philippians-3:20

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - Philippians 3:17-21

Philippians WARNINGS AND HOPES Php_3:17-21 R.V.. There is a remarkable contrast in tone between the sad warnings which begin this section and the glowing hopes with which it closes, and that contrast is made the more striking when we notice that the Apostle binds the gloom of the one and the radiance of the other by ‘For,’ which makes the latter the cause of the former. The exhortation in which the Apostle begins by proposing himself as an example sounds strange on any lips, and, most of... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Philippians 3:13-21

Pressing on “unto the Prize” Philippians 3:13-21 The nearer the saint comes to the perfect life, the farther he feels from it. It is only when we have climbed the foothills that we realize how lofty the mountain summits are. But there is no need for discouragement. We have eternity before us, the expanding landscape of truth is our inspiration, and the loving Spirit of God bears us upward on eagle’s wings. Our Savior had a distinct purpose in view when He apprehended us. Its full scope was... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Philippians 3:1-21

This is the great chapter of the autobiography of Paul. First, he emphasized the story of his past in a most remarkable way. Then referring to these things as gains (the word in the original is plural) he declared he counted them loss. The vision of Christ immediately showed him the worthlessness of everything in comparison. He then brought up the story of his life to the time of his writing. It would then be about thirty years after meeting the risen Lord that he counted his gains but loss.... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:20

HEAVEN‘For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Php_3:20 What is heaven? That is a question to which the Church can give a partial, though as yet necessarily an incomplete, answer. I. We turn, then, to the words of Jesus Christ.—And here it is important to remark that, when He spoke of heaven, He was careful to use such language as is figurative or analogical. But while it is true that our Lord’s words respecting heaven must be... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 3:20-21

LOOKING FOR THE SAVIOUR‘For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.’ Php_3:20-21 There are many important truths which concern us all contained in these words of St. Paul. Just notice what we have in these words. This Apostle tells us we are to look for Him from heaven.... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:10-21

His Knowing Of Christ Involves Participation With Him In The Power Of His Resurrection, And Equal Participation With Him in His Sufferings, By Himself Recognising That He Has Died With Christ. And His Aim Is To Participate In The Resurrection From The Dead (Philippians 3:10-21 ). In The New Testament the power of Christ’s resurrection is seen as an effective transforming power. It is through that power that in Christ God will, from start to finish, bring about the whole salvation of the whole... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:20

‘For our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,’ Paul now contrasts with the descriptions just given the viewpoint and mindset of the Christian. Rather than ‘minding earthly things’, they recognise that their citizenship is in Heaven (in contrast with being in Rome). In other words, as it has been so aptly put, ‘they are a colony of Heaven’. As representatives of Heaven, following Heaven’s laws, subject to Heaven’s justice, supported by Heaven’s... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Philippians 3:17-21

Php_3:17-21 . A Contrast.— The Philippians are to follow Paul’ s example in this matter. It is needed because many live very differently. They are a great grief to him; indulging in gross living and even glorying in that for which they should be ashamed, their minds are set on earthly things. Paul and the Philippians claim a citizenship in heaven, corresponding to the claim of citizenship in Rome, which the people in Philippi may put forward, seeing that it is a Roman colony. He and they... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Philippians 3:20

For our conversation is in heaven; he here adds a further reason why he would have them to be fellow followers of him, and such-like as he, because though they were not already in heaven, yet their citizenship was there, the privileges of that city did belong to them, who, according to the municipal laws of that corporation (which cannot lose its charter or be discorporated) whereof they were free denizens, made it their business to demean themselves with minds above the earth, Philippians... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Philippians 3:20-21

CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTESPhilippians 3:20. For our conversation is in heaven.—“Our” is emphatic, contrasting with the “earthly things” just named. “Conversation” is that to which we most readily turn, as the needle trembles to the pole. Our hearts are with our treasure, and that is far away from earthly things. “They that say such things declare plainly that they seek a city;” it is the soul’s “Heimweh,” the yearning for the homeland. We must not understand the words to mean “Our mode of... read more