Knowing Christ

Notes

1. "Beware of dogs." The word "dog" is used in the Bible as a term of reproach. See 1 Sam. 17:43; 2 Sam. 3:8; 9:8; 16:9. From the connection of 2 Sam. 3:8 and Deut. 23:18 we gather that it is used to signify a shameless, corrupt person. See also Rev. 22:15. Men who were guilty of nameless crimes against nature were very common among the heathen (Rom. 1:27), so much so that many of their wisest philosophers, as Socrates, made no secret of these crimes, and commended them. There was, therefore, great need of such warning.

2. "Beware of the concision." From the matter-of-course way in which the apostle goes on to explain what the concision is, as contrasted with that which is only outward, we conclude that by the word "concision" he means "circumcision." This was a term used synonymously with Jews, but is here used with special reference to those Jews who trusted in circumcision as the means of justification. These were classed with dogs and evil workers, as equally dangerous, for they would turn all who listened to them away from the simplicity of the gospel, a proceeding classed with the beguiling of Eve by the serpent. 2 Cor. 11:3, 4.

3. "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." Besides his birth and his orthodox training, the two points above mentioned were perhaps the things on which Saul, the Pharisee, depended most for salvation. Believing that the traditions of the fathers were the commands of God (see Mark 7:7, 8), he was "more exceedingly zealous" for them than any other man in the nation. Therefore the more he persecuted those who opposed traditions, the more favor he thought he was finding with God. Then, too, he was a Pharisee of the strictest sect. That is, he was more punctilious in the outward observance of the law than were most even of the Pharisees. So fearful were the Pharisees of violating some of the commandments that they added many things not required by the law. Many of the Pharisees were hypocrites, but Paul was not. If we may take the seventh chapter of Romans as portraying some portion of his own experience before his conversion, we shall conclude that his religious life was something like that of Luther in the monastery of Erfurt. Extremely conscientious, he never knowingly did a wrong act, and never did anything in which another could detect any wrong. He had all the righteousness that a man can possibly get out of the law. But when he saw the righteousness of the law as it is in Christ, he acknowledged that all the self-righteousness upon which he had been building his hopes of salvation, was so far short of perfection that it was sufficient to condemn him; and he gladly counted it worse than useless, that he might receive the free gift of Christ's perfect righteousness.