ing of the passage under discussion and to justify the approach we have taken, “New Values for Old.” A CAUTIOUS JOY (w . 1-4) Paul appears on the point of closing his letter with a song of joy. “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord” (Phil. 3:1 ASV). The fact that he continues to write almost as much beyond the word “finally” as he had written before it indicates the free and informal nature of the note of thanks he had intended to write from the first. “Finally, my breth ren” means about what it means when some preachers use it in the middle of their discourse. Its tem poral quality is not to be taken too seriously! “To keep on writing the same thing to you,” Paul says, “for me is not tedious (in the least), and for you it is safe” (v. 1). Westcott and Hort, in their edition of the Greek text, indicate the break which occurs at this point by closing the brief para graph with a dash. His song of joy ceases as abruptly as the song of a bird that has suddenly seen the shad ow of a circling hawk. When Paul thinks of their safety, he thinks of their danger also, and interrupts his song to deal with that danger in caustic words of caution. Verse 2 warns against the false teachings of the Judaizers, whereas verse 3 points out the true position of the Christian. There is a cumulative effect in this repetition. Paul says, “Beware . . . beware .. . . beware,” as though he would build a threefold bar rier to keep the believer on the high way of truth. The danger against which he gives this sharp caution, however, is the danger of being at tacked rather than that of turning from the truth. The vicious nature of the enemy is revealed in the words “dogs,” “evil- workers,” and “concision.” If these terms seem strong one must remem ber how Paul had suffered from his adversaries among the Jews who in sisted with such vehemence that it was necessary for believers to as sume the burden of Jewish legalism 18
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H erring , the river of joy that flows through the book of Philippians, is fed by many tributaries. There are two main sources, however, which lie high up in the snow-clad heavenlies. One source, as we have seen, is the thrill of continuous triumph, the ex ultation of being more than conqueror through the unspeakable privilege of hardships and sufferings. The' oth er main source of joy is found in the third chapter of Philippians, into which we are now entering. It is the thrill of possessing life’s greatest treasure. Like the pearl of great price, the very excellence of this treasure calls for a complete re- evaluation of all things once cher ished. There is nothing static, how ever, in the enjoyment of this posses sion as the figure of the pearl and as the complacent attitude of some Chris tians might suggest. The joy of gain ing Christ unfolds, rather, as a holy quest. The joy section of the letter (Phil. 1:12 to 3:21) merges with the peace section described in Philippians 4. However, Philippians 3:1 and Philip pians 4:4, by their familiar and joy ous refrain, seem in a general way to mark the logical beginning and end
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