Note 6 at Phil. 3:20: This last characterization of these enemies of the cross of Christ (v. 18) is amazing. He says they "mind earthly things." That sounds descriptive of most Christians! No doubt there are natural things that everyone has to tend to, but there is a danger of being too earthly minded. As Romans 8:6 says, "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace". We must put a priority on spiritual things and constantly be aware that a preoccupation with earthly things is not good.

Note 8 at Phil. 3:20: This is the only time the Greek word POLITEUMA, which is translated "conversation" here, appears in the New Testament. It is translated as "citizenship, homeland, commonwealth" in the NIV; JB; and RSV respectively. Paul used it to describe his citizenship as belonging to heaven.

Note 9 at Phil. 3:20: The Greek word for "Saviour" is SOTER and is used a total of 24 times in the New Testament.

Sometimes men, such as "judges" in the Old Testament, were referred to as "saviours." "And in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them SAVIOURS, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies" (Neh. 9:27). Most often God Himself was referred to as the Saviour of Israel (1 Chr. 16:35; Ps. 24:5; 25:5; 27:1; 62:2; 65:5; 79:9; 95:1; Prov. 29:25; Isa. 62:11; Mic. 7:7; Hab. 3:18).

In the New Testament the word "Saviour" is never used of just ordinary men. It refers to God the Father eight times (Lk. 1:47; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10; Ti. 1:3; 2:10; 3:4; Jude 25), and Jesus Christ 16 times (Lk. 2:11; Jn. 4:42; Acts 5:31; 13:23; Eph. 5:23; Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim. 1:10; Ti. 1:4; 2:13; 3:6; 2 Pet. 1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18; 1 Jn. 4:14; see note 1 at Lk. 2:11, p. 52).

Note 10 at Phil. 3:20: The word "Lord" is a very significant word that appears in eight forms in the Old Testament (ADOWN; ADONAY; GEBIYR; YAHH; YEHOVAH; MARE; RAB; SHALIYSH), and in four forms in the New Testament (DESPOTES; KURIEUO; KURIOS; RHABBONI).

Some of the predominate words in the Old Testament are ADOWN, used 335 times, and its corresponding noun ADONAY, appearing 434 times. ADOWN means "superior, master or owner." When ADOWN or ADONAY refers to God, it is translated in the KJV as "Lord," with the first letter always capitalized.

The most predominant word translated "LORD" in the Old Testament is YEHOVAH or YAHWEH. It occurs 6,519 times and 50 or more times in its poetic form as YAH. These words carry the idea of God as being "the existing One, who is always present." The King James Version translates YEHOVAH in the Old Testament as "LORD" using all capital letters in our English Bible. The true pronunciation of this Hebrew word is not certain because it was believed that God's Name was too holy to pronounce.

The word most often translated "Lord" in the New Testament is KURIOS, and means one who is "supreme in authority, the Master, Ruler, the one who has the right to control." It is sometimes translated "Sir" as a title of respect. The Greek Septuagint sometimes used KURIOS for the Divine Name YAHWEH. Some uses of the word "Lord" denote Christ's deity, as in John 20:28 when Thomas confessed Jesus as "My Lord and my God." One of the reasons for Jesus' death and resurrection was that He might be "Lord" of each individual who would personally trust in Him. "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living" (Rom. 14:9; see note 3 at Lk. 1:43, p. 44).

Note 11 at Phil. 3:20: The word "Jesus" is used 983 times in the New Testament and means "Jehovah is Salvation." This name was chosen by God and implies God's saving work through His Son (Lk. 1:30-31). He was named "Jesus" for He would "save His people from their sins" (Mt. 1:21). Jesus as "Saviour" implies "one who rescues another." It is very much like a person who rescues another person from drowning so that they might live. Jesus rescues people from perishing so that they might have eternal life and live with Him (Jn. 17:3; 14:3).

Note 12 at Phil. 3:20: The word "Christ" is used 571 times in the New Testament, and means the Messiah, the one "anointed" to rule (see note 5 at Jn. 1:41, p. 82). God's Son Jesus is the Christ (Lk. 23:2; see note 2 at Mt. 16:16, p. 261).