3:2

Look out for: In this verse, Paul repeats the Greek verb rendered “look out for” three times. Each time, it is followed by words beginning with the same Greek consonant. (See Kingdom Interlinear.) This literary technique added emphasis and urgency to his words. Also, the threefold description of the group who endangered the faith of the Philippians contrasts with the threefold description of the faithful ones in the following verse.

the dogs: Paul here uses the word “dogs” in a figurative sense to warn the Philippians against false teachers, many of whom were Judaizers. Dogs were unclean according to the Mosaic Law, and the Scriptures often use the term in a derogatory sense. (Le 11:27; see study note on Mt 7:6.) In the cities, dogs often subsisted on what they could scavenge, so they were known to consume food that was repulsive, particularly to those trained to respect the precepts of the Mosaic Law. (Ex 22:31; 1Ki 14:11; 21:19; Pr 26:11) In the Hebrew Scriptures, enemies of faithful servants of Jehovah are sometimes likened to dogs. (Ps 22:16; 59:5, 6) By describing the false teachers as dogs, Paul intended to expose those men as unclean and unfit to dispense Christian teachings.

those who mutilate the flesh: Referring to supporters of circumcision, Paul uses the expression “those who mutilate the flesh” (lit., “the cutting down”) perhaps as a play on words with the expression “those with the real circumcision” (lit., “the cutting around”) in the next verse.​—See study note on Php 3:3.