Philippians 3:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Whom, then, does he call dogs? In Philippi there were certain men at whom he hints in all his epistles: vile and abominable Jews, lovers of gain and lovers of power. Wishing to tear many of the faithful away, they preached both Christianity and Judaism, corrupting the Gospel.

Since it was difficult to recognize them, the Apostle says, "Beware of dogs." The Jews are no longer children. Once the Gentiles were called dogs, but now they are. Why? Because, as the Gentiles were alienated from God and Christ, so these are now alienated.

"Beware of dogs." There were certain Jews who corrupted Christianity, preaching the Gospel while mixing Jewish opinions into it. Since they could not easily be recognized, the Apostle says: look, beware, pay attention that they not be among you. Formerly the Gentiles were called dogs, but now such Jews are called this. For they are shameless, insolent toward the light of truth, and spoke evil of everyone. "Beware of evil workers." Here he deprives them even of the name "dogs." Many dogs, he says, are near the table and also guard their masters' houses. But these, though they work, work for evil. Their activity is far worse than inactivity itself, since they disorder what is well ordered. "Beware of the mutilation." That is, beware of those who have circumcision.

Thus the Apostle names those who, envying the Gentiles who had come to faith, turned the Galatians away from the right path by every kind of slander and persuaded them that circumcision was necessary. Paul teaches that such people must be avoided and rejected in every way. They are like dogs that first bark and then savagely attack a man.

“Beware of dogs.” Shamelessness belongs to dogs. Since the teachers mentioned above had often been exposed as maliciously distorting the preaching, yet did not abandon their evil purpose, the Apostle rightly called them dogs. In ancient times, however, this was the name for Gentiles. “It is not good,” says the Lord, “to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Matt. 15:26). But names change with circumstances. The Gentiles are called sons, and the Jews dogs. “Beware of evil workers.” For they do not build, but “intend to destroy the building.” “Beware of the mutilation.” For by preaching circumcision they attempt to cut apart the body of the Church.

Divine Scripture speaks of dogs that help the Church and are its defenders, as David teaches in Psalm 67. They, he says, are filled with the blood of enemies in the temple of God. Here Paul speaks of another kind of dog, of whom one must beware, namely the Jews, who are workers, and evil workers. For they pass their life in works alone, not knowing God, and through their works they hope for salvation.

“Beware of dogs.” The Jews called the Gentiles dogs (Matt. 15:26). The Apostle turns this name against them, because by rejecting spiritual circumcision they themselves were Gentiles with respect to the Kingdom of God. “Beware of the mutilation,” κατατομὴν, the same as περιτομήν, circumcision. The Apostle repeatedly points to the inner or spiritual circumcision, which is given in regeneration and makes bodily circumcision unnecessary (Rom. 2:29).

The Apostle begins his exhorting warning by pointing to the vanity and absurdity of the Jewish false teachings in their theoretical foundations. For who are the truly circumcised? Certainly those "who serve God in the Spirit, glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh" (Phil 3:3).

What, then, must be said of those stubborn and malicious men who strive to tear the Philippians away from Jesus Christ? What must be said of those who still hope to draw them back again into Judaism? They are "evil workers," with their miserable "cutting," that is, circumcision. One must beware of them as of "dogs" seeking to disorder and tear apart the flock of God (Phil 3:2).

The warning against the evil enemies, the dogs, and false teachers refers first of all to the Jews. They troubled Christians not yet firmly established in their understanding, pointing to the ancient spiritual inheritance that belonged to them through Abraham, whose seal was circumcision.

Refuting the importance of these material signs of belonging to the true confession, the Apostle points to the superior importance of spiritual dispositions in Christianity. These are faith in Christ the Savior and service to God in the Spirit, without hope in tribal origin or external marking. Such marking is found among various animals as a sign of belonging to one master or another.

The Judaizing false teachers are dogs, unclean animals (Isa 66:3; Mt 7:6), because their aims are wholly unclean in essence, despite their visible sanctity and zeal for the law.

They are bad workers, because instead of spreading the Gospel they harm it, darkening the teaching about man's justification by faith alone.

Finally, they are not the circumcision (περιτομή), but rather the mutilation (κατατομή). The Judaizers were so zealous that all Gentiles entering the Church should receive circumcision. Yet among them it was deprived of all religious and moral meaning, and was reduced to a mere operation.

Rather, Christians possess true circumcision. They serve God not by the flesh but by the Spirit, to which Old Testament circumcision itself was calling. They place firm hope in the Lord Jesus, and not in their circumcised flesh.

"Whom does the Apostle here call dogs? These are the ones at whom he hints in all his Epistles: vile, foul, covetous, and power-loving Jews. Wishing to tear away many of the believers, they preached both Christianity and Judaism, corrupting the Gospel. Since it was difficult to recognize them, the Apostle says: beware of dogs. The Jews are no longer children. Once the Gentiles were called dogs, but now they are. Why? Because, just as the Gentiles were alienated from God and Christ, so now are they. By this he shows their shamelessness, insolence, and great distance from the children. That the Gentiles were once called dogs, hear what the Canaanite woman says: 'Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table,' cf. Matt. 15:27.