Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 3:1

"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe." — Philippians 3:1 (ASV)

“Finally” seems to suggest that Paul is drawing his letter to a close. Inasmuch as over forty percent of the letter is yet to come, some assume that a combination of several letters makes up this letter and suggest that 3:1 is the conclusion of one of them. But Paul and other writers use this expression in a variety of ways. It is best to understand the meaning here in a nontechnical and natural way. A speaker may use the word “finally” as he passes the midpoint of an address, and will then continue on for a rather long time. This poses no real problem for the English listener, and even less for a Greek reader for whom the expression could also mean simply “furthermore” or “in addition” (cf. 1Th 4:l).

Paul’s exhortation to “rejoice in the Lord” should be understood as belonging with what follows. The readers are to maintain the joyful spirit that has characterized this letter thus far, even though Paul now goes on to speak of some unpleasant matters. He repeats some of his former instructions, but this is “no trouble” to him, for it has in view the worthy goal of safeguarding them from entrapment in wrong doctrine.

How specifically should “the same things” be understood? Surely it does not refer to the command to rejoice, for this would not have been thought to be a troublesome task or a safeguard against something dangerous. Because there has been no earlier warning against Judaizers in this letter, some have referred “the same things” to prior correspondence with the Philippians. This is certainly possible, though little evidence exists to support it. If, however, Paul meant the words to refer to previous warnings against opponents generally, then 1:27–30 would be an earlier instance in this letter.