Citizens of heaven

Brethren, be followers together of me – He doth here not only propound his own single example to the Brethren at Philippi, as he doth to others elsewhere, 1 Cor 4:16, implying the limitation there expressed, viz. as he and others were followers of God and Christ, 1 Cor 11:1; Eph 5:1; 1 Thess 1:6; 2:14, but by a word expressing joint consent, he would have them to be fellow-imitators, or fellow-followers of him and others in what he had exhorted them to, yea with one heart. … for an ensample – Who did not Lord it over God’s heritage, but were ensamples (in Faith, Love, and Humility,) to the Flock, 2 Cor 1:24; 1 Tim 4:12; Titus 2:7–⁠8; 1 Pet 5:3.

Brethren, be followers together of me – 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.

enemies of the crosse of Christ – Though they preach Christ crucified, yet partly by not mortifying their fleshly lusts; partly by preaching righteousness by the law, they undermine the doctrine of the Crosse, and really oppose the power and virtue of Christ’s passion.

that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ – 2. They were such who did in the general (whatever they might under a fair show pretend) oppose the Gospel of Christ, yea did in effect under the cloak of profession, that which was in a tendency to evert¹ the true Christian Doctrine, Discipline, and Holiness.

whose God is their belly – The great business of these is, their sensuality, their good eating and drinking, they mind the pleasing of their carnal appetite, as if it were their God, 2 Pet 2:13, 18; 3:3, instead of our Lord Jesus Christ, really they serve their own Belly, Rom 16:18, love their pleasures indeed more than God, 2 Tim 3:4. … The Greek word comprehends the actions and operations of the mind, will, and affections, importing they did inordinately mind, favour and relish sublunary accommodations,² Rom 8:5, the profits, ease, bounty, pleasure, and glory of this World, preferring them in their hearts to the things of Christ.

For our conversation is in heaven – Zanchius³ translateth it our burgeship; others our civil society, or polity; … The full meaning is, We look higher than the earth, we set our affection upon the things that are above; we carry ourselves like fellow citizens of Saints; there we live according to the laws of heaven; and here on earth in part enjoy the privileges of the celestial Jerusalem.

from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus … They steadfastly expect him who is both Lord and Christ, to come not only as their judge, 2 Tim 4:8, but as their heart comforting Saviour, Heb 9:28.

For our conversation is in heaven – The Ethiopic version renders it, “we have our city in heaven”; and the words may be truly rendered, “our citizenship is in heaven”; that is, the city whereof we are freemen is heaven, and we behave ourselves here below, as citizens of that city above.

Who shall change our vile – Who shall transform the body of our humility, or our lowliness, i. e. of low-brought body, the singular for the plural, our humble and mean bodies, which depend upon and are beholding to our eating and drinking, and the actions which follow thereupon, that do humble and lower them, Luke 1:48, now it may be languishing with pains, sickness and many infirmities, perhaps cooped up in a noisome, Prison, and it may be an unclean dungeon, sown in dishonour and weakness in the grave, 1 Cor 15:43. body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body – That they may be conformed to Christ’s incorruptible, impassible⁴ and immortal body and so glorious, 1 Cor 15:51–⁠53, in their proportion agreeing with the blessed body of our Lord when he shall appear, 1 John 3:1–⁠3, and they shall see him with the Eyes of their bodies made like unto his, Job 19:26–⁠27; Col 3:4, not in equality, but only in respect of the same qualities that his body hath, 1 Cor 15:51–⁠52; 1 Thess 4:17.

Who shall change our vile body – now this vile body, in the resurrection morn, shall be stripped of all its vileness, baseness, and meanness; and be changed, not as to its substance, nor as to its form and figure, which shall always remain same, as did the substance and form of our Lord’s body after his resurrection; but as to its qualities, it shall be changed from corruption to incorruption, 1 Cor 15:42, from mortality to immortality, from weakness to power, from dishonour to glory, and be free from all sin.