1). He would have used a stronger word than BX. had the Judaisers alr made some progress at Philippi. ε is
nothing to suggest this in the Epistle. But all the Pauline Churches were ex- posed to their inroads. At any moment their emissaries might appear. — τοὺς κύνας. Only here in Paul. Commen- tators have tried to single out the point of comparison intended, some emphasis- ing the shamelessness of dogs, others their
ἑκατατομήν: 3. ἡμεῖς γάρ ἐσμεν ἡ
449
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" περιτομή, of πνεύματι Θεῷ 1 See note
ΓΝ ἃ a "λατρεύοντες, καὶ ' καυχώμενοι ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐν σαρκὶ 2 Ε a note
74; Rom.i.9; 2 Tim.i.3 αἰ, Freq. in LXX, ¢.g., Josh. xxiv. 14.
᾿ h Luke i. i More than thirty exx. in
Paul; e.g., Rom. ii. 23, v.11. Cf. Jer. ix. 23, 24; Sir. 1. 20 (num. exx. in Sir.).
1So WcD*P, d, e, f, πι, vg.
Ὁ. syrsch. et p. txt. arm, zth., Chr., Victorin.,
& Ambrst. Edd. Θεου with *ABCDcEFGKL, cop. syrp.mg-, Eus., Euth.cod., Ath,
2 και ου σαρκι Det.Egr.
impurity, others their roaming tendencies, others still their imsolence and cunning. Most probably the Apostle had no de- finite characteristic in his mind. κύων was a term of reproach in Greek from the earliest to the latest times. E.g., Hom,, Π., xiii., 623, Often in Ο.Τ. So here.—t. kak. épy. Cf. 2 Cor. xi. 13, ἐργάται δόλιοι. We have here clear evidence that the persons alluded to were within the Christian Church. They did professedly carry on the work of the Gospel, but with a false aim. This in- validates the arguments of Lips., Hltzm. and M‘Giffert (Afost. Age, pp. 389-390), who imagine that the Apostle refers to unbelieving Jews, probably at Philippi. —t. κατατοµήν. A scornful parody of their much-vaunted περιτομή. W-M. (pp. 794-796) gives numerous exx. of a similar paronomasia, e.g., Diog. Laert., 6, 24, τὴν μὲν Εὐκλείδου σχολὴν ἔλεγε χολήν, τὴν δὲ Πλάτωνος διατριβὴν κατα- τριβήν. Lit. = “ἐπε mutilation”. Their mechanical, unspiritual view of the ancient rite reduces it to a mere lacera- tion of the body. The word occurs in CIG., 160, 27; Theophr., Hist. Plant., 4, 8, το; Symm. on Ferem., xlviii., 37 = notch, cutting, incision. It is only found here with any reference to circumcision.
Ver. 3. ἡμεῖς. The contrast drawn, which has already been before his mind in the ironical expression κατατοµή.--ἡ περιτ. In LXX it is only found in Gen. xvli. 12, Exod. iv. 25 (Jer. xi. 16 has another sense). The verb περιτέμνω is very common. Perhaps the choice of this particular compound to denote the rite of circumcision is due, as Dsm. (BS., Ρ. 151) suggests, to the Egyptian use of it as a technical term for the same custom, long in vogue among the Egyptians. Examples are found in the Papyri. Paul uses it here in its strict sense as a token of participation in the covenant with God and of obligation to maintain it. But the further idea belonged to it of being the outward symbol of an inward grace. Cf. Deut. xxx. 6. As the rite was regarded essentially as one of purification, the