“(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:”
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ — the grief is palpable: 'with tears' (meta dakryōn) shows Paul's anguish over apostasy. 'Enemies of the cross' (echthri tou staurou Christou) is severe: they actively oppose Christ's cruciform way. 'Many' (polloi) suggests wide defection. The repeated warning ('often told... now tell') shows persistence and gravity.
Church Fathers on Philippians 3:18
Nothing is so incongruous in a Christian, and foreign to his character, as to seek ease and rest; and to be engrossed with the present life is foreign to our profession and enlistment. Your Master was crucified, and do you seek ease? Your Master was pierced with nails, and do you live delicately? Do these things become a noble soldier? Wherefore Paul says, “Many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.”…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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