Philippians 3:2 kjv
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Philippians 3:2 nkjv
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
Philippians 3:2 niv
Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.
Philippians 3:2 esv
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
Philippians 3:2 nlt
Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.
Philippians 3 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Phil 3:2 | Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation. | Phil 3:2 (direct statement) |
| Gal 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. | Gal 5:19-21 (fleshly works) |
| Rom 16:17 | I urge you, brothers, to keep an eye on those who create divisions and put stumbling blocks in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. | Rom 16:17 (creators of division) |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed, these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been lingering. | 2 Pet 2:1-3 (false teachers) |
| Jude 1:3-4 | Beloved, while I was eager to write to you about our common salvation, it became necessary for me to write to encourage you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have secretly slipped in among you, those who were destined for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. | Jude 1:3-4 (ungodly, perverting grace) |
| Col 2:8 | See to it that no one captivates you through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. | Col 2:8 (deceptive philosophy) |
| Matt 7:15 | “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. | Matt 7:15 (false prophets) |
| Acts 20:29-30 | I know that after I am gone, fierce wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number, men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. | Acts 20:29-30 (fierce wolves) |
| Phil 1:27 | Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. | Phil 1:27 (worthy manner of life) |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. | 1 Cor 10:31 (doing all for God's glory) |
| Rom 8:5 | 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. | Rom 8:5 (minds on flesh vs. Spirit) |
| Phil 2:10 | That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, | Phil 2:10 (Lordship of Jesus) |
| 2 Tim 4:3-4 | For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. | 2 Tim 4:3-4 (itching ears) |
| Rom 6:19 | I am speaking in human terms, because of your human limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. | Rom 6:19 (presenting members) |
| Gal 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. | Gal 2:20 (Christ living in me) |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. | 1 John 4:1 (test the spirits) |
| John 14:15 | If you love me, you will keep my commandments. | John 14:15 (keeping commands) |
| Heb 13:7 | Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. | Heb 13:7 (imitate leaders) |
| Phil 3:19 | Their end is destruction, their god is their appetite, and their glory is in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. | Phil 3:19 (enemies of the cross) |
| 2 Cor 11:13 | For such persons are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. | 2 Cor 11:13 (false apostles) |
Philippians 3 verses
Philippians 3 2 Meaning
This verse warns believers against those who indulge in unholy living, often referred to as "enemies of the cross of Christ" because their actions and desires oppose the true nature and teachings of the cross. It signifies a spiritual danger posed by individuals whose conduct demonstrates a rejection of Christ's sacrifice and its transformative power, focusing instead on fleshly appetites and worldly gains.
Philippians 3 2 Context
Philippians chapter 3, where verse 2 is found, is a significant passage for the Apostle Paul. He is in the midst of contrasting true righteousness and fellowship with Christ against a counterfeit righteousness advocated by some in Philippi. These individuals, likely Judaizers, insisted on adherence to the Mosaic Law, particularly circumcision, as essential for salvation or spiritual status. Paul counters their claims by highlighting his own zealous adherence to the Law in the past, but then forcefully explains how all his former achievements are "rubbish" or "loss" when compared to the supreme knowledge and power found in Christ. He declares his desire to know Christ, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. Within this context, verse 2 serves as a strong warning against those who embody the opposite spirit—those whose lives are characterized by "mutilation," representing both their outward reliance on the law (circumcision) and their inner state of carnality. This warning is placed immediately after Paul states his desire for conformity to Christ's death and resurrection, underscoring that these false teachers are fundamentally at odds with the gospel's transformative power.
Philippians 3 2 Word Analysis
Σκοπεῖτε (Skopeite): This is the present imperative, second person plural of the verb skopeō. It means "to look at," "to behold," "to consider," "to observe," or "to pay attention to." The continuous present tense implies an ongoing need for vigilance and careful observation. It’s a call to active, sustained awareness. The force is similar to "watch out," "be on guard," or "pay close attention." It is used in passages like Hebrews 12:2, "fixing our eyes on Jesus."
τοὺς ἐχθροὺς (tous echthrous): This translates to "the enemies." Echthros refers to an enemy in a deep, personal, and often bitter sense, indicating active opposition and hatred, rather than a mere adversary. It implies antagonism rooted in an opposing nature or cause.
τοῦ σταυροῦ (tou staurou): This means "of the cross." Stauros literally means a cross or stake. In the context of Paul's letters, it’s a metonym for Christ's crucifixion, His sacrificial death, and the core of the Christian message.
τοῦ Χριστοῦ (tou Christou): This means "of Christ." It refers to Jesus, the Messiah, the Anointed One. The genitive case indicates possession or relation: the cross belonging to or accomplished by Christ. The phrase "enemies of the cross of Christ" is a powerful descriptor, highlighting those who, by their lifestyle and teaching, oppose or undermine the salvific work and significance of Christ's crucifixion. This phrase is elaborated upon in the following verse (v. 19 of this chapter) which describes their "minds set on earthly things" and their "appetite as their god."
Philippians 3 2 Bonus Section
The phrasing "enemies of the cross of Christ" carries a sting because the cross was the instrument of shame and ignominy in the Roman world. For Paul, however, it became the ultimate symbol of God's power and wisdom (1 Cor 1:18, 23-24). To be an enemy of the cross is to reject God's means of salvation and His transformative power.
The original audience in Philippi, influenced by Roman culture, would have understood the shame associated with crucifixion. Paul masterfully turns this around, presenting Christ's suffering as the source of glory and power, while the works-based righteousness promoted by opponents is presented as truly shameful and spiritually destructive. This spiritual battle against counterfeit righteousness and fleshly living is a recurring theme throughout Paul’s ministry.
Philippians 3 2 Commentary
Paul issues a severe and urgent warning to the Philippian believers concerning certain individuals whom he terms "enemies of the cross of Christ." This epithet is not merely for those who openly oppose Christianity, but more pointedly for those within or near the community whose behavior and doctrines betray the fundamental truths of the gospel. The repetition of "Beware" emphasizes the seriousness and immediate threat these individuals pose to the spiritual well-being of the church.
The core of the opposition is the cross of Christ. This signifies that the offense lies in what Christ’s death represents: radical salvation apart from human merit, a call to self-denial, and a life transformed by resurrection power. Those who are enemies of the cross, therefore, are individuals who seek to find righteousness in something other than Christ's sacrifice or whose lifestyles demonstrate a defiance of the standards that Christ’s atonement upholds. This includes an emphasis on outward religious observances at the expense of inward transformation, a pursuit of worldly approval, or a compromise with sin, all of which stand in direct contrast to the self-giving love and holy demands embodied in the cross. Paul calls believers to be vigilant, not only against overt attacks but also against insidious influences that undermine the core of their faith.