Phil. 3:7-17, Beholding the Mark! Scopus, Inc.

Today we have one of my favorites.  We have an organization called “Scopus Inc.”  The goal is that people’s attention will be focused more clearly on Christ.  There is a story we often share that gives an illustration of “scopus.”  Mt. Scopus was the point at which pilgrims could first see the temple if coming from the north of Israel.  In 70AD the Romans camped there in their campaign that destroyed the temple and Jerusalem.  Over the centuries it remained the place where Jews, even if denied entrance into the city, could view the city from the north. 

The word “scopus” literally means “lookout.”  The only use of the noun (Greek skopos) is in Phil. 3:14: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Paul’s aim in Phil. 3 was to know Christ, and thereby to have a righteousness not his own but a righteousness of faith.  Thus he fixed his attention on Christ, knowing that this would result in conformity to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18). 

The verb appears again in the passage, in 3:17: The definition is to look at, observe, contemplate. to mark.  It speaks of a dedicated and concentrated eyeing of a target or mark, which if we hit it we will have accomplished our goal.  Scopus is the mark.  Scopeō is the intense gaze.  It is not surprise that our term “scope” (as on a rifle, that magnifies the target) comes from this term.  We are left with five additional uses of the verb in the NT.  Consider more about the “gaze” that will fix our attention on Christ.

·       Lk 11:35: "See to it" (take heed in NKJV) that the light within you is not darkness.  How appropriate to start here.  We cannot see the target if it is in the darkness, hard if it is shaded.  By the Holy Spirit the light is turned on when we receive the gospel (2 Cor. 4:1-6).  Note in that passage that when the light is turned on the word of God is preached.  The word of God reveals the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the mark!

·       Ro 16:17: "Watch out" for those who cause divisions or stumbling-blocks.  Again, these stumbling blocks would make a vision of Christ difficult.  Religion (e.g. Catholicism) does this: dims our view of Christ.

·       2Co 4:18: "Fix your eyes" on what is unseen, not on what is seen.  Amen!  What we need to see, as Peter put it, is Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Pt. 1:8).

·       Gal 6:1: In restoring someone "watch" yourself lest you be tempted.  Again, we must be careful lest we dim the target!

·       Phil 2:4: "Look" not only to your own interests but to the interests of others.  Yes, yet another hindrance to our dedicated beholding of Christ.