Philippians 3:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

NIV: Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

NASB: whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things.

CSB: Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things.

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.

KJV: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

NKJV: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things.

In verse 18, Paul expressed his sorrow over the plight of unsaved false teachers. In this verse, he offers four descriptions regarding their behaviors. First these false teachers are not simply Christians who misunderstood a portion of the gospel. These are unsaved individuals, rejecting the gospel itself, and who will experience destruction apart from faith in Christ. Second, for false teachers, Paul notes their focus on greed. Many false teachers, then and now, seek money in order to make a profit (1 Timothy 6:5), rather than truly serving the Lord. In contrast to Christ-like believers, false teachers are more concerned with their own desires than the needs of other people (Romans 16:18).

Third, these false teachers call evil good, and promote sinful actions as being right. More than simply excusing sin, they celebrate it, and take pride in it.

Fourth, the goal of false teachers is not on Christ and being with Him for eternity. In contrast with Paul's teachings, throughout chapter 3, their goal is on the here and now. Their only thought is what they can get out of life—and other people—today. All four of these traits are posed as the opposite of what believers should pursue in following Christ. Believers are to know Christ, be humble, promote what is right, and set their minds on heavenly things.

Philippians 3:12—4:1 explains the proper attitude Christians ought to have on the process of ''sanctification.'' This is the gradual, lifelong path of becoming more and more like Jesus. Our place in eternity is secure from the moment we trust in Christ, but it takes time to see our actions and attitudes change to be like His. Paul notes that he is not perfect, but encourages Christians to mimic his singular focus on pursuing Jesus. Paul also weeps for those who reject the gospel, a choice that will result in their destruction.

Paul details his impressive Jewish resume. None of his critics or challengers could boast the pedigree carried by Paul. He mentions this only to emphasize how little such things mean, next to faith in Christ. Paul's language here is sharp and to the point. He then explains how a Christian's focus ought to be purely on Christ, just as a runner concentrates on their goal in order to run effectively. Rather than looking to the past, or to ourselves, we ought to look forward, to an eternity with the Lord.

In chapters 1 and 2, Paul explained how Christians should respond to hardships. Since Christ was willing to obey God, even to the point of death, we should do the same. Complaining and worry have no place in the life of a saved believer. Chapter 3 makes a bold contrast. Paul's credentials, according to Jewish tradition, were impeccable. And yet, for him, none of those accomplishments are worth anything next to fellowship with Christ. For this reason, Christ is to be the sole focus of the believer. This sets up Paul's final greetings and instructions in chapter 4.

Philippians is Paul's discussion of living the Christian life. In this letter to the church of Philippi, Paul highlights themes such as joy and glory. He also puts great emphasis on how a Christian's thinking—their attitude—affects the way they live out their faith. Paul is very thankful for the support of the Philippian church, but is also concerned about the influence of various false teachers. This letter is less theological than most of his other writings, and more practical.