Philippians 3 18

Philippians 3:18 kjv

(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:

Philippians 3:18 nkjv

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:

Philippians 3:18 niv

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3:18 esv

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3:18 nlt

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3 verses

Philippians 3 18 Meaning

Philippians 3:18 serves as a solemn warning from the Apostle Paul regarding individuals whose lives contradict the core tenets of the gospel of Christ, particularly the principle of His atoning death on the cross. Despite professing a connection to the Christian faith or existing within the believing community, their actions and ultimate focus are fundamentally opposed to the self-denying, God-glorifying, and suffering nature signified by Christ's cross. Paul expresses profound grief over their destructive lifestyle and ultimate fate, identifying them as true adversaries of Christ's pivotal work.

Philippians 3 18 Context

Philippians 3 is a chapter where Paul sharply contrasts two forms of "righteousness" – that derived from the Law (which he, as a former Pharisee, once perfectly embodied) and that which comes through faith in Christ. Prior to verse 18, Paul details his own pedigree and accomplishments, only to declare them "loss" and "dung" compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. He desires to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, conforming to His death (Phil 3:7-11). He exhorts believers to press on towards the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14). Verse 18 then introduces a strong contrast to this path of pursuing Christ, pivoting to a warning against those whose walk (manner of life) actively opposes the truth of the cross. This warning directly leads into the explicit description of these adversaries in verse 19, who "mind earthly things" and whose "god is their belly," serving as a stark opposite to the spiritual, heaven-focused aspiration Paul has just articulated for true believers. The immediate context of Philippi, a Roman colony, suggests possible temptations towards materialism, imperial cult worship, or ethical compromise common in a prosperous and Hellenistic environment.

Philippians 3 18 Word analysis

• For many walk (πολλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν - polloi peripatousin)
  • πολλοὶ (polloi - many): Not just a few, but a significant number, implying a widespread or serious problem within or around the Christian community. It emphasizes the scale of Paul's concern.
  • περιπατοῦσιν (peripatousin - walk): Literally "walk around," but idiomatically signifies one's daily conduct, lifestyle, or course of life. This term consistently describes behavior and character in NT ethics (e.g., Eph 4:1, Col 1:10). Their actions define them.
• of whom I have told you often: Highlights Paul's consistency and faithfulness as a pastor. This was not a new or isolated concern, indicating an ongoing struggle or persistent danger that he had repeatedly warned the Philippian church about, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue.
• and now tell you even weeping (κλαίων - klaiōn):
  • κλαίων (klaiōn - weeping): A strong expression of deep sorrow, grief, anguish, or lamentation, usually involving visible tears. Paul's emotional distress underscores the profound seriousness and tragic consequences of these individuals' path, not out of anger, but out of pastoral love and concern for their eternal destiny.
• that they are the enemies (ἐχθροὺς - echthrous):
  • ἐχθροὺς (echthrous - enemies): This is a powerful, direct term. It implies active opposition, hostility, and antagonism, not just disagreement or misunderstanding. They are not merely those who have wandered but are actively antagonistic to the truth Paul preaches.
• of the cross (τοῦ σταυροῦ - tou staurou):
  • σταυροῦ (staurou - cross): Refers to the instrument of execution, but symbolically represents the entirety of Christ's work – His atoning sacrifice, His humility, suffering, self-denial, obedience, and triumph over sin and death. It embodies the core message of salvation through grace. To be an enemy of the cross is to reject its foundational principles and implications for salvation and discipleship.
• of Christ (τοῦ Χριστοῦ - tou Christou):
  • Χριστοῦ (Christou - Christ): Specifies whose cross. This is not a general symbol of suffering, but specifically the cross of Jesus, the Anointed One, the Messiah. Their antagonism is directly aimed at Jesus' central saving act and identity.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "For many walk... enemies of the cross of Christ": The contrast is stark between "walking" (a way of life) and being "enemies of the cross." Their behavior is antithetical to what the cross represents, showing their true spiritual alignment. They are not unbelievers outside the church, but often professing Christians or those operating within Christian circles whose practical lives utterly contradict the self-sacrificial love and repentance taught by the cross.

Philippians 3 18 Bonus section

The "enemies of the cross" were likely not outside agitators but people from within, or closely associated with, the believing community. Scholars suggest two main possibilities for their identity: either Judaizers who over-emphasized works of the law, making the cross less essential for salvation (thus functionally opposing it by diluting its unique power); or, more commonly interpreted in the context of Phil 3:19, antinomians or libertines whose excessive focus on grace led them to indulge in sin, essentially trivializing the holiness and moral demands signified by the cross. Their opposition was often demonstrated not by outright verbal blasphemy of the cross but by living lives inconsistent with its ethical imperative for self-denial and holiness, focusing instead on "earthly things" (Phil 3:19). Paul, who had abandoned everything for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and embracing His cross, felt immense anguish at those who reversed this commitment, preferring worldly glory and pleasure over Christ's suffering and righteousness. This warning, therefore, reminds believers that true faith demands a radical transformation of lifestyle, aligning one's priorities and conduct with the costly redemption won on the cross.

Philippians 3 18 Commentary

Philippians 3:18 is a profound and poignant warning, revealing the depth of Paul's pastoral heart and the critical importance of a consistent life in Christ. Paul identifies individuals who, despite perhaps associating with Christian communities or even professing some form of faith, live in a manner utterly contradictory to the saving work and ethical implications of Christ's cross. This "walk" refers to their entire conduct and lifestyle, implying their ultimate priorities are worldly and self-serving rather than Christ-centered and self-sacrificial. Paul's "weeping" highlights not a harsh judgment but a deep, sorrowful concern for these individuals, perhaps reflecting an understanding of their spiritual deception and impending judgment (Phil 3:19). These "enemies" are not necessarily pagan unbelievers but often those whose conduct within the church causes division, distorts the gospel, or compromises its truth, possibly legalists who negate grace or libertines who abuse it. Their hostility to the cross is not always overt doctrinal denial but often manifested in a practical repudiation of its call to humility, suffering with Christ, self-denial, and righteousness. Their end, as described in the subsequent verse, is destruction, serving as a powerful deterrent against compromising with worldliness and apostasy. The verse therefore serves as a vital call to self-examination for all believers: Does my daily "walk" truly reflect the truth and implications of Christ's cross, or am I, by my life, an unintentional adversary to its message?

• Practical Example: A person claiming to be a Christian, yet consistently engaging in dishonest business practices, seeking personal gain through exploitation, and living an openly sensual lifestyle, would by their "walk" demonstrate themselves to be an enemy of the cross, despite any verbal profession.
• Practical Example: Those who emphasize legalistic rules, human achievement, or ethnic identity above the grace and humble obedience demonstrated on the cross, also stand opposed to its liberating and sanctifying power.