SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:17
¶ Hermanos, sed imitadores de mí, y mirad los que así anduvieren como nos tenis por ejemplo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Philippians 3:17
Verse 17. Brethren, be followers-of me] In the things of Christ let me be your line, and my writings preaching, and conduct, your rule. And mark them] skopeite. Still alluding to the line in the stadium, keep your eye steadily fixed on those who walk - live, as ye have us - myself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus, for an ensample.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Brethren, be followers together of me , etc.] Not that the apostle set up himself as the head of a party, which is what he always blamed in others; he did not assume a dominion over the faith of men, or seek to lord it over God's heritage; nor did he desire any to be followers of him, any further than he was a follower of Christ; and in what he was, whether in doctrine or practice, he desires to be followed in: and here he has a particular regard to what went before, concerning reckoning what was gain loss; accounting all things but dung, in comparison of the knowledge of Christ, looking to his righteousness alone for justification, ( Philippians 3:9); disclaiming perfection, yet forgetting things behind; reaching towards things before, and pressing to the mark for the prize, ( Philippians 3:13); and walking according to the rule of God's word; in which things he had some that followed him, who were his spiritual children, and to whom he had been useful in conversion and edification; (see 1 Corinthians 4:15,16 1 Thessalonians 1:6,7); and he would therefore have these Philippians followers of him, together with them; and which contains in it an encouraging reason, or argument, since others were followers of him; or together with one another, he was desirous, that one and all of them might follow him; that they might all go in the same way, profess the same truth, be found in the practice of the same things, worship the Lord with one consent, pursue the same ends, and draw all the same way; and so be as the church was, like a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariot, ( Song of Solomon 1:9); and mark them which walk so ; as the apostle did, and those that were followers of him; these he would have them mark, observe, attentively look to; not as others, who cause offences and divisions, and obey not the word, in order to shun, avoid, and keep no company with; but to imitate and follow, and next to Christ, the mark, to make use of them as inferior ones: as ye have us for an ensample , or type; believers should be ensamples one to another, especially ministers of the word; pastors of churches are not to be lords over God's heritage, but to be ensamples to the flock, ( Peter 5:3), in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit; in faith, in purity, as the apostle exhorts Timothy, ( 1 Timothy 4:12), and in these things they are to be followed by believers.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-21 - This simple dependence and earnestness of soul, were not mentioned a if the apostle had gained the prize, or were already made perfect in the Saviour's likeness. He forgot the things which were behind, so a not to be content with past labours or present measures of grace. He reached forth, stretched himself forward towards his point; expression showing great concern to become more and more like unto Christ. He wh runs a race, must never stop short of the end, but press forward a fast as he can; so those who have heaven in their view, must stil press forward to it, in holy desires and hopes, and constan endeavours. Eternal life is the gift of God, but it is in Christ Jesus through his hand it must come to us, as it is procured for us by him There is no getting to heaven as our home, but by Christ as our Way True believers, in seeking this assurance, as well as to glorify him will seek more nearly to resemble his sufferings and death, by dying to sin, and by crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts. I these things there is a great difference among real Christians, but all know something of them. Believers make Christ all in all, and set their hearts upon another world. If they differ from one another, and are no of the same judgment in lesser matters, yet they must not judge on another; while they all meet now in Christ, and hope to meet shortly in heaven. Let them join in all the great things in which they are agreed and wait for further light as to lesser things wherein they differ. The enemies of the cross of Christ mind nothing but their sensua appetites. Sin is the sinner's shame, especially when gloried in. The way of those who mind earthly things, may seem pleasant, but death an hell are at the end of it. If we choose their way, we shall share their end. The life of a Christian is in heaven, where his Head and his hom are, and where he hopes to be shortly; he sets his affections upo things above; and where his heart is, there will his conversation be There is glory kept for the bodies of the saints, in which they wil appear at the resurrection. Then the body will be made glorious; no only raised again to life, but raised to great advantage. Observe the power by which this change will be wrought. May we be always prepare for the coming of our Judge; looking to have our vile bodies changed by his Almighty power, and applying to him daily to new-create our soul unto holiness; to deliver us from our enemies, and to employ our bodie and souls as instruments of righteousness in his service __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
συμμιμηται 4831 μου 3450 γινεσθε 1096 5737 αδελφοι 80 και 2532 σκοπειτε 4648 5720 τους 3588 ουτως 3779 περιπατουντας 4043 5723 καθως 2531 εχετε 2192 5719 τυπον 5179 ημας 2248
Vincent's NT Word Studies
17. Followers together of me (summimhtai mou). Only here in the New Testament. Rev., more correctly, imitators. Compare 1 Cor. xi. 1. Not imitators of Christ in common with me, but be together, jointly, imitators of me.
Mark (skopeite). See on looking, ch. ii. 4.
So as (outwv kaqwv). Rev., "which so walk even as ye have," etc. The two words are correlative. Briefly, imitate me and those who follow my example.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:17 {Imitators together of me} (sunmimtai mou). Found only here so far, though Plato uses summimeisthai. "Vie with each other in imitating me" (Lightfoot). {Mark} (skopeite). Old verb from skopos (verse #14). "Keep your eyes on me as goal." Mark and follow, not avoid as in #Ro 16:17. {An ensample} (tupon). Originally the impression left by a stroke (#Joh 20:25), qen a pattern (mould) as here (cf. #1Th 1:7; 1Co 10:6,11; Ro 5:14; 6:17).
