Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. 18 For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.
Paul encourages the Philippians to unite and follow his example of humility centered in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 11:1) and follow the example of those who are truly living their faith (1 Thess. 1:6-7). He warns them about individuals who profess to be Christians but live in a way that is contrary to the teachings of Christ (Titus 1:16). Destruction awaits those individuals. They are requiring the Philippians to follow the Law, specifically circumcision and the Jewish food laws. They glory in and focus on earthly physical circumcision which denies the efficacy of the cross. Instead, they should focus on the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:5-8).
The Philippians should focus on Heavenly things since their true citizenship is in Heaven. Although Heaven has not yet fully arrived in the new age, they are already enrolled and await the return of their savior the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians cannot enter into the final glory without transformation. When Christ returns, he will transform their humble earthly bodies into the likeness of his glorified body by his own divine power (Rom. 8:18-25). He will also bring all creation under his rule.
Almighty God, help us to imitate Christ and to live our lives in a manner befitting our heavenly citizenship. Transform our hearts so that we are no longer slaves to our earthly desires and help is to find our true joy and fulfillment in you. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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