Philippians 3:18
New International Version
For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

New Living Translation
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

English Standard Version
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Berean Standard Bible
For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Berean Literal Bible
For many are walking--of whom I have told you often and now I say even weeping--as enemies of the cross of Christ,

King James Bible
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

New King James Version
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

New American Standard Bible
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ,

NASB 1995
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,

NASB 1977
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,

Legacy Standard Bible
For many walk—of whom I often told you, and now tell you even crying—as enemies of the cross of Christ,

Amplified Bible
For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation],

Christian Standard Bible
For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

American Standard Version
For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Contemporary English Version
I often warned you that many people are living as enemies of the cross of Christ. And now with tears in my eyes, I warn you again

English Revised Version
For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ.

Good News Translation
I have told you this many times before, and now I repeat it with tears: there are many whose lives make them enemies of Christ's death on the cross.

International Standard Version
For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of the Messiah.

Majority Standard Bible
For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

NET Bible
For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

New Heart English Bible
For many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ,

Webster's Bible Translation
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Weymouth New Testament
For there are many whom I have often described to you, and I now even with tears describe them, as being enemies to the Cross of Christ.

World English Bible
For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for many walk of whom I told you [about] many times—and now also weeping tell—[they are] the enemies of the Cross of the Christ,

Berean Literal Bible
For many are walking--of whom I have told you often and now I say even weeping--as enemies of the cross of Christ,

Young's Literal Translation
for many walk of whom many times I told you -- and now also weeping tell -- the enemies of the cross of the Christ!

Smith's Literal Translation
(For many walk, of whom I said to you often, and now also say weeping, the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping), that they are enemies of the cross of Christ;

Catholic Public Domain Version
For many persons, about whom I have often told you (and now tell you, weeping,) are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ.

New American Bible
For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.

New Revised Standard Version
For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For there are many who live otherwise, of whom I have often told you, and now I tell you with tears that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For many who walk differently, about whom I have told you many times, but now as I weep, I say that they are the enemies of the cross of The Messiah.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For many walk, of whom I often said to you, and now say even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of the Christ,

Godbey New Testament
For many walk about, of whom I frequently spoke to you, and now I speak even weeping, the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Haweis New Testament
For many walk, whom I have often mentioned to you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Mace New Testament
for there are many that wander about, of whom I have frequently told you, and now repeat it with tears, that they are enemies to the cross of Christ:

Weymouth New Testament
For there are many whom I have often described to you, and I now even with tears describe them, as being enemies to the Cross of Christ.

Worrell New Testament
For many are walking, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

Worsley New Testament
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Citizenship in Heaven
17Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. 18For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.…

Cross References
Romans 16:17-18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. / For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Galatians 1:6-9
I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— / which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. / But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! ...

2 Peter 2:1-3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

1 John 2:18-19
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. / They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.

Matthew 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. / By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ...

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ...

Jude 1:4
For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. / He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

2 John 1:7-11
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. / Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded. / Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son. ...

Ezekiel 13:1-3
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD! / This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.


Treasury of Scripture

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

many.

Isaiah 8:11
For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,

Daniel 4:37
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Galatians 2:14
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

I have.

1 Corinthians 6:9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Galatians 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5,6
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God…

even.

Philippians 1:4
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

Psalm 119:136
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

Jeremiah 9:1
Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

enemies.

Philippians 1:15,16
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: …

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Galatians 1:7
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

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Christ Cross Describe Described Enemies Haters Live Often Sorrow Tears Times Walk Weeping Word
Philippians 3
1. He warns them to beware of the false teachers;
4. showing that himself has greater cause than they to trust in the righteousness of the law;
7. which he counts as loss, to gain Christ and his righteousness;
12. acknowledging his own imperfection and pressing on toward the goal;
15. He exhorts them to be thus minded;
17. and to imitate him,
18. and to decline carnal ways.














For as I have often told you before,
Paul emphasizes the repetition of his warning, indicating the importance of the message. This reflects his pastoral concern and the need for vigilance against false teachings. The repetition also suggests that the issue was ongoing and required constant attention. Paul’s frequent warnings are consistent with his role as a shepherd to the early church, ensuring that the believers remain steadfast in their faith.

and now say again even with tears:
Paul’s emotional response underscores the seriousness of the situation. His tears reflect his deep love and concern for the Philippians and the potential spiritual danger they face. This emotional appeal highlights the gravity of turning away from the true gospel. It is reminiscent of other instances where Paul expresses deep sorrow for those who are lost or led astray, such as in Romans 9:2-3.

Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
This phrase identifies a specific group whose lifestyle and beliefs are contrary to the message of the cross. The "enemies of the cross" likely refers to those who reject the sacrificial nature of Christ’s death and the call to live a life of self-denial. This could include Judaizers who insisted on adherence to the law for salvation or antinomians who abused grace as a license for sin. The cross symbolizes the core of Christian faith, and to oppose it is to oppose the essence of the gospel. This warning is echoed in other Pauline letters, such as Galatians 6:12-14, where Paul contrasts boasting in the flesh with boasting in the cross.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Philippians, Paul is writing to the church in Philippi with deep concern and emotion, warning them about those who oppose the message of the cross.

2. Philippi
A city in Macedonia where Paul established a church. The Philippian church was one of the first Christian communities in Europe and held a special place in Paul's heart.

3. Enemies of the Cross
This term refers to individuals who oppose or distort the message of the Gospel, particularly the significance of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Opposition
Christians should be aware that there are those who oppose the Gospel, both outside and within the church. This opposition can be subtle and deceptive.

The Emotional Weight of Ministry
Paul’s tears reflect the deep emotional burden of seeing people reject the truth of the Gospel. Believers should cultivate a heart of compassion and concern for those who are lost.

The Importance of the Cross
The cross is central to the Christian faith. It represents not only the sacrifice of Christ but also the call to live a life of self-denial and commitment to God.

Discernment in the Christian Walk
Believers must exercise discernment to recognize and avoid teachings and lifestyles that are contrary to the message of the cross.

Living as Citizens of Heaven
Christians are called to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel, reflecting their true citizenship in heaven rather than conforming to worldly values.(18) Even weeping.--The especial sorrow, we cannot doubt, lay in this, that the Antinomian profligacy sheltered itself under his own preaching of liberty and of the superiority of the Spirit to the Law.

The enemies of the cross of Christ.--Here again (as in the application of the epithet "dogs" in Philippians 3:2) St. Paul seems to retort on those whom he rebuked a name which they may probably have given to their opponents. The Judaising tenets were, indeed, in a true sense, an enmity to that cross, which was "to the Jews a stumbling-block," because, as St. Paul shows at large in the Galatian and Roman Epistles, they trenched upon faith in the all-sufficient atonement, and so (as he expresses it with startling emphasis) made Christ to "be dead in vain." But the doctrine of the Cross has two parts, distinct, yet inseparable. There is the cross which He alone bore for us, of which it is our comfort to know that we need only believe in it, and cannot share it. There is also the cross which we are "to take up and follow Him" (Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24), in the "fellowship of His sufferings and conformity to His death," described above (Philippians 3:10-11). St. Paul unites both in the striking passage which closes his Galatian Epistle (Galatians 6:14). He says, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ!" but he adds, "whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I to the world." Under cover, perhaps, of absolute acceptance of the one form of this great doctrine, the Antinomian party, "continuing in sin that grace might abound," were, in respect of the other, "enemies of the cross of Christ." . . .

Verse 18. - For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; rather, I used to tell you; the tense is imperfect. He used to speak thus of them when he was at Philippi; now, during his absence, the evil has increased, and he repeats his warning with tears. "Paul weeps," says Chrysostom, "for those at whom others laugh; so true is his sympathy, so deep his care for all men." He seems to be speaking here, not of the Jews, but of nominal Christians, who used their liberty for a cloke of licentiousness. Such are enemies of the cross; they hate sell-denial, they will not take up their cross. By their evil lives they bring shame upon the religion of the cross.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

[as]
οὓς (hous)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

I have often told
ἔλεγον (elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

you {before},
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

now
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

declare
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

even
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

with tears:
κλαίων (klaiōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2799: To weep, weep for, mourn, lament. Of uncertain affinity; to sob, i.e. Wail aloud.

Many
πολλοὶ (polloi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

live
περιπατοῦσιν (peripatousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4043: From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow.

[as] enemies
ἐχθροὺς (echthrous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2190: Hated, hostile; subst: an enemy. From a primary echtho; hateful; usually as a noun, an adversary.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

cross
σταυροῦ (staurou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4716: A cross.

of Christ.
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.


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NT Letters: Philippians 3:18 For many walk of whom I told (Philipp. Phil. Php.)
Philippians 3:17
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