Who shall change our vile body, &c.— Instead of our vile body, the Greek would be better translated our mean, humble, lowly body: το σωμα της ταπεινωσεως ημων : literally the body of our humiliation. Flesh and blood, in their present state, not being fit to inherit the kingdom of God, there is a necessity that the bodies of those who shall inherit it should undergo a great change: such a change will be made in the bodies of the dead saints at the resurrection, when they shall be raised incorruptible; but as to the saints who shall be alive at that time, since they undergo not such a change by the resurrection, there must be somewhat equivalent to it; that is, by the mighty power of our Saviour they shall undergo such a change, as shall in an instant qualify them to inherit the kingdom of God. See 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. The bodies of believers at present, and till that change shall be made, bear the image of the first Adam, and are in a low and mean condition; but they shall then bear the image of Christ, the last or second Adam, who is the Lord from heaven; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49. This is expressed here by our bodies being conformed to his glorious body. The reason of his speaking in this case of Christ's subduing all things to himself, is to be drawn from 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 according to which, death is to be considered as the last enemy to be conquered; and so when this is subdued, all is subdued, and Christ will bestow upon his saints a complete victory over it, freeing them for ever from being subject and liable to it. See the note on the first verse of the next chapter. Instead of working, some read energy.
Inferences.—Christians have need to be often warned of seducers! Faithful ministers should never be weary of cautioning them, or of putting them on the most diligent watch against those who carp and cavil against the purity of the gospel, and are themselves workers of iniquity, as well as enemies to holiness, at the same time that they are doctrinally as well as practically grievous enemies to the merit, virtue, and honour of a crucified Jesus. They trust in something of their own for justification before God, and yet are sensual and carnal, and even glory in their enormities, and so cut themselves off from all the blessings of the covenant of grace, and entail everlasting destruction upon themselves. But O how happy is it to be circumcised in heart, to be spiritual and evangelical worshippers of God, to rejoice and glory in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to place no confidence in external privileges and zeal for them, no, nor in our own moral or religious righteousness as the ground of acceptance. None of these are to be set in competition with Christ, as opposed to the saving knowledge of him, and being found in union with him. And yet how carefully should we guard against neglecting sanctification or holiness, which is as necessary to our enjoying God as justification! And how desirous ought we to be of having such a knowledge of Christ, as will be a means of deriving virtue from his death and resurrection, to make us conformable to him in both, by dying unto sin and living unto God! Though some believers are more advanced in light and experience than others, yet they all ought to be of the same mind with respect to these important points; and, as far as they have attained, should walk together in brotherly love, and according to the rule of God's word: and if there be any thing of less consequence, in which their sentiments differ, they should bear with one another, and leave it to God to convince those who are mistaken as to such things, after all proper methods have been unsuccessfully tried, in the spirit of meekness, to set them right. How ambitious should we be of carefully observing and copying after those, who, like the Apostle, set us the most laudable example; whose hearts, affections, and conversation are in heaven, where Jesus our Saviour lives in all his glory; and whence believers look, with longing desire and hope, for his return to take them up thither. And O what an amazingly happy change will he then make upon these frail, contemptible, and mortal bodies! He will then form them into the likeness of his own most glorious body, by an act of Divine Omnipotence which surmounts all difficulties, and by which he himself is, and will prove to be able to vanquish death and all his enemies, and the enemies of all his faithful saints!
REFLECTIONS.—1st, Into almost every church had the Judaizing teachers crept, and caused much trouble to the great Apostle. The Philippians had been attacked by them, and needed a caution against their seductions.
1. He exhorts them to rejoice in the Lord. Finally, my brethren, after what I have said for your comfort, rejoice in the Lord as your Redeemer and Saviour, who has already so richly blessed you, and is willing to bestow upon you all the inestimable privileges of his gospel.
2. He warns them against the false teachers. To write the same things to you, which I have often spoken, and Epaphroditus has now in charge to deliver, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe to be reminded of your danger, and kept on your guard. Beware of dogs, those cringing zealots, who fawn to ingratiate themselves with you, but design to introduce divisions among you, to bite and devour you—greedy, impudent, and worthless. Beware of evil workers, whose practices declare the badness of their principles. Beware, again I say, of the concision, no name being contemptible enough for them, who, urging this abolished rite, would rend the peace of the church, would introduce confusion, and cut off the Gentiles from the privileges of the gospel.
3. He describes true Christianity. For we are the circumcision, really in covenant with God, and entitled by faith in Christ to all the spiritual blessings and privileges; which worship God in the spirit; not with the outward pomp of ceremonial rites, but with the heart, according to the gospel institutions; and rejoice or glory in Christ Jesus, as our only hope towards God, placing our whole dependance upon him, and happy in the great atonement which he has made for us; and have no confidence in the flesh, expect not acceptance with God, on account of any privileges of descent from Abraham. Note; (1.) All true Christians live in the constant worship of God, private and public; and that not formally, but in spirit and in truth. (2.) We must despair of ourselves, and renounce all dependance upon our own doings and duties, before we can exercise faith in Jesus, and know the joys of his salvation.
2nd, None had more outward privileges than St. Paul; but none more heartily renounced them, and fled to a better hope. His own example he proposes therefore for their imitation.
