implies no hope for anyone beyond the grave; it makes no difference whether you believed that you were included in Christ's death or not. If our hope in Christ was restricted to only benefit us in this life then imagine the severity of our disappointment if it all had to come to an abrupt end when we die. However this very moment the risen LORD Christ represents everyone who has ever died; exactly like the first fruit represents the complete harvest. The same humanity who died in a man was raised again in a man. In Adam all died; in Christ all are made alive.") (The Mirror)
Again I must apologize for the length of this study but i think that you can see why I did what I did. Now until our next visit may the LORD Christ Jesus, increase his revelation in you and yours.
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