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"Beware of dogs..."

Text: Philippians 3:2

MINCING NO WORDS

Paul did not mince his words as he wrote to the Philippians concerning the problem that threatened them. He began to address this problem employing very firm language. Paul was merely fulfilling the task that God had given to him to defend the faith (Philippians 1:16).

“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers,
beware of the mutilation!”

Philippians 3:2

1. The word “beware”

a) This must be noted carefully.

b) It was used three times in the same sentence.

c) The use of the present tense is of significance.

i) Paul was urging the Philippians to diligence.

ii) They needed to constantly beware of the enemy.

iii) They must not let their guard down.

2. “Beware of dogs”

a) Paul was not referring to dogs literally.

b) He was using the imagery of dogs to describe “the enemy”.

3. “Beware of evil workers”

a) Further elucidation was given here.

b) These “dogs” were “evil workers”.

i) Paul was not just making a statement about them.

ii) He was saying that “evil” was an attribute of these workers.

4. “Beware of the mutilation”

a) There was a play of words here (Philippians 3:2-3).

b) Paul used the word “mutilation” on purpose (Philippians 3:2).

c) He had in mind the practice of “circumcision” (Philippians 3:3).

d) These evil workers were propagating the practice of circumcision among Gentiles.

i) This was a problem that he dealt with when he wrote to the Galatians.

ii) He was writing to warn the Philippians about these false teachers.