1. If any man might have confidence in outward privileges, he had as many, or more, than any of the Judaizing teachers; a native Israelite; a descendant from Benjamin, the son of the beloved Rachel, the tribe that clave to the house of David and the temple, when the rest revolted; on father and mother's side a Hebrew of pure extraction; circumcised according to the law; brought up after the strictest sect a Pharisee, in the observance both of the rites of the law, and the traditions of the elders; a zealot for Judaism, even so far as to be a bitter persecutor of Christianity; and in his outward conduct and conversation blameless and unexceptionable.
2. All this he renounced for Christ. But what things I then thought were gain to me, and raised me in excellence above other men; those I counted loss for Christ, renouncing them utterly, assured if I trusted upon them for acceptance, I must be undone, and therefore resting on Christ, on his infinite merit alone. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss. I remain in the same sentiments, disclaiming all dependance upon my present as well as past doings and duties; for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; nothing else is to be compared with this: since I have known him as my Saviour, I want nothing more, except more of his Divine nature; for whom I have suffered the lost of all things which this world holds dear; and do count them but dung, contemptible offals, fit to be cast only on a dunghill; that I may win Christ, and become partaker of the great salvation which he has purchased for his faithful saints; and be found in him, as my city of refuge, my divine substitute and surety, my availing plea at the bar of God; not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, conscious how little it would bear the scrutiny; but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith;—faith, which enables us to cast ourselves without reserve on the atonement and infinite merit of Christ, as the sole ground of our acceptance with God—faith, which draws down righteousness out of the fulness of Christ, yea grace for grace. Note; Whatever we depend upon for justification, except Christ alone, will assuredly prove to be our eternal loss.
3. The Apostle desired to know Christ, not only as the only ground of, and his only plea for, acceptance with God, but as the Author of all spiritual life and eternal blessedness—That I may know him and experience the power of his resurrection, as the glorious Head of vital influence to all his faithful people; and the fellowship of his sufferings, daily experiencing the crucifixion of the old man, and willingly taking up my cross, however painful; being made conformable unto his death; dying unto sin, as Christ died for it; or ready to lay down my life for the gospel, whenever I may be called thereto: if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead; raised to immortal life and glory in body as well as soul, and reaching the happy port of eternal rest, whither I steer my course. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, or perfected, as I desire it to be; but I follow after, eager to be at the goal, If that I may apprehend that, for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus; holding fast by that blessed Jesus, who first laid hold on me in my way to Damascus, and trusting on his power and grace to bring me to the eternal life which he has promised to bestow on all his faithful saints. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, or to be arrived at that grand summit of perfection; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, resting in no present attainments, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, after higher measures of grace, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; with heaven in my eye, I vigorously pursue my course, bending forwards eagerly as I run, and stretching out my arms to seize the crown of righteousness, which Jesus bestows, and is to be won only through the grace and strength which he supplies. Note; (1.) To know the power of Christ's resurrection, is to experience his quickening efficacy upon our souls, and to be raised from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, as his dead body was raised from the grave to the life of glory. (2.) They who think they have grace enough, evidently shew that they have none at all. (3.) Christ must apprehend us first before we can apprehend him; but he is willing to do this for every truly penitent soul. (4.) Heaven is the prize in view; happy the soul which reaches that goal.
3rdly, The Apostle exhorts them to be united in love, and to be like-minded with him. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, as enjoy perfect love, (see 1 John 4:17-18.)—are so far advanced in the Christian state, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, and differ from me in sentiment, God shall reveal even this unto you, who earnestly seek to know the truth, and clear up to your satisfaction, whatever may be yet dark or doubtful. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule of God's word; let us mind the same thing, wherein we have all agreed. Note; lesser differences of opinion should make no disunion of heart; we must wait together on God, that he may instruct us in all his holy will.
4thly, With warnings and exhortations he closes this chapter.
1. He warns them against the false teachers, whose character he describes. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, concerned deeply for them, and jealous for you, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, both in their principles and their practice; their lives being as contrary to the spirit of purity, as their dependence on circumcision and Mosaic rites is derogatory to the grace of the gospel; unwilling to profess, or suffer for, a crucified Jesus: whose end is destruction, their errors and immoralities bringing upon them eternal ruin: whose god is their belly; serving and indulging their sensual appetites, as their chief happiness: and whose glory is in their shame; boasting themselves in their evil ways, and proud of their privileges, which only serve to cover them with confusion, while they behave so unsuitably thereunto; who mind earthly things, have their groveling minds ever fixed on the interests, pleasures, and honours of this miserable world. Note; (1.) They who make their belly their god, glory in their sins, and live after the fashion of the world, will infallibly find the end of their ways to be the destruction of both body and soul. (2.) It is a bitter grief to the faithful, when they behold any that bear the Christian name a dishonour to their holy profession.
2. He exhorts them to copy the good examples which he and others shewed them. Brethren, be followers together of me, as I am of Christ; and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an ensample, and adorn the gospel that they profess. For our conversation is in heaven; our commerce and concerns all lie there; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come at the last day, and bring us home to his blessed Self; who shall change our vile body, that now bears the most humbling marks of weakness and infirmity, and will shortly be loathsome in the dust; 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; when death, the last of his enemies, shall be swallowed up in victory; and all his faithful saints shall rise and shine, and reign with their exalted Head in glory everlasting.