The second word kauchaomai is not so prolific. As a verb it occurs in Philippians 3:3; as a noun in Philippians 1:26

and 2:16.

`To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe' (Phil. 3:1).

`I am repeating this word "rejoice" in my letter, but that does not tire me and it is a safe course for you' (Moffatt's

Translation).

It will be seen from this extract from Moffatt that he has decided that the words `the same things' refer to the

exhortation to rejoice. Some commentators think that the apostle refers to what he is about to say, namely `Beware'.

Alford says on this matter :

`Charein is in fact the ground tone of the whole Epistle, see 1:18; 2:17; 4:4, where palin ego "again I say", seems

to refer back again to this saying. So that there is no difficulty in imagining that the apostle may mean chairete

"rejoice", by the ta auta "these things"'.

It seems therefore that the apostle refers to his repeated exhortations to rejoice in the Lord, which he now

expands and explains.

First he says that to himself, such a repetition was not `grievous'. Secondly, he says that for the Philippians, such

a repetition was `safe'.

Okneros `grievous'. Of persons it means slothful; of things, tedious (Matt. 25:26; Rom. 12:11). The

grammarians derive the word from ou kinein `not moving' (from which comes the modern `cinema') and suggests

delay, tediousness, hindrance, rather than grief. In effect Paul assures the Philippians that repetition need not hinder

progress in truth, it may even help, for, said he, it was `safe' asphales, which is a compound of a, a negative, and

sphalo `to supplant, to trip up the heels'.

The words asphalos and asphaloo are found in the LXX version of Genesis 6:14 where we read that Noah was

instructed `to pitch' the ark within and without `with pitch'. The word has come into our own language as `asphalt', a

bituminous substance used for the surface of roads.

The positive form of the word asphales does not occur in the New Testament. The LXX employs sphaleros

`slippery' in Proverbs 5:6, where the Authorized Version reads `her ways are moveable'.

It will be seen that the apostle chose an apt word when he wrote to the Philippians. He was about to speak of a

race and a prize, and prefaces his exhortation not only by his own example, but by the choice of a word that was

used of a `slippery path' and of being `tripped up by the heels'. Moffatt's translation, `a safe course', therefore will

be the more fully appreciated by the reader who knows the associations of the word translated `safe' with a pathway.

The apostle now gives a threefold warning `beware'. `Beware' stands for three phases of awareness in the New

Testament. It translates phulasso `to be on guard', it translates prosecho `to take heed', and it translates blepo `to

behold, or to see'. `See', as in the exhortation to walk circumspectly in Ephesians 5:15, `look to yourselves', as in

2 John 8. It is this word that is used by the apostle in the third chapter of Philippians.

The word of warning is directed to three potential dangers, or perhaps a threefold potential danger.

`Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision'.

The Rabbinical writings reveal that the Jews referred to the Gentiles as `dogs'. Midrash Tillin says `the nations

of the world are likened to dogs'. However, even the Talmudists said that the last days would be characteristic of

corruption and apostasy, for the Babylonian Talmud says of Israel in the days when the Messiah comes `the faces of

that generation shall be as dogs'.

`This ignominious name, like a stone cast at the heathen, at length fell upon their own heads' (Lightfoot).

The dispensational place of Israel at the time when Philippians was written was lo-ammi `not My people', but the

apostle's words here show that Israel were not merely marking time, they were fast degenerating, the title once used

to speak of the outside Gentile now being used of them, and used by one who by race and upbringing was an

Israelite himself!