Section 2
indulgence in the pleasure of eating and drink ing and self-gratification in other things, all of which are contrary to the cross of Christ (Phil. 3:18-19). From verse 2 we see that Judaizers were causing damage to the Philippian believers. From verse 18 we see that those who practiced according to the Epicureans were also causing damage to them. The former was of Jewish ori gin; the latter, of a heathen source. Paul's under lying thought in this chapter is related to these two groups. As we shall see, in speaking of the Judaizers, Paul deals with the soul, especially with the mind, but in speaking of the Epicure ans, he deals with the body. The Judaizers did not promote the enjoyment of material things. Rather, they zealously promoted their particular religious philosophy. Both religion and philoso phy involve the mind. For the most part, reli gious people and philosophical people are not occupied with material things. They do not care to indulge themselves in such things as eating and drinking. On the contrary, they may even restrict themselves in these matters. The things to which Paul refers in Philippians 3:3-7 are not material things, but things related to religion, philosophy, and culture, things which have much to do with our mind.