Philippians 3:20 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Ver. 20. For our conversation] Our civil conversation, or our burgessship, a while we live by heaven's laws, and go about our earthly businesses with heavenly minds; this a carnal man cannot skill of. b A fly cannot make of a flower what a bee can. There is a generation whose names are written in the earth, Jeremiah 17:13; these make earth their throne, heaven their footstool, Isaiah 66:1, and are loth to die, because they have treasures in the field. But the saints, though their commoration be on earth, yet their conversation is in heaven; as the pearl grows in the sea, but shines in the sky; as stars, though seen sometimes in a puddle, yet have their situation in heaven; as a wise man may sport with children, but that is not his main business. Corpore ambulamus in terra corde habitamus in caelo, saith Austin. Our bodies are on earth, our hearts in heaven (as his was that did even eat and drink and sleep eternal life). We live by the same laws as saints and angels in heaven do. If Satan offer us outward things in a temptation (as he did Luther a cardinalship), we send them away from whence they came, as Pelican sent back the silver bowl (which the bishop had sent him for a token) with this answer, Astricti sunt quotquot Tiguri cives et inquilini, bis singulis annis, solenni iuramento, &c. We, the citizens and inhabitants of Zurich, are twice a year solemnly sworn to receive no gift from any foreign prince; so we, the citizens of heaven, are bound by solemn and sacred covenants not to accept Satan's cut-throat kindnesses. Serpens ille capite blanditur, ventre oblectat, cauda ligat. (Rupert.)

" - Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.

We like not the devil's donatives."

a The status and privileges of a burgess; the ‘freedom' of a borough, citizenship. ŒD

b πολιτευμα. Ut municipes caelorum nos gerimus. Sic reddit Piscator.

Philippians 3:20

20 For our conversationa is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: