Philippians 3:2 (KJV)
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
I might be in a bit of a snarky mood today. For the first twenty years of my ministry, I don’t recall hearing it much, but somewhere along the way, it became popular—especially at pastors’ meetings—to crack jokes about preachers hating cats. You know the routine: dogs are loyal like men, cats are independent like women. (Insert eye roll here.) I get it—it’s a joke. But honestly, after twenty years of hearing it, it’s gotten a little stale.
For the record, I like animals—all of them. But if there’s a pet the Bible uses to represent what a believer should avoid, it’s the dog.
John Gill points out that the “dogs” in Philippians 3:2 refer to Judaizing teachers—men who tried to force Old Testament law and ceremonial works on New Testament Christians. That heresy isn’t just history—it’s alive and well today. Gill says Paul called them dogs because they returned to the law like a dog to its vomit (2 Peter 2:22), lived in spiritual uncleanness, and claimed equality with the apostles. They were slanderous, contentious, greedy, and self-serving—just like the dogs Isaiah describes in Isaiah 56:10. They were religious profiteers, using faith as a means to fill their own bellies (Philippians 3:19). Paul didn’t mince words—they were not part of the true faith (Revelation 22:15) and were to be avoided in person, conversation, and doctrine.
I like pets. All sorts of them. But I absolutely do not want to be compared to that kind of dog.
#BewareOfDogs #Philippians3Warning #GuardTheGospel #NotOfTheConcision #TruthOverTradition
Not All Dogs Go to Heaven: Beware of Bark and Bluster
🚨 False doctrine doesn’t always show up wearing a name tag—it often barks loud, wags a tail of tradition, and preaches works over grace. Philippians 3:2 isn’t about pets—it’s a serious warning for believers to stay alert and stand firm against legalism creeping into the church.
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💬 Question for the comments: What modern teachings do you see today that resemble the “dogs” Paul warned us about?
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