Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Commentary · 4 glosses
as many as be perfect – As many as are fully instructed in this mystery, and truly strive for Christian perfection. He said before verse 12, that he was not already perfect; so that in this place he calleth them perfect which had well profited in the knowledge of Christ and the Gospel whom he setteth against the ruder and more ignorant.
perfect … whereupon he styles them comparatively perfect in the way, not in the Heavenly Country, 1 Cor 13:10, which doth not disagree with what he said before, if we further distinguish of a perfection. 1. Of integrity and sincerity, which some call of parts; as a perfect living Child that hath all the parts of the Parent, so upon the new birth every real believer receiving grace, for grace, John 1:13, 16. 2. Of maturity, proficiency or degrees where grown to a full stature in Christ.
on 3:15–16
The apostle, having proposed himself as an example, urges the Philippians to follow it. … 2. That this is a good reason why Christians who differ in smaller matters should yet bear with one another, because they are agreed in the main matter: “If in anything you be otherwise minded—if you differ from one another, and are not of the same judgment as to meats and days, and other matters of the Jewish law—yet you must not judge one another, while you all meet now in Christ as your centre, and hope to meet shortly in heaven as your home. As for other matters of difference, lay no great stress upon them, God shall reveal even this unto you. Whatever it is wherein you differ, you must wait till God give you a better understanding, which he will do in his due time.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect – Not absolutely, but comparatively, with respect to other believers, in a lower class of knowledge and experience; and not with respect to degrees, but parts; … and if in anything ye be otherwise minded; as to seek for justification by the works of the law, or partly by Christ and partly by the law, and to imagine and expect perfection in this life: God shall reveal even this unto you; such errors will be made manifest sooner or later; the day will declare them, and such wood, hay, and stubble, will be burnt up by the fire, which will reveal every man’s work, 1 Cor 3:12.