Philippians 3:19 kjv
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Philippians 3:19 nkjv
whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame? who set their mind on earthly things.
Philippians 3:19 niv
Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:19 esv
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:19 nlt
They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
Philippians 3 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 6:8 | For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. | Consequence of fleshly living |
| Romans 1:25 | They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator | Worshiping created things |
| 1 Corinthians 6:13 | Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, and God will destroy them both | Emphasis on appetite |
| Isaiah 14:11 | Your pomp is brought down to Sheol… your bed is made of worms | God's judgment on pride |
| Jeremiah 17:13 | Those who turn from you will be written in the dust | Turning from God's ways |
| Psalm 49:10-12 | For he sees that even wise men die, likewise the fool and the stupid | Fate of the worldly |
| 2 Peter 2:12-13 | …they will be destroyed by their own corruption. | Destructive nature of sin |
| James 4:4 | Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? | Worldly allegiances |
| Romans 16:18 | For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own belly | Serving self/appetite |
| Colossians 2:18 | puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind | Pride and earthly focus |
| 1 John 2:16 | For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but from the world. | Desires of the world |
| Philippians 2:21 | For they all seek their own interests, not the interests of Christ Jesus. | Self-centeredness |
| Isaiah 56:12 | Come, let us get wine, let us fill ourselves with strong drink, and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure! | Gluttony and excess |
| Romans 8:5-6 | For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. | Mindset focus |
| Ephesians 5:18 | And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit | Contrast with fleshly excess |
| Jeremiah 2:20 | I broke your yoke and burst your bonds, and you said, ‘I will not serve!’ | Rebellion against service |
| Matthew 6:24 | No one can serve two masters… | Loyalty conflicts |
| Proverbs 11:30 | The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. | Fruit of the righteous |
| 1 Corinthians 15:32 | If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. | Focus of hope |
| 1 Samuel 15:23 | For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and self-will as iniquity and idolatry. | Self-will as idolatry |
Philippians 3 verses
Philippians 3 19 Meaning
Whose end is destruction, who are their god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things.
Philippians 3 19 Context
This verse from Philippians 3 describes a stark contrast between true followers of Christ and those who are enemies of the cross. Paul has just spoken about his own pursuit of righteousness and his confidence in Christ. He is differentiating himself from those who, despite outward religious practice, are inwardly driven by fleshly desires and earthly ambitions, leading them to a final ruin. The context is Paul’s exhortation to the Philippian believers to press on towards the goal of knowing Christ more deeply, being transformed into His likeness, and living in light of eternity, not being swayed by the misguided emphasis of Judaizers or others who prioritized ritual and worldly status.
Philippians 3 19 Word analysis
Whose (hôn): Possessive pronoun, referring back to "they" mentioned previously. Indicates a belonging or characteristic.
end (telos): Refers to the ultimate outcome or purpose. Here, it signifies their final destiny.
is (esti): Third person singular present indicative of "eimi," to be. Affirmation of existence.
destruction (apoleia): Loss, ruin, destruction, perdition. It's a state of complete loss and ruin, often with a sense of eternal consequence.
who (on): Relative pronoun.
their (autōn): Possessive pronoun, belonging to them.
god (theos): God. Here, used ironically to represent what they elevate and serve above the true God.
is (esti): Affirmation of existence.
their (autou): Possessive pronoun.
appetite (koilia): Literally "belly" or "stomach." Figuratively, it represents base desires, lusts, or even greed.
and (kai): Conjunction, connecting ideas.
whose (hon): Possessive pronoun.
glory (doxa): Glory, honor, renown, splendor. It refers to what brings them praise or esteem.
is (esti): Affirmation of existence.
in (en): Preposition, indicating location or circumstance.
their (autōn): Possessive pronoun.
shame (aischyne): Shame, dishonor, disgrace. The very things they should be ashamed of, they boast in.
who (oi): Relative pronoun.
set their mind (phronountes): Present participle of "phroneō," to think, to mind, to set one's mind on. Continuous mental focus and disposition.
on (eis): Preposition, indicating direction or purpose.
earthly things (epi ta epigeia): "epi" (on) + "ta epigeia" (the earthly things). Things pertaining to this world, the physical realm, the temporal.
Analysis of groups of words:
- "Whose end is destruction": This signifies their ultimate and unavoidable doom due to their current life's trajectory.
- "who their god is their appetite": This powerfully illustrates that their overriding desire and devotion is to their physical desires and appetites, making these the object of their worship and service.
- "and whose glory is in their shame": They derive their pride and honor from things that, by divine standards or even by common sense, ought to bring them shame, indicating a perverted value system.
- "who set their mind on earthly things": Their focus is entirely on temporal, material, and physical aspects of life, with no regard for the eternal or spiritual realities.
Philippians 3 19 Bonus section
This verse serves as a strong warning against antinomianism – the idea that one is free from the obligations of moral law, especially as a consequence of God's grace. While believers are freed from the penalty of the law through Christ, they are called to a new life of obedience empowered by the Spirit, not to indulge the flesh. The concept of one's appetite being their "god" points to a deep spiritual bankruptcy, where created desires usurp the place of the Creator, a theme echoed throughout Scripture in discussions of idolatry (Romans 1:23-25). The emphasis on "earthly things" contrasts sharply with the believer's calling to focus on "the things above" (Colossians 3:1-2).
Philippians 3 19 Commentary
This verse powerfully portrays individuals whose lives are fundamentally misdirected, finding their ultimate destination in ruin because their primary motivations and values are self-centered and worldly. Instead of serving the living God, they are enslaved to their own physical desires, which become the object of their devotion—their functional "god." Furthermore, their sources of pride are rooted in that which should bring them deep shame, revealing a distorted worldview. Their minds are consumed by earthly pursuits and temporal gratification, eclipsing any concern for divine truth or eternal consequence. This highlights the stark contrast between the Christian life of selfless pursuit of Christ and a life devoted to carnal appetites and worldly pleasures, which inevitably leads to destruction.