New Living Translation
Philippians 3:2
2Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.
Philippians 3:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
- New International Version (NIV)Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
Context of Philippians 3:2
1Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 3For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, 4though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
Read all of Philippians 3Philippians 3:2 word by word
Βλέπετε τοὺς κύνας, βλέπετε τοὺς κακοὺς ἐργάτας, βλέπετε τὴν κατατομήν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Philippians 3:2
- Proverbs 26:11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
- Isaiah 56:10For the leaders of my people— the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds— are blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming.
- Matthew 7:6“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
- Matthew 24:10And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.
- Galatians 5:15But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
- 2 Timothy 4:14Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.
- 2 Peter 2:22They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
- Revelation 22:15Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
- Philippians 3:19They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
- Psalms 119:115Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
- Matthew 7:22On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’
- 2 Corinthians 11:13These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.
- Galatians 5:13For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
- 1 Timothy 1:19Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
- 2 Timothy 3:1You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.
- 2 Timothy 4:3For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
Commentaries on Philippians 3:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Beware of dogs - The Jews, who have here the same appellative which they formerly gave to the Gentiles: because the Gentiles were not included in the covenant, they called them Dogs; and themselves, the children of the Most High. Now, they are cast out of the covenant and the Gentiles taken in; therefore they are the dogs, and the Gentiles the children. Evil workers - Judaizing teachers, who endeavored to pervert the Gospel. The concision - · The cutting…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Beware of dogs - Dogs in the east are mostly without masters; they wander at large in the streets and fields, and feed upon offals, and even upon corpses; compare 1 Kings 14:11; 1 Kings 16:4; 1 Kings 21:19. They are held as unclean, and to call one a dog is a much stronger expression of contempt there than with us; 1 Samuel 17:43; 2 Kings 8:13. The Jews called the pagan dogs, and the Muslims call Jews and Christians by the same name. The term dog also is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2those dogs, those workers of evil: Here, Paul reverses the traditional Jewish practice of calling non-Jewish people dogs (see Mark 7:27–28). Paul directs his strongest insults at Jews who taught that non-Jewish people must be circumcised to be saved (see 2 Corinthians 11:13–15; Galatians 1:6–9; 5:1–6, 12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Beware--Greek, "Have your eye on" so as to beware of. Contrast "mark," or "observe," namely, so as to follow Php 3:17. dogs--Greek, "the dogs," namely, those impure persons "of whom I have told you often" (Php 3:18, 19); "the abominable" (compare Re 21:8, with Re 22:15; Mt 7:6; Tit 1:15, 16): "dogs" in filthiness, unchastity, and snarling (De 23:18; Psa 59:6, 14, 15; 2Pe 2:22): especially "enemies of the cross of Christ" (Php 3:18; Psa 22:16, 20). The…Read the comment
Topics related to Philippians 3:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Philippians 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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