Philippians 3:18

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
For	γὰρ gar	G1063	properly · conjunction
many	πολλοὶ polloi	G4183	(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many · adjective — nominative plural masculine
walk	περιπατοῦσιν peripatousin	G4043	to tread all around · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person plural
whom	οὓς hous	G3739	the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun · relative pronoun — accusative plural masculine
told	ἔλεγον elegon	G3004	properly · verb — imperfect active indicative, 1st person singular
you	ὑμῖν hymîn	G5213	to (with or by) you
often	πολλάκις pollakis	G4178	many times · adverb
and	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
now	νῦν nun	G3568	"now" (as adverb of date · adverb
you	λέγω, legō	G3004	properly · verb — present active indicative, 1st person singular
even	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
weeping	κλαίων klaiōn	G2799	to sob · verb — present active participle, nominative singular masculine
enemies	ἐχθροὺς echthrous	G2190	hateful (passively · noun — accusative plural masculine
cross	σταυροῦ staurou	G4716	a stake or post (as set upright) · noun — genitive singular masculine
Christ	Χριστοῦ, Christou	G5547	anointed · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Isaiah 8:11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the c…
Jeremiah 13:17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, becau…
Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew,…
Ephesians 5:5-6 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Chri…
Philippians 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Philippians 3:17–end

He closes the chapter with warnings and exhortations. I. He warns them against following the examples of seducers and evil teachers (Phi 3:18, Phi 3:19): Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Observe, 1. There are many called by Christ's name who are enemies to Christ's cross, and the design and intention of it. Their walk is a surer evidence what they are than their profession. By their fruits you shall know them, Mat 7:20. The apostle warns people against such, (1.) Very frequently: I have told you often. We so little heed the warnings given us that we have need to have them repeated. To write the same things i…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Philippians 3:18

many walk--in such a manner. Follow not evildoers, because they are "many" (Exo 23:2). Their numbers are rather a presumption against their being Christ's "little flock" (Luk 12:32). often--There is need of constant warning. weeping-- (Rom 9:2). A hard tone in speaking of the inconsistencies of professors is the very opposite of Paul's spirit, and David's (Psa 119:136), and Jeremiah's (Jer 13:17). The Lord and His apostles, at the same time, speak more strongly against empty professors (as the Pharisees), than against open scoffers. enemies of the cross of Christ--in their practice, not in doctrine (Gal 6:14; Heb 6:6; Heb 10:29).

Adam Clarke on Philippians 3:18

For many walk, etc - The Judaizing teachers continue to preach, who wish to incorporate circumcision, and other ordinances of the law, with the Gospel. They are the enemies of the cross of Christ - They rather attribute justification to the Levitical sacrifices, than to the sacrificial death of Christ; and thus they are enemies to that cross, and will not suffer persecution for its sake. They please the world, and are in no danger of reproach.

John Gill on Philippians 3:18

For many walk,.... "otherwise", as the Syriac version adds; and which truly explains the words, and gives the sense; they walked not as the apostle and his followers; they walked as men, as carnal men, 1 Corinthians 3:3, according to the course of the world, after their ungodly lusts, Ephesians 2:2; or according to the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic dispensation, and not uprightly, and according to the truth of the Gospel: and there were many that walked so; the road both of profaneness and error is a broad one, and many walk therein, which makes it the more dangerous; the examples of many have great force, though a multitude is not to be followed to do evil; the conversation of a great…

The Church Fathers

An exhortation is stronger when it is accompanied by what is fearful in its alternative.… Paul expresses heartfelt affection when he describes the evils suffered by those who live otherwise, saying, "I say it with tears."
— Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 3.19

These things I write to you, thou new olive-tree of Christ, not that I am aware you hold any such opinions, but that I may put you on your guard, as a father does his children. Beware, therefore, of those that hasten to work mischief, those "enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose glory is in their shame." Beware of those "dumb dogs," those trailing serpents, those scaly dragons, those asps, and basilisks, and scorpions. For these are subtle wolves, and apes that mimic the appearance of men.
— Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to the Antiochians

There are two types of misunderstanding of Christ, or rather one class of two descriptions, who are enemies of Christ. For some in their carnal thoughts deride the cross of Christ, thinking of Christ merely as a man raised onto a cross.… These pay attention to nothing but the flesh. To them "their god is a belly" and their "glory is in filthiness." These are the ones who "think earthly thoughts" and whose end is death. On the other hand, there are those who think of Christ only as a spirit. They do not think of him as incarnate or crucified. They too are enemies to the cross of Christ, having death as their end.
— Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 3.19

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Cross — In the New Testament the instrument of crucifixion, and hence used for the crucifixion of Christ itself (Eph. 2:16; Heb. 12:2; 1 Cor. 1:17, 18; Gal. 5:11; 6:12, 14; Phil. 3:18). The word is also used…
Covetousness · 6:13;8:10;17:11;22:17;51:13; — 6:13;8:10;17:11;22:17;51:13;
Cross · FIGURATIVE — FIGURATIVE
Denial Of Christ · In practice — In practice
Hypocrisy · 6:26,70;7:19;15:2,6; — 6:26,70;7:19;15:2,6;
Titles And Names Of The Wicked · Enemies of the cross of Christ — Enemies of the cross of Christ
Weeping · .Of Paul — .Of Paul
Worldliness · 12:2; — 12:2;

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Philippians 3:18

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Philippians 3:17–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Philippians 3:18

Adam Clarke on Philippians 3:18

John Gill on Philippians 3:18

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Philippians 3:18

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Philippians 3:17–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Philippians 3:18

Adam Clarke on Philippians 3:18

John Gill on Philippians 3:18

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on Philippians 3:18–end

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Philippians 3:18