Status Updates From Paul's Letter to the Philip...

To trust in works of the Law as opposed to the faithfulness of Christ even unto obedience of death on a cross, is to trust in earthly things rather than God's provision for right standing and righteousness. (213)

"Paul does not say "we are the true circumcision"…Paul is insisting that Jew and Gentile united in Christ are the only circumcision; they are the only ones in the covenant, and they do not need to add literal circumcision to become insiders." (193)

"Already in the OT we are told that physical circumcision alone does not engraft one into Israel (Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 6:10), for God is more concerned with circumcision of the heart (Jer. 4:4; 9:25-26; Ezek. 44:7)." (189)

"God honors persons of high status in the ekklesia who view their power as a resource to be used in service of others in the community of faith—even if this means renouncing their social status, or rather, exchanging their privileges in the colony for the superior position of honor and status which they, like Jesus, will receive at the hands of God." (117)