Contention in the Church
“Beware of dogs, 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.” Philippians 3.2, 3
“Beware of dogs, 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.” Philippians 3.2, 3
Paul is writing a rather intense and emotional appeal to the Church in Philippi. It seems that some had crept in who were polluting the pure Gospel of Salvation through the finished work of the Savior on the Cross.
Three times the Apostle Paul uses the term “beware.” His exhortation is a command, and the word “blepo” is a word that requires someone to use special attention to the subject at hand. It means to “have your eye on,” “to mark,” or “watch carefully.” The group of which Paul writes was the Judaizers.
The Judaizers were nominally Christians who accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but as the Savior of Israel only. They insisted that Christ’s kingdom could be entered only through the gate of Judaism. Only circumcised converts were fully accepted by God. They appeared quite early in the history of the Church, and are those referred to in Acts 15.1. Paul was the object of their special hatred and abuse. They challenged his birth, his authority, and his motives. “Paul must be destroyed,” was as truly their watchword which became the obsession of their lives.
“Dogs” was a term of reproach among both Greeks and Jews. Homer uses it of both women and men, implying shamelessness in the one, and recklessness in the other.” (Vincent) In the East, dogs were not usually pets and were without masters, wandering at large in the streets and fields and feeding upon whatever they could find. They were looked upon as unclean, and to call one a “dog” was a stronger expression of contempt than even today. The Jews called the Gentiles “dogs.” Here, Paul refers to those impure people of whom he has referred often in his ministry.
“Evil workers” literally means workers with bad attitudes. The indication goes beyond people who work mischief. It speaks of infiltrators within the body of Christ who disregard the authority of the church and the Word – who teach their own doctrine from their own imagination or from the suppositions of other outside sources. They are exemplified by the false teachers of the last days. (See II Timothy 3) There are many who work “for” the Gospel, but do so for their own gain. Here, Paul refers to those deceitful people from whom emanated false teachings and heresies.
“The concision” – this is a play on words. Paul explained that the covenant relationship between God and Israel was indicated through circumcision (“peritomē”). It was a distinct mark that set off the Israelites from any other nation and it was a permanent sign which could not be retracted. In the New Testament, circumcision was still considered a part of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, but was not required for salvation because the work of redemption had been completely accomplished by Christ on the Cross. The Judaizers were teaching that in order to become a follower of Jesus Christ, the individual must come through the rite of circumcision. Paul, very strongly, says that holding to that creates a “concision” (“katatomē” – “mutilation”). “Circumcision had now lost its spiritual significance, and was now become to those who rested on it as any ground of justification, a senseless mutilation.” (JFB)
The bottom line is that salvation is by grace through faith – plus nothing and minus nothing. The one coming to Christ must come as he is to the Savior, accepting the free gift of salvation through the finished work on the Cross by the Savior. When He cried, “It is finished!” it was, indeed, finished. Anything we try to add to gaining or obtaining this gift of eternal life is false teaching. We must rely completely on Christ and Him alone.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3.5)
Three times the Apostle Paul uses the term “beware.” His exhortation is a command, and the word “blepo” is a word that requires someone to use special attention to the subject at hand. It means to “have your eye on,” “to mark,” or “watch carefully.” The group of which Paul writes was the Judaizers.
The Judaizers were nominally Christians who accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but as the Savior of Israel only. They insisted that Christ’s kingdom could be entered only through the gate of Judaism. Only circumcised converts were fully accepted by God. They appeared quite early in the history of the Church, and are those referred to in Acts 15.1. Paul was the object of their special hatred and abuse. They challenged his birth, his authority, and his motives. “Paul must be destroyed,” was as truly their watchword which became the obsession of their lives.
“Dogs” was a term of reproach among both Greeks and Jews. Homer uses it of both women and men, implying shamelessness in the one, and recklessness in the other.” (Vincent) In the East, dogs were not usually pets and were without masters, wandering at large in the streets and fields and feeding upon whatever they could find. They were looked upon as unclean, and to call one a “dog” was a stronger expression of contempt than even today. The Jews called the Gentiles “dogs.” Here, Paul refers to those impure people of whom he has referred often in his ministry.
“Evil workers” literally means workers with bad attitudes. The indication goes beyond people who work mischief. It speaks of infiltrators within the body of Christ who disregard the authority of the church and the Word – who teach their own doctrine from their own imagination or from the suppositions of other outside sources. They are exemplified by the false teachers of the last days. (See II Timothy 3) There are many who work “for” the Gospel, but do so for their own gain. Here, Paul refers to those deceitful people from whom emanated false teachings and heresies.
“The concision” – this is a play on words. Paul explained that the covenant relationship between God and Israel was indicated through circumcision (“peritomē”). It was a distinct mark that set off the Israelites from any other nation and it was a permanent sign which could not be retracted. In the New Testament, circumcision was still considered a part of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, but was not required for salvation because the work of redemption had been completely accomplished by Christ on the Cross. The Judaizers were teaching that in order to become a follower of Jesus Christ, the individual must come through the rite of circumcision. Paul, very strongly, says that holding to that creates a “concision” (“katatomē” – “mutilation”). “Circumcision had now lost its spiritual significance, and was now become to those who rested on it as any ground of justification, a senseless mutilation.” (JFB)
The bottom line is that salvation is by grace through faith – plus nothing and minus nothing. The one coming to Christ must come as he is to the Savior, accepting the free gift of salvation through the finished work on the Cross by the Savior. When He cried, “It is finished!” it was, indeed, finished. Anything we try to add to gaining or obtaining this gift of eternal life is false teaching. We must rely completely on Christ and Him alone.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3.5)
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