Philippians 3:1-14 – Self Confidence vs. God Confident

Philippians 3:1a

After saying to receive faithful workers with Joy, Paul then wraps up his admonitions by telling us to rejoice in the Lord.

1. Why would Paul connect rejoicing in God with receiving faithful workers?

Philippians 3:1b-6

Paul writes “the same things again” as He has written to other groups and perhaps previously to the Philippians because they are a safeguard to them.

• Dogs – Those who wander in packs and attack those they see as weak. Generally, refers to gentiles.
• Evil Workers – Those who seek to harm in the name of doing good.
• False Circumcision – Those who hold to the laws of Moses as an excuse to do whatever they want.

2. Why is being aware of dogs, evil workers, and false circumcision a safeguard?
3. According to verse 3, what is true circumcision? (see also Romans 2:28-29)
4. In verse 4, Paul claims he could have false confidence in the flesh. What areas of your life could lead to false confidence?

Philippians 3:7-11

5. In verses 7-11 Why does Paul reject false confidence?
6. Why would the things that the world has confidence in (education, religious adherence, family heritage, popular actions) be a loss to Paul?
7. What do verses 8b-11 are some of the advantages of having confidence in Christ?

Philippians 3:12-14

8. Why does Paul press on?
9. What attitudes that Paul demonstrates should we imitate?
10. Paul describes living for Christ as reaching forward and pressing on, what do these descriptions indicate about how you should live?
11. How does Paul’s attitude of pressing on and reaching forward apply to our current situation with COVID-19?