Because our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also ardently await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
3:20 — “But our citizenship is in heaven.” Literally, our community, our homeland. We are governed by heavenly laws. Heaven is our true home. Our main interests are above. Our names are written there (4:3). Our prayers ascend to heaven. Our treasures are deposited in the heavenly bank (Matt 6:19-20), and therefore our heart is there too. Our hope, the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:18-19), is in heaven. Our mother is “Jerusalem above” (Gal 4:26). Here in this world we are pilgrims and foreigners (Hebrews 13:14; 1Pe 2:11). see Phil 1:27, grades; Joh 18:36; Eph 1:3. The rest (“whose god is the belly”) have no heavenly city; they only live for the present time. — ”we hope”, “ardent longing”, Romans 8:19; “we groan…waiting”, Romans 8:23. see also 1Co 1:7; Gal 5:5; Hebrews 9:28. “We wait (with intense longing) for the Savior.” Some make a mockery of this blessed promise (2Pe 3:4), but for the Christian it is the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19), vital consolation (1Thess 4:13-18) that supports it. Christ promised to return (Joh 14:1-3); the angels said that “he will come as you have seen him go to heaven” (Acts 1:11). The final book of the Bible (Revelation) begins and ends with this promise: 1:7“Behold, he comes with the clouds, and every eye will see him” and 22:20“Certainly I am coming shortly.”
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
but our citizenship. Ps 16:11; Salt 17:15; Ps 73:24-26; pro 15:24; Isaiah 26:1, Isaiah 26:2; Matt 6:19-21; Matt 19:21; Luke 12:21, Luke 12:32-34; Luke 14:14; 2Co 4:18; 2Co 5:1, 2Co 5:8; Gal 4:26; Eph 2:6, Eph 2:19; Col 1:5; Col 3:1-3; Hebrews 10:34, Hebrews 10:35; Hebrews 12:22; 1Pe 1:3, 1Pe 1:4; Rev 21:10-27.
from where too. Acts 1:11; 1Thess 4:16; 2Thes 1:7, 2Thes 1:8; Rev 1:7.
we wait for the Savior. Phil 1:10; 1Co 1:7; 1Thess 1:10; 2Ti 4:8; Tit 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; 2Pe 3:12-14.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
Christians need to remember that even when we are in this world we are not of this world; our citizenship final it is in heaven. fervently we wait: Paul presents a clear contrast here with the earthly focus of the enemies of the cross in v. Phil 3:19. The fervent desire of Christians is not for earthly things but for a heavenly person, the saviorthe Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:19-25).
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN. Believers are no longer citizens of this world; have become strangers and pilgrims on earth (Romans 8:22-24; Gal 4:26; Hebrews 11:13; Hebrews 12:22-23; Hebrews 13:14; 1Pe 1:17; 1Pe 2:11; see ARTICLE THE CALL OF ABRAHAM, P. 24. ).
(1) In relation to the passage of life, values and direction, heaven is now the homeland of believers. They are born againJoh 3:3), their names are registered in heaven (Phil 4:3), his life is guided by heavenly rules, and his rights and inheritance are reserved in heaven.
(2) It is to heaven that the prayers of believers go up (cf. 2Ch 6:21; 2Ch 30:27) and where his hope is directed. Many of your friends and family are already there, and soon they will be too. Jesus Christ is there, preparing a place for them, and He has promised to come back and take them with Him (see Joh 14:1-31; Joh 2:1-25; Joh 3:1-36, grades; see Joh 3:3; Joh 14:1-4; Romans 8:17; Eph 2:6; Col 3:1-3; Hebrews 6:19-20; Hebrews 12:22-24; 1Pe 1:4-5; Rev 7:9-17). That is why believers yearn for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. So God is not ashamed to call himself their God, and he has prepared for them an everlasting city (Hebrews 11:16).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
our citizenship. The Greek term refers to a colony of foreigners. In a secular source it was used to describe a capital city that kept the names of its citizens on record. in heaven. The place where God dwells and Christ is present. It is the home of believers (Joh 14:2-3), where the name of each of them is registered (Luke 10:20) and their inheritance awaits them (1Pe 1:4). There are the other believers (Hebrews 12:23). We belong to the kingdom that is under the command of our heavenly King, and we obey the laws of heaven. cop. 1Pe 2:11. we wait. The Greek verb is found in most of the passages that speak about the second coming of Christ and expresses the idea of waiting patiently but also with great expectation (Romans 8:23; 2Pe 3:11-12).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
3:20 — “But our citizenship is in heaven.” Literally, our community, our homeland. We are governed by heavenly laws. Heaven is our true home. Our main interests are above. Our names are written there (4:3). Our prayers ascend to heaven. Our treasures are deposited in the heavenly bank (Matt 6:19-20), and therefore our hearts are there too. Our hope, the anchor of the soul (Heb 6:18-19), is in heaven. Our mother is “Jerusalem above” (Gal 4:26). Here in this world we are pilgrims and strangers (Heb 13:14; 1Pe 2:11). See Phil 1:27, notes; Joh 18:36; Eph 1:3. The rest (“whose god is the belly”) have no heavenly city; they only live for the present time.
— ”wait for”, “earnest longing”, Rom 8:19; “we groan…waiting”, Rom 8:23. See also 1Co 1:7; Gal 5:5; Hebrews 9:28. “We wait (with intense longing) for the Savior.” Some make fun of this blessed promise (2Pe 3:4), but for the Christian it is the anchor of the soul (Heb 6:19), the vital consolation (1Thess 4:13-18) that sustains him. Christ promised to return (John 14:1-3); the angels said that “he will come as you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The final book of the Bible (Revelation) begins and ends with this promise: 1:7, “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him” and 22:20, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
Eph 2:19; Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 11:16; Hebrews 12:22; Hebrews 13:14.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
GRADES
(1) Or: “our life as citizens”.
CROSS-REFERENCES
or 157 Eph 2:19
p 158 Joh 18:36; Eph 2:6; Col 3:1
q 159 1Thess 1:10; Hebrews 9:28
r160 1Co 1:7; Tit 2:13
Source: New World Translation
twenty (1) The Greek word means all citizens, life associations.
twenty (two) Contrasted with earthly in the previous verse. Those who practiced philosophy from the Epicureans set their minds on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven.
Source: New Testament Commentary Recovery Version
citizenship. This figure of speech would be especially appreciated by the Philippians, in view of the status of their city as a Roman colony, whose inhabitants were Roman citizens.
Source: Ryrie Annotated Study Bible
T190 The position of the personal pronoun ἡμῶν indicates that it expresses a strong emphasis: our citizenship.
Source: Grammar Help for the Study of the Greek New Testament
Or, homeland, lit., community
Source: The Bible of the Americas
Peshitta Bible 2006 Notes:
3.20 Aramaic, puljanan bashemaya. In the Greek text it says our citizenu237? to estu225? in heaven. In the immediate context, Paul is contrasting the earthly work of the enemies of the Lord’s cross with his work on Earth, which is according to what is established in Heaven, and not earthly. This text is the conclusion of what Paul discusses in verses 17-19.
Source: Peshitta in Spanish