Philippians 3:17-19 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Brethren, be followers together Συμμιμηται, joint imitators, of me Obedient to my directions, and following the pattern which God enables me to set before you; and mark Observe and imitate them; who walk so as ye have us Myself and the other apostles of Christ, for an ensample. For many Even teachers, as they profess themselves to be, walk in a very different manner; of whom I have told you often in time past, and now tell you even weeping While I write, for indeed well may I weep on so lamentable an occasion; that they are enemies of the cross of Christ Unwilling to suffer any thing for him and his cause, and counteracting the very end and design of his death. Observe, reader, such are all cowardly, all shamefaced, all delicate Christians. Whose end is destruction This is placed in the front, that what follows may be read with the greater horror; whose God is their belly Whose supreme happiness lies in gratifying their sensual appetites. The apostle gives the same character of the Judaizing teachers, (Romans 16:18; Titus 1:11,) and, therefore, it is probable that he is speaking here chiefly of them and of their disciples. Whose glory is in their shame In those things which they ought to be ashamed of: and whoever glories in the commission of any sin, or in the omission of any duty which he owes to God, his neighbour, or himself; or in the gratification of those inclinations and dispositions that are contrary to the love of God and his neighbour; or in that manner of employing his money, his knowledge, his authority over others, or his time, which is contrary to the will of God, and manifests that he is not a faithful steward of God's manifold gifts, glories in his shame: who mind Relish, desire, seek, pursue; earthly things Things visible and temporal, in preference to those which are invisible and eternal; for to be carnally minded is death, Romans 8:6.