Philippians 3:18 · Bible study
Philippians 3:18 Commentary: Enemies of the Cross, Study
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Who are the 'enemies of the cross'? Paul warns with tears. An in-depth study of Philippians 3:18, its context, and what it means for Christians today.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul warns with tears that many professing believers live as enemies of the cross by their conduct.
- Key words: walk (περιπατοῦσιν, present tense, habitual lifestyle), weeping (κλαίων, present participle, continuous grief), enemies of the cross (ἐχθροὺς τοῦ σταυροῦ, hostile to the sacrificial heart of the gospel).
- Main debate: Whether these enemies are Judaizing teachers, antinomian libertines, or a broader category of worldly Christians.
- Theological theme: The cross is the center of Christian identity; to avoid its offense is to become its enemy.
- Best use: A self-examination tool for the church, showing that profession alone is insufficient; a model for pastoral lament over sin.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
WEB World English Bible 2000
For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,
KJV King James Version 1769
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
for many walk of whom many times I told you--and now also weeping tell--the enemies of the cross of the Christ!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
(for many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they [are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of Christ:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque muchos andan, de los cuales os dije muchas veces, y aun ahora lo digo llorando, que son enemigos de la cruz de Cristo:
pois, como muitas vezes eu vos disse, e agora também digo chorando, muitos andam como inimigos da cruz de Cristo.
Car il en est plusieurs qui marchent en ennemis de la croix de Christ, je vous en ai souvent parlé, et j’ en parle maintenant encore en pleurant.
Denn viele wandeln, von welchen ich euch oft gesagt habe, nun aber sage ich auch mit Weinen, daß sie sind die Feinde des Kreuzes Christi,
Want velen wandelen anders; van dewelken ik u dikmaals gezegd heb, en nu ook wenende zeg, dat zij vijanden des kruises van Christus zijn;
Perché molti camminano (ve l’ho detto spesso e ve lo dico anche ora piangendo), da nemici della croce di Cristo;
Albowiem wiele ich chodzi, o którychem wam często powiadał, a teraz i z płaczem mówię, iż są nieprzyjaciołmi krzyża Chrystusowego;
Ибо многие, о которых я часто говорил вам, а теперь даже со слезами говорю, поступают как враги креста Христова.
因為 有許多人 行事 是基督 十字架 的仇敵。 我屢次 告訴 你們，現在 又 流淚地 告訴你們：
For there are those, of whom I have given you word before, and do so now with sorrow, who are haters of the cross of Christ;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Philippians 3:18
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Paul is warning the Philippians about professing believers whose conduct makes them 'enemies of the cross of Christ.' Their identity is debated, but all see a contradiction between their profession and their walk. The Greek present tense περιπατοῦσιν ('are walking') indicates an ongoing, habitual lifestyle, not a single misstep. Paul's shift from the imperfect ἔλεγον ('I used to tell you') to the present λέγω ('I now say') shows his warnings have been consistent, and the present participle κλαίων ('weeping') reveals his emotional state as he writes, tears of pastoral grief, not anger. Barnes notes this weeping reflects the injury such enemies do to themselves, to others, and to the cause of Christ. Calvin sees them as those who 'creep upon the ground,' absorbed in earthly affections. The Cambridge Bible identifies antinomian tendencies, while Clarke and Gill point to Judaizing teachers. The common thread: these people profess Christ but deny the cross by their trust in fleshly observances or their indulgence in fleshly desires.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Judaizing teachers: Clarke and Gill note the preceding context (v. 2–3) warns against 'dogs' and 'evil workers' who trust in circumcision; the enemies of the cross are those who rely on law rather than the cross.
- Antinomian libertines: The Cambridge Bible and Vincent point to the description in v. 19 (belly as god, glory in shame) as evidence of sensual indulgence, consistent with Romans 16:17–18 and early gnostic tendencies.
- Worldly professing Christians: Barnes, Calvin, and Matthew Henry see a general category: anyone whose life is ruled by earthly desires rather than the cross, not limited to one theological error.
What is clear: Paul warns with tears that many who profess Christ live as enemies of the cross by their habitual walk, and this contradiction is spiritually deadly.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the enemies | All commentators agree Paul refers to people within the professing church, not pagans outside. | Some (Clarke, Gill) identify them primarily as Judaizing teachers; others (Cambridge Bible, Vincent) as antinomians or libertines; still others (Barnes, Calvin, Matthew Henry) as any professed Christians whose lives are worldly. |
| Meaning of 'weeping' | Paul's tears are genuine grief for the spiritual danger of others and the dishonor to Christ. | Some emphasize weeping over the sin itself (Barnes), others over the destruction of the church (Calvin); some see it as a model for pastoral ministry, not a required emotional experience for every warning. |
| Enemies 'of the cross' | The cross represents the atoning death of Christ and the gospel of grace. | Do they oppose the cross doctrinally (denying its sufficiency) or practically (living in a way that ignores its demands)? Most see both: their theology or ethics nullify the cross's power in their lives. |
| Are these people saved? | Paul warns about them, implying they are in the church but in spiritual danger. | Some traditions (Reformed via Calvin) see them as false professors never truly saved; others (Wesleyan) as backslidden believers who need repentance; the text does not explicitly settle their eternal state. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Philippi was a strategic Roman colony in Macedonia, where Paul first preached around AD 49, 50 (Acts 16). The church he planted faced external pressure from pagan culture and internal threats from false teaching. Paul wrote Philippians from prison, likely in Rome or Ephesus, around AD 60, 62. Chapter 3 transitions from warning against Judaizers (v. 2, 3) to a broader admonition. Verse 18 sits within Paul's call to imitate him and others who walk according to his example (v. 17).
Judaizing teachers insisted that Gentile Christians must adopt Jewish law, especially circumcision, to be saved. For them, the cross was insufficient, they added human effort. On the other hand, some in the early church twisted Paul's doctrine of grace into license, arguing that since salvation was by faith alone, moral behavior didn't matter (see Romans 3:8; 6:1). The 'enemies of the cross' could include both groups: those who added works to the cross and those who used the cross as cover for sin. In either case, they avoided the offense of the cross, the claim that only Christ's sacrifice can save, which demands both humility and transformation.
Paul's tears echo Old Testament prophets who wept over God's people (Jeremiah 9:1; 13:17) and Jesus weeping over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Tears were not weakness but a mark of authentic pastoral care. In a culture where honor and shame were powerful forces, Paul's public weeping over professing Christians would have been striking, a sign that their condition was grave.
Textual Notes
Reception History
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The sobering reality: Not all who profess Christ honor Him. 'Many walk' as enemies of the cross, even inside the church.
- The pastor's response: Paul warns repeatedly and with tears. Weeping over sin and error is Christlike, not unloving.
- The marking line: The cross is the test. Those who live for their appetites and earthly mindsets prove themselves hostile to it, whatever their claims.
Five-point outline
- The walk: 'Many walk', present tense, a way of life (3:18a).
- The warning: Paul had told them often, now tells again (3:18b).
- The tears: Paul's weeping shows his heart (3:18c).
- The identity: 'Enemies of the cross of Christ' (3:18d).
- The description: Their end, god, glory, and mindset (3:19).
Illustration hooks
- Counterfeit currency: A counterfeit bill is not made less dangerous because most money is genuine. Paul names the frauds so the true coin of the cross is honored.
- Road signs: A sign that says 'Bridge Out' is not unloving; it is a life-saving warning. Paul's tears don't cancel the urgency, they make it heard.
- Photo album: Looking back at old photos, you may weep over people who once professed faith but now live as if the cross never happened. That grief is faithful, not faithless.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can someone who goes to church still be an 'enemy of the cross'?
- Is it possible to be saved yet live like an enemy? Does Paul mean they were never truly saved?
- How do I respond when I see other Christians living in ways that contradict the gospel? Should I confront or just weep?
Leading a Discussion
Paul's warning in Philippians 3:18 is striking because it comes with tears. He names a problem inside the church, not outside it. This passage calls us to examine our own walk and our attitude toward those who have wandered. Use the questions below to guide your group discussion.
Discussion questions
- Read Philippians 3:17, 19. Why does Paul call certain people 'enemies of the cross of Christ'? What does it mean to be an enemy of the cross in practice?
- Paul says he has told them 'often' and now tells them 'weeping.' What does his emotional investment teach us about how to address error or sin in the church?
- Look at the characteristics in verse 19 (end, god, glory, mindset). Which of these are most subtle or dangerous in your own life or community?
- In what ways can a person profess Christ yet live as though the cross doesn't matter?
- How does Paul's example of weeping over enemies of the cross challenge our typical responses to fellow Christians who go astray?
- How can we guard against being 'enemies of the cross' without becoming judgmental or self-righteous?
- The cross is the center of the gospel. What does it look like to be a friend of the cross rather than an enemy?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 119:136 | Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law. TZADHE |
| Isaiah 8:11 | For Yahweh spoke this to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, |
| Jeremiah 9:1 | Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a spring of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! |
| Jeremiah 13:17 | But if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride. My eye will weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock has been taken captive. |
| Daniel 4:37 | Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase. |
| Luke 19:41 | When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it, |
| Acts 20:19 | serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; |
| Acts 20:30 | Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke identifies the opponents as Judaizing teachers who insist on mixing circumcision and law-keeping with the Gospel. They are enemies of the cross because they look to Levitical sacrifices rather than Christ’s death for justification, and they avoid persecution by pleasing the world.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that Paul weeps, not gloat, over church members who live as enemies of the cross. Their unholy lives do more harm to Christianity than open opponents ever could. The proper response to such inconsistency is grief for the damage done to the true religion and to their own souls.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator identifies the enemies of the cross specifically as antinomians who twisted grace into a license for sin, teaching that a believer's personal conduct is indifferent since they are already accepted in Christ. He connects them to perverters of free grace addressed in Romans and sees parallels with later movements like the Libertines at Geneva.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes Paul's weeping as he warns about enemies of the cross of Christ. His tears show deep pastoral grief, not mere doctrinal dispute, and underscore the seriousness of opposing the central truth of salvation through Christ's sacrifice.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB stresses that those who walk as enemies of the cross do so in their practice, not their doctrine. Their large numbers are actually evidence against their belonging to Christ's little flock. Paul's weeping over such inconsistency stands opposite a harsh tone, and Scripture rebukes empty professors more severely than open scoffers.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Paul warned the Philippians frequently and with tears about those who claim Christ's name but live as enemies of his cross. Their conduct, not their profession, reveals them. Henry highlights that even repeated warnings can be delivered with fresh feeling, as Paul preached old truths with renewed affection.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent observes that Paul gives no adjective for "many walk" because their character emerges from the labels "enemies of the cross" and the details in the next verse. He identifies these opponents as having Epicurean leanings, and notes that this, along with Judaic formalism, were the two chief errors troubling the Philippian church.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies cowardly, shamefaced, and delicate Christians as the enemies of the cross Paul mentions. For him, these fearful and soft believers who shrink from hardship are just as opposed to the cross as open opponents, and Paul weeps while writing about them.